In a game featuring two of the top girls basketball programs in the state, the Nashville Lady Hornets used a 12-4 scoring surge in the final period to pull away down the stretch for a 47-31 win over the Teutopolis Lady Shoes.

The victory advances Nashville into the semifinals of the 38^th annual Apex Network Physical Therapy Girls Basketball Tournament in Highland. The Lady Hornets will face Breese Mater Dei on Thursday.

Nashville led throughout. They built a 14-7 lead in the first period and extended it to 25-17 at halftime. It was still an eight-point spread, 35-27, heading into the final eight minutes.

The Lady Hornets, who have won seven straight games an improved to 17-2 for the season, had three players in double figures – Samantha Brinkmann had 12, Emma Behrmann 11 and Summer Brinkmann 10.

Chloe Probst led T-Town with 12 points and Malea Helmink added 10.

The Lady Shoes dipped to 17-5. They will return to Highland on Thursday and face Bethalto Civic Memorial at 5 p.m. These two teams just played each other on January 11, with the Lady Eagles prevailing 58-41.

The Warrensburg-Latham Cardinals jumped out to an early lead and were never headed Saturday, posting a 47-40 victory at Teutopolis.

The Cardinals built an 11-point spread, 16-5, after the opening eight minutes. The Shoes trimmed it to 18-13 at halftime, but the guests were able to stay on top in the second half.

It was the third straight game T-Town was limited to 40 or fewer total points and the second straight game the Shoes didn’t have a player in double figures. Henry Thompson and Drew Hoene both scored eight points, while Mick Niebrugge and Gavin Addis had seven.

Kaiden Gardner and Brayden Hickey scored 15 and 12 points, respectively, for Warrensburg-Latham. The Cardinals, who won their first 14 games of the season, but dropped four of their last six, improved to 17-4.

The Shoes are now 12-6. They will return to action Thursday when they face Charleston in a first-round game at the Salem Invitational Basketball Tournament. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.

The Teutopolis Lady Shoes outscored Troy Triad 18-3 in the fourth quarter Saturday night to pull away and post a 52-36 victory in an opening-round game of the 38^th annual Apex Network Physical Therapy Highland Girls Basketball Tournament.

The Lady Shoes held a slim 34-33 lead heading into the final eight minutes. But Anna Probst knocked down a pair of three-pointers and teammates Chloe Probst, Mollie Ruholl and Kelsey Niemerg each scored four, helping T-Town take control and secure the win.

Until the fourth period, the game had been a tight one from the beginning. Teutopolis led 12-11 after the opening quarter, but trailed 26-22 at intermission. The Lady Shoes then got eight points from Chloe Probst in the third period and regained the lead, 34-33.

Following her 30-point performance against Flora just two days earlier, Chloe Probst followed that up with a double-double. She pumped in a game-high 21 points and pulled down 12 rebounds. Anna Probst was also in double figures, finishing with 12.

McKenna Witham had 16 points for the Lady Knights, who had their five-game winning streak snapped and dropped to 17-4 on the season.

The Lady Shoes improved to 17-4. They will return to Highland on Tuesday night and face another tough opponent in Nashville. The Lady Hornets defeated Collinsville on Saturday to improve to 17-2.

Henry Thompson knocked down a big three-pointer late in the game Friday night, helping the Teutopolis Wooden Shoes rally for a low-scoring 32-31 victory at Tuscola.

The Warriors held a 29-25 lead heading into the final eight minutes. But T-Town’s defense limited the hosts to a single basket and outscored them 7-2 to pull out the road win. Landon Thoele and Drew Hoene connected on jumpers in that final period and Thompson hit the shot from behind the arc that put the Shoes ahead to stay.

The game was close from the outset. Tuscola held a slim 11-10 lead after the first period and took a 20-18 advantage to the locker room at halftime.

Thompson led the THS scoring attack with nine points. Alex Kremer scored six and Hoene added five.

The Shoes improved to 12-5. They will return to action today (Saturday) at home against Warrensburg-Latham.