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- Written by: Jeremy Chawgo - Breese Journal Sports Editor
Leading scorers — Central senior Conlan Haar goes to the basket against the defense of Mater Dei senior Gavin Peppenhorst in the Cougars’ 10-point win. Haar had 16 points while Peppenhorst had 25 points. PHOTO BY JEREMY CHAWGO It was a competitive week for both the Central and Mater Dei boys basketball teams with Central claiming second and MD claiming fourth at the annual Nashville Invitational Tournament at the Assembly Hall.
The Cougars took down Mater Dei and Marion in pool play while Mater Dei beat Marion to go 1-1 in pool play.
Entering the championship game on Saturday, both Central and Nashville were looking for their 12th tournament title, only to see the Hornets dismantle the Cougars in the title game. The Cougars were 2-0 against Nashville in their previous two title game clashes.
Central’s Conlan Haar, Bryce Wieter and Wyatt Schrage each were selected to the All-Tournament Team while Gavin Peppenhorst earned the honor for Mater Dei.
Peppenhorst, also reached the 1,000 point mark in his career early on, in the Knights’ third-place loss with Mascoutah on Saturday.
Central is currently 15-7 on the season and they are scheduled to host Belleville East on Wednesday night and Roxana on Friday night.
Mater Dei is currently 12-12 on the season and they were scheduled to host Madison on Tuesday and will play at Teutopolis on Friday night.
Nashville 66, Central 33: It was all Hornets and Maddox Ritzel in the title game on Saturday morning in Washington County.
Central managed just five points in the first quarter with both coming from senior Conlan Haar on a three and a drive.
Lay it in — Mater Dei senior Gavin Peppenhorst sends in a transition bucket in the Knights’ 50-40 loss to rival Central on Wednesday in Nashville. Peppenhorst had 16 of his 25 points in the second half. PHOTO BY JEREMY CHAWGO Meanwhile, Ritzel came out inspired with three drives, a three-pointer and a free throw while Palmer Renken hit two three-pointers as the rout was on at 16-5 after one quarter.
Wyatt Schrage got going for the Cougars in the second quarter with three short jumpers, while Haar hit for another five points.
However, Ritzel, Renken, Gannon Turner and Blake Brooks each hit three-pointers in the second frame as they led 33-20 at the break. Ritzel had 14 points while Haar had 10 for CHS.
Haar hit a three-pointer in the third quarter while Jackson Kampwerth and Schrage had the only other two buckets as Nashville pulled away.
Ritzel hit five field goals in the frame while Brenton Bultman added a three-pointer with NCHS leading 50-27 entering the final frame.
Ritzel ended the second half 9-of-9 from the field with four more buckets in the final frame while Max Reeder got a bucket.
Haar and Craig Schroeder hit three’s for Central to end the contest.
Haar paced the Cougars with 16 points on 5-of-9 from the field and 3-of-3 from the line. Schrage added eight points. CHS was 13-of-32 from the field and 3-of-3 from the line with 10 turnovers.
Ritzel hit for 35 points on 14-of-20 from the field and 5-of-6 from the line. Renken had nine points. NCHS was 24-of-40 from the field that included them hitting on 9-of-17 from beyond the arc. They were 7-of-9 from the line with four turnovers.
