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- Written by: Jeremy Chawgo - Breese Journal Sports Editor
Running the point — Central senior Mason Shubert brings the ball up the floor in the first half of the Cougars’ third pool-play victory at the St. Anthony Tournament on Friday. Shubert had nine points and four rebounds. PHOTO BY JEREMY CHAWGO The Central Cougars completed their three-peat, winning the Effingham St. Anthony Thanksgiving Tournament for the third season in a row after sweeping the field of eight.
The Cougars swept their pool with wins over Robinson, Mattoon and Champaign Central before blowing out Belleville East in the title game. The Cougars won their four games by an average of 20 points per game.
For their tourney efforts, Central seniors Mason Shubert, Colten Arnold and Zane Schrage all earned All-Tournament honors.
The Cougars open up their home and conference seasons this Friday when they host Salem. They will also play in the Mt. Vernon Shootout on Saturday when they showcase against Newton at 4 p.m.
Central 44, Belleville East 30: The Cougars used a strong second half to win their third-straight St. Anthony Thanksgiving Tournament title with their rout over the Lancers on Saturday.
The Cougars’ offense got off to a slow start with an 11-10 deficit after eight minutes with Colten Arnold draining a pair of buckets for CHS.
Jalen Coleman and Xavien Moody each hit two buckets in the second quarter for Belleville East as they led 21-18 at the half. Arnold had three more points in the second frame and led all scorers with seven points at the half.
The Cougars’ defense shined in the third quarter as they didn’t allow a Lancer bucket throughout the frame and for over 10 minutes of the second half.
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- Written by: Jeremy Chawgo - Breese Journal Sports Editor
Drawing paint contact — Mater Dei senior guard Nick Lampe draws a foul in the first quarter of the Knights’ season-opening loss to Wesclin on Monday night in the WHS Tournament. Lampe scored 13 points in the loss. PHOTO BY JEREMY CHAWGO The Mater Dei boys basketball team got off to a 2-2 start as they played a part in the Wesclin Thanksgiving Tournament last week in Trenton.
The Knights dropped their first two games to eventual champ Wesclin and runner-up Columbia before winning their final two games over Nashville and Christ Our Rock.
Mater Dei senior Drake Wagner earned All-Tournament honors for the Knights with four good games. They are in action on Tuesday when they host Althoff before playing at Marion on Friday and at Alton Marquette on Saturday.
Their first home game of the season is on Dec. 9 when state-ranked Pinckneyville comes to Fred Rakers Court for a 7:30 p.m. start.
Mater Dei 54, Nashville 50: The Knights used a strong second half to get even in tournament play with a win over the rival Hornets on Saturday at Wesclin.
Isaac Blazier and company came out on fire for NCHS as they led 18-11 after eight minutes of play where Blazier put in eight points and Ty Schoenherr added two buckets. MD senior Nick Lampe kept his club in the contest with a triple and two deuces as they trailed by just seven.
Lampe kept up the offense in the second quarter with two more three-pointers while fellow senior Drake Wagner went off for a trio of buckets and a quartet of free throws as MD got within 33-31 at the half. Maddox Ritzel had five points in the second frame for NCHS.
Both teams put up 10 points in the third quarter with Elliott Rakers hitting two buckets in the pot for MD while Blazier struck for five more points as the Hornets held their lead at 43-41 entering the final eight.
The MD defense allowed just three buckets to the Hornets down the stretch while MD got a strong quarter from both Lampe and Wagner.
Lampe hit for a pair of deuces in the final frame while Wagner hit two buckets and was 4-of-4 from the line in the quarter where MD outscored the Hornets 13-7 to secure the victory.
Wagner led all players with 21 points in the contest while Lampe added 20 points. MD was 14-of-21 from the line in the win. Wagner was 6-of-12 from the field while Lampe was 8-of-12. MD was 18-of-35 from the field including 4-of-9 from the arc. Lampe added three assists, four rebounds and two steals.
Blazier led the Hornets with 15 points while Ritzel and Schoenherr each had 10 points in a game where NCHS was 9-of-11 from the line.