03-04-2016
BY JACK BULLOCK
Of the five sectional championship games to be held on Friday night in which ABV area teams are playing, the three 1A sectional games will all feature the rubber game (third) contest between the schools.

At Gallatin County, Woodlawn and Christopher have met twice this season with each team winning once.

The Cardinals beat the Bearcats to win their sixth-straight Sesser-Valier Holiday Tournament championship, 55-52, on December 30.

Christopher won the rematch, 57-52 on February 12 at Woodlawn.

To get this point, both teams had to win sectional semifinals.

Woodlawn led from start to finish, routing Meridian 69-54 on Tuesday night behind 22-points from Brett Harris and 21-points from Austin Ballard.

Christopher rallied for a 63-51 win over Goreville in the Wednesday night semifinal, trailing 47-44 heading into the fourth quarter;

The Bearcats went on a 13-0 run to seize control.

Junior forward Isaac McPhail scored a game-high 25-points for the Bearcats.

At Red Hill, Effingham St. Anthony and Patoka have also met twice this season, six days apart back in December, with the Bulldogs winning 59-50 on the 22nd.

The Warriors won the rematch at the Vandalia Holiday Tournament on December 28, 62-53.

Tuesday night, coming off an upset win over Altamont to win the St. Elmo Regional, Patoka carried it over to a 60-48 win over Edwards County to advance.

The combo of Garrett Belcher and Jered Cain continue to shine, scoring 20 and 18-points respectively as Patoka moved into the title tilt at 23-11.

St. Anthony won its rubber game with NTC rival Dieterich, 45-43 on a basket by Nick Grunloh with :08 left to get the Bulldogs to the sectional final.
Drew Gibson and Grunloh scored 13 and 11-points in a low scoring affair as St. Anthony improved to 21-10.

Between Patoka and St. Anthony, the two teams have played a combined 66-games this winter.

At White Hall North Greene, Waterloo Gibault handed Okawville its first defeat of the season back on December 22 at Okawville, 59-51.

Round two went to Okawville in decisive fashion, 59-37, as the Rockets never trailed and led by 30-points in the final minutes of the title game of the Okawville Invitational Tournament.

Gibault (23-9) proved to be much the best in their sectional opener against Carrollton, as they easily won the battle of the Hawks, 54-35 with Trevor Davis and Brian Deterding doing the damage with 21 and 18.

Gibault led 24-14 at the half and pulled away late.

The Rockets romped past upstart Pawnee, 67-46 in a game that wasn't as close as the final score indicated.

Coach Jon Kraus' club led 41-19 at one point.

Noah Frederking netted 24-points for the 28-4 Rockets while Shane Ganz added 21.

In 2A at the Flora Sectional, it is a rematch between Lawrenceville and Teutopolis from a game back on November 28.

The Indians topped Teutopolis 77-74 to win the Lawrence County Capital Classic.

The Indians topped Carterville at Flora on Tuesday night, 60-50 to improve to 28-2 on the season behind Brant Cochran and Harry Loeb with 20-points each.

They will face a Teutopolis team that has won 9-of-10, including a 62-44 drilling of Mt. Carmel on Wednesday night.

Brett Mette paced the Wooden Shoes with 15-points as T-Town led all the way after a 16-2 beginning.

Mitch Hardiek netted 13-points for the 25-6 team.

At Pinckneyville, Breese Central and Nashville will hook up for a second time. The Cougars beat the Hornets back on January 21, 51-48 on their way to winning the Nashville Invitational Tournament.

Nashville rallied for a 47-45 win over rival Pinckneyville on Wednesday night behind a game-high 32-points from senior Royce Newman, including the game winner with :04 left.

Breese Central (28-4) took care of Alton Marquette in a close game for the second time in 11-days with a 38-34 victory.

Jack Strieker and Logan Kohrman led the Cougars with 15 and 13.