By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

Years ago, The Wide World of Sports was a popular Saturday afternoon television show.

Included in the introduction each week was the phrase – “The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.”

Those words can also be used to perfectly describe the postseason.

For the winners, there is the thrill of surviving and advancing.

But for the losing team, there is that agony when the season comes to an abrupt, unexpected and unwanted end.

Unfortunately, the St. Anthony Lady Bulldogs experienced the agonizing part of that Thursday night.

They led by as many as eight points in the second half and were still on top by seven with just under six minutes to play.

But missed shots, turnovers and the play of Lucy Corley dominated the stretch run.

The senior guard not only poured in a game-high 31 points, she scored 20 of her team’s 24 second-half points, all 14 points in the fourth quarter and 10 free throws in the final three minutes.

That helped the St. Teresa Lady Bulldogs – yes, both teams share the same nickname – rally for a 45-40 victory in the championship game of the Class 1A Arcola Sectional.

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By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

How do teams respond when shots aren’t falling?

Are there other aspects of their game that can carry them?

Fortunately for the St. Anthony Lady Bulldogs, it was defense and rebounding that made the difference Tuesday night.

In a game St. Anthony shot just 30 percent, its pressure defense forced 26 turnovers.

In a game that was extremely physical and had both teams in foul trouble, the Lady Bulldogs had a 31-22 rebounding advantage.

And, they made enough shots to post a 45-34 victory over Arcola in a semifinal game of the Class 1A Arcola Sectional.

The Lady Bulldogs will now face Decatur St. Teresa in the championship game, which is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

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The St. Anthony Bulldogs will now get another shot at Arcola.

A year ago, the Purple Riders pulled off a 57-52 overtime upset over the Bulldogs in the regional championship.

Those two teams will square off once again Friday night – and once again, it will be for a regional title.

That became a reality when both St. Anthony and Arcola posted wins Wednesday in semifinal games in the Class 1A Moweaqua (Central A&M) Regional.

St. Anthony topped Nokomis, 45-23; and Arcola got by Okaw Valley, 49-34.

That will set up the regional championship Friday at Moweaqua High School. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

The Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead against Nokomis and were never headed. Ryan Schmidt, pumped in 10 points in the opening period, helping St. Anthony build an 18-7 advantage after the first eight minutes. Schmidt later injured his ankle and didn’t return to the game, but should be fine for Friday’s contest.

The Redskins stayed within striking distance over the next two quarters, still trailing by 11 points, 32-21, heading into the fourth period. In that final quarter, freshman Jonny Gannaway came off the bench to score seven points, helping SAHS go on a 13-2 run and pull away for the 22-point decision.

Brock Fearday led St. Anthony with 12 points, while Schmidt added 10.

The Bulldogs improved to 28-4 on the year. Arcola has won 10 of its last 11 games and will enter Friday night’s championship contest with a 24-7 record.

There are going to be lopsided games in basketball.

They’re called romps, routs, blowouts.

Maybe laughers, runaways or dominant.

Then there’s the St. Anthony-Ramsey game Monday night.

What word best describes an 86-point margin?

There might not be one for a game that one-sided.

Let’s just say this one was over quickly.

The St. Anthony Bulldogs scored 34 points in the first eight minutes and went on to post an easy 102-16 win over Ramsey at the Enlow Center.

It was an opening-round play-in game and part of the Class 1A Moweaqua (Central A&M) Regional.

It was also a mismatch from the opening tip.

There’s a reason Ramsey was the No. 16 seed and not a huge surprise the Rams finished their season with a 1-26 record.

Brock Fearday and Ryan Schmidt both scored 12 points in the first period, as the hosts raced to a 34-7 lead. By intermission, it was 58-12. Then it was 88-13 heading into the final quarter when the mercy clock kicked in.

All total, 15 St. Anthony players got in the game and 14 of them scored.

There were four Bulldogs in double figures. Schmidt finished with a game-high 23 points, while Brock Fearday had 18, Miles Waldhoff 12 and Sam Link 10.

St. Anthony, now 27-4 on the year and the regional’s top-ranked team, will return to action at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Central A&M High School in Moweaqua. The Bulldogs will face Nokomis, who defeated Windsor/Stew-Stras, 56-42, Monday night. The Redskins will enter with a 16-16 record.

Arcola and Okaw Valley also won opening-round games and will face each other at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.