Basketball

Caden Nichols and Parker Wolf combined to scored 13 fourth-quarter points Tuesday night, helping the Newton Eagles post a 63-54 victory at home over St. Anthony.

It was a slim 44-43 advantage heading into the final eight minutes, but the Nichols-Wolf combo helped the hosts outscore the Bulldogs 19-11 and secure the victory, Newton’s seventh in nine games.

It was a very close game most of the way. St. Anthony led 15-14 after the first period and 29-26 at halftime. The Eagles then outscored SAHS 18-14 in the third period to claim that one-point lead.

Nichols finished with a game-high 24 points, while Wolfe and Dylan Gier both scored 16 for Newton.

Collin Westendorf was the only Bulldog to crack double figures, finishing with 17 points. Griffin Sehy and Ryan Schmidt both scored eight.

The Bulldogs dipped to 5-4 on the season. They will return home Friday night for a National Trail Conference matchup with Dieterich.

By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

Collin Westendorf has had a so-so start to the season.

He played okay during the season-opening tournament, but had a bad game against North Clay.

Coach Cody Rincker then challenged him and the junior guard has responded.

Westendorf poured in 24 points Tuesday night in St. Anthony’s win over Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City. As a result, he earned his first varsity start Friday on Homecoming Night.

Again, Westendorf responded. He recorded a double-double, helping the Bulldogs roll to a 61-31 victory over St. Elmo/Brownstown.

“He’s playing with a lot of confidence now,” Rincker said. “After we challenged him, I was impressed with how he bounced back. He’s playing with a lot of tenacity, and when he does that, good things happen.”

Westendorf was well on his way to the double-double by intermission. He scored 11 points and pulled down seven rebounds in the first half, helping SAHS built a comfortable double-digit lead.

The St. Anthony Bulldogs jumped out to a quick lead Tuesday night and then cruised to a 69-25 road victory over Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City.

Brock Fearday and Griffin Sehy combined to score 17 points in the opening eight minutes, helping the Bulldogs open a 20-6 lead. The margin just continued to increase the rest of the way. St. Anthony led 45-14 at halftime and 62-23 after three periods.

Collin Westendorf turned in the best game of his varsity career, pumping in 24 points to lead SAHS. The junior guard scored nine of those points in the second quarter and then added 12 more in the third period. Fearday and Sehy both scored 15 points.

The Bulldogs improved to 4-3 overall and are now 1-1 in the National Trail Conference. They will return home Friday and face St. Elmo/Brownstown in another NTC contest. It will be the Homecoming game.

For the second time this week, the St. Anthony Lady Bulldogs found themselves in a tight game with conference implications riding high.

And for the second time in four nights, the Lady Bulldogs prevailed.

Ady Rios scored five points, while Anna Faber and Stacie Vonderheide knocked down crucial free throws in overtime Tuesday night, helping St. Anthony pull out a 72-64 victory at home over Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City.

The two teams battled on even terms throughout. The Lady Bobcats held a slim lead at the end of each of the first three quarters – 17-15 after the first eight minutes; 34-32 at intermission; and 47-46 after the third period.

Lucy Fearday scored eight points in the fourth period, as the Lady Bulldogs tied the game, 61-61, sending it to the extra period.

Rios connected on a three-pointer to help the Lady Bulldogs capture the lead. She also hit another jumper, Fearday added a bucket and Faber and Vonderheide converted their free throws, helping St. Anthony outscore CHBC 11-3 in the overtime session.

Fearday finished with a game-high 24 points and freshman Nancy Ruholl scored 21.

The Lady Bulldogs remained undefeated on the season, improving to 10-0 overall and 4-0 in the National Trail Conference. After handing Altamont its first conference loss Monday night, they dealt the Lady Bobcats their first setback in league play.

St. Anthony will step out of conference Monday night and host their cross-creek rival Teutopolis. And then on Thursday, they will drive across town to play Effingham.

By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

For the second straight year, Grace Nelson cracked the 50-point plateau against St. Anthony.

And for the second straight year, it wasn’t enough.

Altamont’s junior standout turned in another terrific performance Monday night, pumping in 56 points, including 41 in the second half.

But the Lady Bulldogs, who owned an 18-point lead midway through the third quarter, hung on to post a 76-73 win at Altamont in a key National Trail Conference matchup.

“It was definitely a storm in that second half,” St. Anthony coach Stacey Rios said. “With our lead, we felt comfortable, even knowing what Grace can do. We felt if we could keep her from going downhill and getting to the basket, that would be a key.

“But Grace also has a good mid-range game,” Rios added. “She stepped out and did what she does. She’s a very good player.”

With 4:08 to play in the third period, St. Anthony owned a 48-30 lead. In the next four minutes, Nelson scored 15 points. But St. Anthony’s Lucy Fearday scored seven and the Lady Bulldogs still owned a double-digit advantage, 59-49, heading into the final quarter.

After a bucket by Kallie Kabbes, SAHS led 67-56 with five minutes remaining. From that point on, however, that lead continued to dwindle.