The Windsor/Stew Stras Hatchets kept it close for the first eight minutes.

They were even somewhat within striking distance at halftime.

But when the second half started, the rout began.

The St. Anthony Bulldogs went on a 26-7 run in the third period to blow the game open and coasted to a 70-33 win at home that kept their winning streak and unblemished conference record intact.

Despite 10 points by Ryan Schmidt in the first period, the Bulldogs held a slim 20-16 lead.

It was Brock Fearday’s turn to tally 10 points in the second quarter, helping the hosts build a double-digit advantage, 37-22, at intermission.

But in the third period, St. Anthony began to pour it on. Fearday hit three shots from behind the arc and Schmidt scored eight more points as the Bulldogs built an insurmountable margin, leading by 34 points, 63-29, heading to the final quarter.

Brock Fearday and Schmidt combined to score 43 points, with Fearday finishing with 22 and Schmidt netting 21. Will Fearday was also in double figures with 11.

For the Bulldogs, it was their 16^th straight win, improving to 18-2 overall. They also maintained their lead in the National Trail Conference at 6-0.

Their game today (Saturday) with St. Joe-Ogden was cancelled.

So, their next game will be Tuesday night in the NTC Tournament. St. Anthony will play either CHBC or Neoga. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:15 p.m.

It will be No. 1 vs. No. 2 in the championship game of the National Trail Conference Girls Basketball Tournament.

Both top-seeded St. Anthony and No. 2-seed Brownstown/St. Elmo did what was expected of them on Thursday.

The Lady Bulldogs defeated Windsor/Stew-Stras, 56-42, and the Lady Bombers held on to beat Altamont, 52-47.

St. Anthony and BSE will play for the tournament title at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Beecher City High School. SAHS will be looking for its second straight championship.

The Lady Bulldogs built their decisive lead in the first half. They led 15-10 after the opening eight minutes and were up by 12 points, 30-18, at halftime. The two teams played on even terms in the final two periods.

St. Anthony had three players in double figures. Nancy Ruholl scored 15, Addi Nuxoll had 14 and Ady Rios added 13.

In the other semifinal game, Dayana Haslett poured in 25 points, leading BSE to the five-point win over Altamont. The Lady Bombers were ahead by 10 points, 28-18, at halftime and then withstood the second rally by the Lady Indians. Kaylee Lurkins scored 10 points for Altamont.

So, the final games are set for Saturday.

North Clay and Neoga will play in the seventh place game at 11:30 a.m. Dieterich and CHBC will then square off for the consolation championship at 1 p.m. Altamont and WSS will end the first session at 2:30 p.m. in the third place game.

It will then be St. Anthony and BSE for the tournament championship at 7:30 p.m. This will be the third straight year the Lady Bulldogs have been in the finals.

The St. Anthony Bulldogs have been tabbed the No. 1 seed for the 89^th annual National Trail Conference Boys Basketball Tournament, which will be played next week at Altamont High School.

Games will be played Monday through Saturday, January 27 through February 1.

The Bulldogs are the defending champs and have been in the final game seven consecutive years, winning five of those.

The Dieterich Maroons are the No. 2 seed. The remaining top four seeds are No. 3 Altamont and No. 4 North Clay. The other schools are No. 5 Windsor/Stew-Stras, No. 6 South Central, No. 7 St. Elmo/Brownstown, No. 8 Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City and No. 9 Neoga.

Here is the tournament schedule:

Monday, Jan. 27

Game 1 – 6:15 p.m. – CHBC vs. Neoga

Tuesday, Jan. 28

Game 2 – 6:15 p.m. – St. Anthony vs. Winner Game 1

Game 3 – 7:45 p.m. – North Clay vs. WSS

Wednesday, Jan. 29

Game 4 – 6:15 p.m. – Dieterich vs. SEB

Game 5 – 7:45 p.m. – Altamont vs. South Central

Games will continue Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

There are three games scheduled on Thursday and two more on Friday.

The finals will be played Saturday. The seventh place game will be at 11:30 a.m., followed by the consolation championship at approximately 1:30 p.m. and the third place contest at approximately 3:30 p.m.

The tournament championship will be at 7:30 p.m.

The St. Anthony Lady Bulldogs showed why they were the No. 1 seed Tuesday night, posting a convincing 57-23 decision over Dieterich in their opening round game of the National Trail Conference Girls Basketball Tournament, which is played in Beecher City.

St. Anthony bolted to a 16-6 lead after the opening eight minutes and continued to expand on it. During the middle two quarters, the Lady Bulldogs outscored the Lady Maroons 37-13 to take a 53-19 advantage into the fourth period.

Nancy Ruholl scored a game-high 20 points, with 18 of those coming in the first half. Addi Nuxoll was also in double figures with 10 points and Addi Lauritzen came close to a double-double, finishing with 9 points and 10 rebounds.

The Lady Bulldogs, now 16-4, will face Windsor/Stew Stras in the semifinals. That game is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Thursday. St. Anthony defeated the Lady Hatchets, 62-34, in an early matchup in December.

The other semifinal game that night will feature No. 3 Altamont against No. 2 Brownstown/St. Elmo at 7:30 p.m.