Basketball

By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

Quickness and physicality played key roles Friday night.

And Breese Mater Dei took advantage of both.

The Knights quickness out front helped them control the tempo and create excellent shots throughout the game.

And Mater Dei’s overall physicality on defense resulted in turnovers and a difficulty executing on the offensive end.

St. Anthony played hard all 32 minutes, but the Knights came away with a 56-48 victory at The Enlow Center.

“I thought our youth and lack of strength showed tonight,” St. Anthony coach Cody Rincker said. “Our kids shied away from some of the contact. That’s what led to several turnovers and also kept us from executing on offense.”

It showed up most during a four-minute stretch in the third quarter. Just 43 seconds into the second half, the Bulldogs were within five points, 27-22. But over the ensuing four minutes, they turned the ball over four times and Mater Dei converted after three of those.

Cameron Haag started the 12-3 run with a free throw. Jacob Patton scored four points during that stretch, Haag added two more baskets and Landon Albers hit a short jumper. With 3:29 left in the period, the Knights owned a 39-25 advantage.

“That was a key stretch. We had some costly turnovers,” Rincker admitted. “A lot of times in a game, it’s not how many turnovers you have, but when you have them. We just weren’t strong with the ball and we didn’t take care of the ball. Mater Dei definitely won that battle.”

Riley Guy helped stake St. Anthony to an early lead and the Lady Bulldogs went on to post an impressive 60-49 win Thursday night at Neoga.

Riley connected on three shots from behind the arc and scored 12 points in the opening eight minutes, helping the Lady Bulldogs to a 22-9 advantage after the opening eight minutes.

And SAHS never looked back. By halftime, the margin was 18 points, as the Lady Bulldogs took a 34-16 cushion into the locker room. St. Anthony was still on top, 41-31, heading into the fourth period.

Guy, who had 17 of her 19 points in the first half, was one of three players in double figures. Lucy Fearday had 15 points, with 11 of those coming in the final quarter, and Grace Karolewicz added 14.

This was a big game in the National Trail Conference. The Lady Bulldogs improved to 3-1, with their only loss coming to Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City.

Overall, St. Anthony improved to 14-8 overall. The Lady Bulldogs will now compete in the NTC Basketball Tournament next week in Beecher City. St. Anthony, seeded No. 3, will open play at 1 p.m. Monday against No. 6 South Central. Win or loses, they will next play on Thursday. It will either be a rematch against Neoga or they will face North Clay.

For the second straight game, Lucy Fearday proved to be too much for the opposition.

After torching Shelbyville for 30 points two days ago, she was back at it Saturday in Flora.

The sophomore poured in 25 points, leading the St. Anthony Lady Bulldogs to a 64-37 win.

The Lady Bulldogs trailed 12-11 after the opening eight minutes. But Fearday broke loose over the next two periods, scoring 21 points and helping St. Anthony go on a 37-15 scoring spree to build a 48-27 advantage after three quarters.

Grace Karolewicz added 13 points for SAHS.

The Bulldogs, who improved to 13-8, will be back in action Thursday. They will travel to Neoga for a key National Trail Conference matchup.

The St. Anthony Bulldogs jumped out to a quick lead and maintained that throughout, finishing with a 50-44 victory Tuesday night at Neoga.

Kyle Stewart scored seven points in the opening quarter, helping the Bulldogs build a 14-5 advantage after the first eight minutes. Sydney Richards then knocked down three shots from behind the arc and the host Indians got within 23-20 at intermission.

St. Anthony still led 30-25 after three periods and then connected on 13-of-19 free throws in the final quarter to secure the road win.

Adam Rudibaugh led St. Anthony with 18 points, Stewart finished with 14 and Max Koenig and Brock Fearday both added nine. Richards had 15 for Neoga.

The Bulldogs are now 10-8 on the season and improved to 5-0 in the National Trail Conference. They will return home Friday for a non-conference game against Breese Mater Dei.

Pairings have been released for the 2022 National Trail Conference Girls Basketball Tournament.

The tournament will be played at Beecher City High School.

Opening round games will be played on Monday, Jan. 17. There will also be games on Wednesday, Jan. 19 and Thursday, Jan. 20, with the final contests set for Saturday, Jan. 22.

Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City (CHBC) is the No. 1 seed and will get a first-round bye. The No. 2 seed is Neoga, followed by St. Anthony, Altamont, Dieterich, South Central, North Clay, Windsor/Stew Stras (WSS) and Brownstown/St. Elmo (BSE).

Here is the tournament schedule: