Basketball

St. Anthony will be riding a 14-game winning streak when it plays next week in the National Trail Conference Tournament.

They extended that streak Friday night after notching a good road victory – a 45-39 decision at Breese Mater Dei.

But it didn’t come easy.

Ryan Schmidt hit two three-pointers and scored eight points in the opening period, helping the Bulldogs take a 16-11 lead. That advantage was reduced to a single point, 25-24, at halftime and the visitors carried a slim two-point edge, 36-34, into the final eight minutes.

Schmidt hit another three and scored five points, while Brock Fearday added four more as the Bulldogs outscored Mater Dei 9-5 down the stretch to secure the win.

Schmidt finished with a game-high 16 points and Fearday added 10.

The Bulldogs improved to 16-2 overall.

The pairings for the NTC Tournament have just been released. St. Anthony will be the top seed and open play Tuesday night. The Bulldogs will face either Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City or Neoga at 6:15 p.m.

The tournament is scheduled for Jan. 27 thru February 1 and will be played at Altamont High School.

The St. Anthony Lady Bulldogs maintained control of the National Trail Conference race Thursday night, rolling to a 72-27 victory at home over Neoga.

The game was over quick. Addi Nuxoll pumped in nine first-quarter points, as St. Anthony built a 22-10 lead after the first eight minutes. The second quarter was even more dominant. Nancy Ruholl connected on a pair of three-pointers and the Lady Bulldogs outscored Neoga 26-1 to take a 48-11 advantage to the locker room at halftime.

St. Anthony had three players score in double figures. Ruholl finished with a game-high 22 points, while Nuxoll had 19 and Ady Rios added 13.

The Lady Bulldogs improved to 15-4 overall and are now 5-0 in the NTC. Their next game will be in the National Trail Conference Tournament, which will be played next week at Beecher City High School.

SAHS is the No. 1 seed. They will play the winner of the Dieterich-South Central game at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

The St. Anthony Bulldogs jumped out to a quick lead and were never threatened, rolling to a 63-30 victory at home Tuesday night over Neoga, extending their winning streak to 13 games.

Ryan Schmidt connected on a pair of threes and scored eight points in the first quarter, as the hosts built an 11-3 lead. Brock Fearday followed suit in the second quarter – two three-pointers and eight points -- plus Miles Waldhoff added two more baskets from long range, as the Bulldogs built a 16-point advantage, 29-13, at intermission.

St. Anthony then came out and outscored the Indians 22-12 in the third period, expanding the margin to 26 points, 51-25.

Fearday led three Bulldogs in double figures with 19 points. Schmidt scored 16 and Waldhoff added 10. For the game, St. Anthony made 10 shots from behind the arc.

The Bulldogs improved to 15-2 overall and remained unbeaten in the National Trail Conference at 5-0. They will hit the road Friday night, traveling to Breese Mater Dei.

The St. Anthony Lady Bulldogs will carry the No. 1 seed into the National Trail Girls Basketball Tournament.

Games are scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 18, through Saturday, Jan. 25.

Here is the tournament schedule:

Saturday, Jan. 18

Game 1 – 10 a.m. – Dieterich (#8) vs. South Central (#9)

Monday, Jan. 20

Game 2 – 11:30 a.m. – Brownstown-St. Elmo (#2) vs. Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City (#7)

Game 3 – 1 p.m. – Altamont (#3) vs. Neoga (#6)

Game 4 – 2:30 p.m. – Windsor-Stew Stras (#4) vs. North Clay (#5)

Tuesday, Jan. 21

Game 5 – 6 p.m. -- St. Anthony (#1) vs. Winner of Game 1

Game 6 – 7:30 p.m. – Loser Game 2 vs. Loser Game 1