In a battle of ranked teams, the Teutopolis Lady Shoes used a big second quarter to regain the lead, en route to a 54-45 victory at home over Altamont.

The Lady Indians, ranked No. 9 in the Class 1A poll, got a pair of 3-pointers from Mary Guse to take a 15-12 lead after the opening eight minutes.

But the second period belonged to T-Town. Six different players scored, helping the Lady Shoes go on a 16-5 scoring run to take a 28-20 lead into the locker room at intermission.

Then Olivia Niemerg took over in the second half. The senior guard hit a three and scored five points in the third period, as the Lady Shoes built a double-digit lead, 40-30. Niemerg then scored seven more points in the final quarter, helping THS maintain its lead down the stretch.

Niemerg finished with 18 points and seven rebounds for the Lady Shoes. Lexie Niebrugge scored eight and Ciara Roepke added seven.

Ellie McManaway scored 13 points and Rachel Jackman had 11 for Altamont, which dipped to 22-5 on the season.

The Lady Shoes, who improved to 18-7, will host Mattoon Thursday night.

By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

The first two minutes of the third period proved to be pivotal.

Teutopolis trailed by eight at halftime, but came out with three excellent possessions that produced three good shots.

Unfortunately, none of them fell.

Carbondale responded by scoring the first six points of the second half that sparked a big third quarter, en route to a 65-45 victory over the Shoes in the third place game of the Salem Invitational Tournament.

“We did the right things to start the second half, but we just didn’t make our shots,” THS coach Chet Reeder said. “That really wears at you. That also tied into a letdown at the defensive end that led to some easy baskets by Carbondale.

“I thought we responded well after that, but we just didn’t make enough shots,” Reeder added. “Carbondale is the most physical team we’ll play all season. Their strength and our inability to hit shots resulted in the game getting away from us in the third period.”

Davaris Macklin and James Baltz both scored six points in the third quarter, helping the Terries go on a 20-5 scoring surge and build a commanding 50-27 lead heading into the final eight minutes.

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After a slow start, the Teutopolis Wooden Shoes kicked it into gear the second half and rolled to a 66-43 victory Tuesday night at Mt. Zion.

T-Town didn’t shoot real well in the first half and trailed 27-26 at intermission. But that all changed when the second half opened. The Shoes exploded, racking up 30 points and holding Mt. Zion to 12, to build a 45-28 edge.

THS continued to expand the lead in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Braves 21-15 to finish with the 23-point win.

Luke Ungrund led the scoring attack with 16 points, while Evan Wermert added 12. Ungrund scored 11 of his points in the second half and Wermert pumped in 10 second-half points. Wermert also pulled down nine rebounds, helping THS to a 39-21 rebounding advantage.

“We survived a bad first half shooting effort,” said THS coach Chet Reeder. “In the second half, our ball pressure on defense helped us get easy buckets. That in turn helped us make some outside shots.”

The Shoes, now 14-7, will return home Saturday to face Taylorville.

The Teutopolis Lady Shoes let a lead slip away in the fourth period and ended up dropping a 68-62 overtime decision to O’Fallon on Saturday in the third place game of the Scott Credit Union Tournament, played in Highland.

T-Town led most of the game.

Lexie Niebrugge made three 3-pointers in the first quarter, helping the Lady Shoes take a 21-13 lead. Niebrugge scored 10 more points in the second period and THS went to the locker room with a 36-26 advantage at halftime.

Teutopolis was still on top, 45-38, entering the fourth quarter. But O’Fallon then outscored the Lady Shoes 21-14 to tie the score at 59-59 and force the overtime.

In the extra period, Hope Bueker hit a 3-pointer, but that was the only points the Lady Shoes scored. O’Fallon tallied nine points to come away with the win and capture third place.

Niebrugge finished as the game’s leading scorer with 22 points. Olivia Niemerg scored 15, while Ciara Roepke and Bueker both added 11.

The Lady Shoes finished 2-2 in tournament play and are now 16-7 for the season.

They will play three times next week – Tuesday at home against Altamont; Thursday at home against Mattoon; and Friday at Effingham.