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- Written by: Jeremy Chawgo - Breese Journal Sports Editor
Perfect start — The Wesclin Warriors got their season off in fine fashion with a 3-0 start to claim the Wesclin Tip-Off Classic title with wins over Mater Dei, Nashville and Columbia. The Warriors also won the title back in 2023. SUBMITTED PHOTO For just the second time since 2018, the Wesclin Warriors have started the season at 3-0 and in the process claimed their second Wesclin Tip-Off Classic Tournament title
The Warriors took down Columbia, Nashville and Mater Dei to claim the title. They played at Waterloo on Tuesday before traveling to Collinsville on Saturday.
The All-Tournament Team included Bryce Haar and Gavin Rahm of Wesclin and Gavin Peppenhorst of Mater Dei.
The Mater Dei Knights dropped all three of their tourney games with losses to Wesclin, Columbia and Nashville.
MD hosted Althoff on Tuesday before playing at Alton Marquette on Saturday.
Wesclin 68, Nashville 62: The Warriors played a strong all-around game in their title-winning victory over the Hornets on Saturday night.
All Tourney effort — Mater Dei senior Gavin Peppenhorst takes to the left in the Knights’ eight-point setback to Nashville on Friday in the Wesclin Tip-Off Classic. The senior made the All-Tournament by averaging 21 points per game for MD. PHOTO BY JEREMY CHAWGO The game went back and forth with the Warriors leading 33-32 at the half. They led 15-8 after one quarter with 10 points from Eli Wellen.
Gavin Rahm hit a late bucket in the third quarter to hand the Warriors’ a 47-46 lead entering the fourth quarter. Rahm and Wellen each had 16 points entering the fourth with Maddox Ritzel having 21 points.
It was too much Rahm down the stretch as the junior hit for 24 points while Wellen scored 19 points for the Warriors. Nashville got 23 points from Ritzel in the setback. Rahm connected for his 1,000th career point in the fourth quarter.
Columbia 62, Mater Dei 50: The Eagles used a strong fourth quarter to get some distance from the Knights to get their only win of tournament play.
Mater Dei got a great start from Jack Reynolds who hit for 12 points over the first eight minutes as Mater Dei and Columbia were tied 14-14 after one quarter. Columbia got two three-pointers and a charity shot from Eddie Smajic in the frame.
Beckett Wade stepped up for two three-pointers for MD in the second quarter while Gavin Peppenhorst hit a triple, a deuce and a free throw as MD trailed 27-26 at the break. Smajic had seven at the break.
Wade hit two more three-pointers in the third quarter while Peppenhorst hit a three and two deuces as MD kept pace and led 43-41 entering the final eight.
Mater Dei managed just three field goals in the fourth quarter, with a triple from Peppenhorst and a pair of two’s from Reagan Woomer.
Meanwhile, Smajic hit a three-pointer and was 7-of-8 from the line down the stretch to secure the victory.
Peppenhorst led the way with 26 points, while Wade and Reynolds each had a dozen. MD was 1-of-3 from the line.
Smajic scored a tournament-high 28 points for CHS while they were 15-of-20 from the line.
