In a tune-up for Saturday’s big match-up with Central A&M, the Teutopolis Wooden Shoes turned in a strong performance Friday night, posting a 67-44 victory at St. Thomas More in Champaign.

The Shoes led throughout. They were up 17-11 after eight minutes and expanded the lead to 33-19 at halftime. It was a 47-33 advantage heading into the fourth period.

“We were able to get some great possessions in the first and third quarter that really separated us in this game,” THS coach Chet Reeder said. “We dominated the rebounding effort and our bench gave us some great minutes.”

Evan Wermert and Luke Ungrund led the scoring attack, pumping in 19 and 18 points respectively. Playing again without starters Jordan Hardiek and Brock Deters, the Shoes also got nine points from both Evan Addis and Mitch Hardiek. The Shoes also held a 33-14 rebounding advantage.

T-Town improved to 12-3 and will now face Central A&M at 5 p.m. today in the fifth game of the annual shootout. It will feature a talented Raiders team that is 10-2 on the season and ranked No. 3 in the Class 1 poll. The Shoes enter as the No. 8 team in the Class 2A rankings.

Teutopolis will participate in the 34th annual Scott Credit Union Girls Basketball Tournament in Highland.

The tournament will feature 16 teams. It will start on Saturday, Jan. 18, and conclude Saturday, Jan. 25.

The other teams in the tourney are Civic Memorial, Belleville Althoff, Collinsville, Breese Central, Belleville West, Salem, Triad, O’Fallon, Taylorville, Nashville, Belleville East, Breese Mater Dei, Hillsboro, Highland and Okawville.

The Lady Shoes will open play on January 18 at 2:30 p.m. They will face Triad. Win or lose, T-Town will play again on Monday, Jan. 20. If they lose their opener, the Lady Shoes will face the loser of the Belleville West-Salem contest at 5:30 p.m. If T-Town beats Triad, they will face the winner of the Belleville West-Salem game at 8:30 p.m.

Tournament games will also be played on Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 22-23, before concluding on January 25.

Here are the first-round games that will all be played on Saturday, Jan. 18:

10 a.m. – Civic Memorial vs. Belleville Althoff

11:30 a.m. – Collinsville vs. Breese Central

1 p.m. – Belleville West vs. Salem

2:30 p.m. – Teutopolis vs. Triad

4 p.m. – O’Fallon vs. Taylorville

5:30 p.m. – Nashville vs. Belleville East

7 p.m. – Breese Mater Dei vs. Hillsboro

8:30 p.m. – Highland vs. Okawville

The Teutopolis Lady Shoes jumped out to a 12-2 lead and then rolled to a 58-32 victory at home Thursday night over Danville.

Lexie Niebrugge hit a three-pointer and scored five points in the opening eight minutes, helping the Lady Shoes build the quick double-digit lead.

It was still a 10-point bulge, 23-13, at intermission. But the Lady Shoes put the game away in the third period, outscoring Danville 23-8 to expand the margin to 46-21. Niebrugge and Hope Buenker both scored seven points in the third quarter.

Niebrugge was the only T-Town player to reach double figures with 14 points. Olivia Niemerg and Buenker both scored nine, as 11 different players cracked the scoring column. Niemerg led the Lady Shoes with seven rebounds, while Niebrugge and Izzy Hardiek both pulled down six.

The Lady Shoes, who improved to 13-4 overall, will return to action Monday with a game at Civic Memorial in Bethalto.

By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

Sometimes it only takes a spark to get things going.

And Tuesday night, Luke Ungrund proved to be that spark, turning in two key plays in the final 40 seconds of the third period.

First, the Teutopolis senior guard drilled a 3-pointer. Then in the final seconds at the defensive end, he knocked the ball loose, dove to the floor, secured possession and got the ball to teammate Evan Wermert, who drove the length of the floor for a layup at the buzzer that ignited the team and the crowd at J.H. Griffin Gymnasium.

Those two plays started the decisive run that broke open a close game and helped the Wooden Shoes pull away for a 57-36 win at home over Monticello.

“That was a big moment. That steal and score deflated them,” THS coach Chet Reeder said. “Luke and Max (Niebrugge) set the tone with the pressure they put on Monticello’s point guards. When those two picked up the pressure, everybody else followed suit.”

Three minutes into the second half, the game was tied 31-31. But the final 13 minutes of the contest was all Wooden Shoes.

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