The Bulldogs scored the final eight points of the first quarter to get within 14-13. Schmidt then hit a jumper to open the second quarter. He then drained two shots from long range and Max Koenig converted a North Clay turnover into a basket, putting SAHS on top 23-16 at the 5:13 mark.

“Ryan gave us a huge, huge lift off the bench,” Rincker said. “Yes, he scored. But he also rebounded and took a couple charges. He was in attack mentality and our guys fed off that.

“Our whole demeanor changed after the timeout,” Rincker added. “We were down 14-5, but we started playing with more tenacity and more determination, which was exactly what we needed.”

Buckets by Cody Zimdars and Logan Fleener got the Cardinals to within three, but the Bulldogs closed the half on a 7-2 run, capped by back-to-back threes by Brock Fearday to make it 30-22 at intermission.

“We got down, but we kept battling,” Rincker said. “We dug deep and played tough. We started playing the way we know we’re capable of playing.”

A basket by Ethan Kuenstler and a pair of foul shots by Fleener got North Clay to within 32-26 early in the third period. But the Bulldogs responded with another scoring surge.

Collin Westendorf hit a shot and Schmidt made another to get the margin to double digits. Schmidt added a three, plus a three-point play, and Michael Martelli nailed another three, helping the Bulldogs close out the quarter on a 15-6 run and take a 47-32 advantage into the final eight minutes.

It was still a 15-point spread midway through the fourth quarter when Schmidt scored seven straight points to give SAHS it biggest lead of the game, 60-37.

It was a much different story than when the two teams met on November 29 in Louisville. The Cardinals prevailed that night, 53-49.

“That game has haunted us all season,” Rincker admitted. “We shot poorly and didn’t play very well. We certainly didn’t play St. Anthony basketball. At that point, we were 2-3 and still trying to figure out our identity.

“We’ve been waiting a long time for this opportunity to show how much we’ve improved,” Rincker added. “That game has been a big motivator for us. I couldn’t be more proud of our guys and how we’ve responded.”

Fleener finished with 13 points for the Cardinals, who dipped to 15-7 on the season.

In addition to Schmidt’s 25-point performance, Fearday added 15 for St. Anthony.

The Bulldogs improved to 17-8.

There will be four games played today in Altamont.

Neoga and South Central will play in the seventh place game at 11:30 a.m.; Windsor/Stew-Stras will face St. Elmo/Brownstown for the consolation championship at 1 p.m.; and Dieterich and North Clay will square off in the third place game at 2:30 p.m.

A packed house is expected for the championship contest at 7:30 p.m.