Basketball

For the second time in six days, St. Anthony basketball fans were treated to a preview of what could be a sectional match-up between two very good Class 2A teams.

On February 15, the Bulldogs beat Central A&M 50-49 in the Teutopolis Shootout.

Then Friday night, St. Anthony traveled to Casey-Westfield and notched yet another high-level victory with a 48-42 decision over the host Warriors.

“Overall, it was a well-played game by two very good teams,” St. Anthony coach Cody Rincker said. “Both teams played smart basketball, working for good shots and playing excellent team defense.”

The game was close throughout.

A 3-pointer by Casey-Westfield’s Noah Livingston at the buzzer made it 11-11 after the first eight minutes.

The Warriors took a 16-15 lead, but the Bulldogs responded. Logan Antrim and Aaron Webb both scored and Kaden Fearday connected on a three to cap a 7-0 run and help St. Anthony take a 22-18 lead at intermission.

By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

When the current group of St. Anthony seniors first got to high school, Cody Rincker wasn’t sure what the future held for them.

“There were some pieces, but I didn’t really know what we had,” the coach noted. “But they have really evolved in their four years and steadily gotten better. They are a perfect example of what can happen when you work hard and stay together.”

And on Tuesday night, that group had a chance to showcase their talents on their home floor for one final time.

It was Senior Night at The Enlow Center and the Bulldogs responded in front of a large crowd to post a 59-36 victory over the Altamont Indians.

St. Anthony got off to a torrid start, built a comfortable lead and rolled to their 24th win.

“We’re playing with a lot of confidence right now,” Rincker said. “There was a lot of energy and emotion for Senior Night. These boys knew it was the last time they would step on this floor for a game.”

The St. Anthony freshman and sophomore basketball teams played host to Altamont Monday night and split the two contests.

In the sophomore game, the Indians built a first quarter lead and never trailed, finishing with a 58-41 victory. Altamont led 15-8 after the first quarter, 28-18 at halftime and 45-28 heading into the final eight minutes.

Kyle Stewart scored 11 points and Brody Niebrugge had 10 for St. Anthony.

Only two quarters were played in the freshman contest and the Bulldogs won 27-11. Max Sager scored 6 six points for St. Anthony.

Pairings have been released for the Class 1A and Class 2A boys regionals across the state of Illinois.

St. Anthony will be the top seed in the Bridgeport (Red Hill) Regional, while Teutopolis will take a No. 2 seed into the Paris Regional.

Games will be played on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at both sites.

The Bulldogs received a first-round bye and won’t play until Wednesday, Feb. 26. They play either Cisne or Bridgeport at 6 p.m.

The regional final is set for 7 p.m. Friday.

The Wooden Shoes will open play Tuesday, Feb. 25. They will play either Robinson or Paris at 7 p.m.

That regional final will also be at 7 p.m. Friday.

Here is the complete schedule for both regionals.

By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

It was the marquee game of the day and it lived up to its billing.

St. Anthony and Central A&M are two of the best Class 1A teams in the state and their matchup in Saturday’s Teutopolis Shootout was one many had been looking forward to for quite some time.

It did not disappoint.

And it wasn’t decided until the final shot.

A&M’s Brycen Burgener launched a 3-pointer that looked good. But after rattling in and out, it fell off the rim as the final buzzer sounded, giving the Bulldogs a thrilling and hard-fought 50-49 win at T-Town’s J.H. Griffin Gymnasium.

“This game had a postseason feel to it,” St. Anthony coach Cody Rincker said. “It had the feel of an ISHA regional or sectional. It was two accomplished teams battling all the way. A&M is a great team and this is a great win for us.”

It was an absolute battle from the opening tip. Neither team shot very well, but the effort on both sides was incredible.

“Actually, the game didn’t go the way I thought it would, especially at the beginning,” Rincker noted. “I thought it would be an offensive clinic, but it was exactly the opposite. Both defenses were tough.”

The Bulldogs made just 2-of-14 shots in the opening eight minutes and turned the ball over five times. But the Raiders turned it over four times themselves, plus made only 4-of-10 attempts. After the first eight minutes, A&M held an 8-4 edge.

Foul trouble began to mount for the Raiders in the second period. By halftime, starters Connor Heaton, Griffin Andricks and Conner Hutchins all had three fouls. Heaton, a first-team all-state performer a year ago, was limited to just two points, and Andricks, second team all-state, had only three.