The game plan was to keep Shubert and Dickshot, who was also named to the all-tourney squad, out of the lane.

“At times, we didn’t do a good job with that,” Reeder noted. “But when you take away a strength from a team, that provides the opportunity for someone else to step up and that’s what Lewis did tonight. He stepped up and made some big shots. He was definitely the x-factor.”

Lewis began making his presence known in the opening period. He knocked down the first of his four three-pointers to get the Cougars on the scoreboard. A jumper by Garrett Gaddis put the Shoes ahead, 11-10, but a bucket by Shubert just ahead of the buzzer gave Breese Central a slim 12-11 edge at the end of the opening eight minutes.

Siemer hit a shot and Gaddis added one from behind the arc, but Lewis responded after each one of those with a three-pointer of his own, keeping the Cougars ahead, 18-16. A three by Hayden Rickhoff made it a five-point bulge, but Joey Niebrugge’s bucket got the Shoes within 23-20 at intermission.

It was still a five-point margin late in the third period, but a jumper by Siemer and a three-point play by Joey Niebrugge knotted the score at 30-30 heading into the final quarter.

The Shoes made just 1-of-10 shots from the floor and 1-of-4 from the foul line in that fourth period.

“We continued to attack and had some good looks in the fourth quarter,” Reeder said. “They just didn’t go down.

“But overall, we just didn’t execute very well on offense all night,” the coach added. “We weren’t cutting hard enough or screening hard enough. And when Caleb got the ball, we just stood around and quit moving. That was the story of the night for us.”

For the Cougars, it was the seventh time they have stood in the winner’s circle at the St. Anthony Thanksgiving Tournament – also claiming titles in 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2021.

The Shoes were looking for their first championship in what will be their final year to participate in the tournament. They will return to Capital Classic in Lawrenceville next year.

Lewis finished with a game-high 16 points, while Shubert added 12. The Cougars shot 47 percent for the game, hitting 16-of-34 attempts. They were 5-of-13 from long range and 7-for-11 at the foul line. They turned the ball over just five times.

Nobody cracked double figures for the Shoes. Joey Niebrugge and Siemer both had nine points and Gaddis added eight. THS shot 35 percent overall, connecting on 12-of-35 shots. They were 2-for-11 from three-point range and 7-for-14 from the foul stipe. They turned the ball over eight times and held a 21-18 rebounding advantage. James Niebrugge and Siemer both pulled down seven boards.

Leading scorer Brendan Niebrugge was held to just two points, going 1-for-5 from the floor. But both he and Siemer were named to the all-tourney team.

The Shoes were 3-1 in the tournament and Reeder was pleased with what he saw from the team.

“I’m proud our guys and how they played this week,” he said. “We were exposed to some things we need to work on, but we fought through those things and got better each game. I’m proud of what we accomplished this week.

“Did we ultimately get the outcome we wanted? No,” Reeder continued. “But I thought we grew as a group. I know we’ve got plenty to improve on, but I’m pleased where we’re at. I think this group of guys can be something real special.”

T-Town will return to action Saturday, Dec. 3, with a game at Tolono Unity.