02/08/2025
BY JACK BULLOCK
WOOD RIVER - The Staunton Bulldogs have had a nice run this season and have reached 20-wins for the first time since the 2013-14 season.

They have picked up some very good wins on this year but Saturday they had to win a game that wouldn't place high in any beauty contest.

Coach Ty Laux and his club put together a game-changing second quarter scoring burst and their defense kept Alton Marquette from mounting enough of a comeback to get a win.

The Bulldogs escaped Memorial Gym at East Alton-Wood River with a 39-35 triumph over the Explorers.

Staunton is now 22-4 on the season and are riding a nine-game winning streak.

Marquette and head coach Cody Best suffered a bitter loss, having a late game rally fall short as the Explorers are now 12-13 on the season.

Coach Laux had seven different players score with 11-points coming from 6-3 senior Ethan Sharp.

Although no one else hit double-digits sophomore guard Isiah Laux netted eight-points.

That total included 3-of-3 free throws in the final minutes to finish off the victory Saturday afternoon.

Both senior Zander Machota and junior Bryson Coalson scored five-points and sophomore Luke Moore scored three-points.

That quartet each hit a 3-pointer during the game while Sharp did his damage inside the arc.

“He (Sharp) made some huge plays down the stretch. He hit some shots and I've been saying it all year he just brings it every game. He brings more energy than anybody else on the floor every game,” said Coach Laux.

Marquette got 15-points from freshman Cameron Jones in the loss.

The 6-4 forward led all scorers, with 12 of the points coming in the second half.

Twin brother freshman Chase Jones, a 6-5 forward, ended up with nine-points.

Junior older brother Carson Jones, a 6-3 forward, added seven-points for the Explorers.

Jack Rea added a 3-pointer in the first quarter as Marquette got off to a good start.

Or at least a better start than the Bulldogs.

Chase Jones opened the scoring on the inside on an inbound play and Rea hit his only field goal of the game from the right wing for a 5-2 advantage.

A rebound basket by Carson Jones closed the first quarter scoring as both teams struggled from the field.

The three baskets from the Explorers were the only ones hit in the first eight minutes.

Staunton got four free throws, two from Coalson and one each from Sharp and sophomore Jeremiah Graham.

The Bulldogs missed all 11 of their field goal attempts, five from the arc as they were cold early.

Fortunately for Coach Laux his club got shots to fall as they opened the second quarter.

Staunton nailed down its first five attempts to take the lead.

A steal and fast break lay in by Sharp and a drive in the lane for a short bank shot by Laux started the run.

The two made shots were followed by consecutive 3-pointers from Laux and Moore.

Five-eight junior guard Aaron Bodner finished the 13-2 run with another inside score as the Bulldogs led 17-9 with 3:21 left in the half.

Both Cameron and Chase added 3-pointers before the second quarter ended but Coalson hit his 3-pointer in the final minutes as Staunton went to halftime up 22-16.

Following a good start, Marquette hit just 3-of-12 shots in the second quarter.

“We didn't make the shots we needed to make and we didn't make the free throws on our end,” said Coach Best. “We held Staunton to under 40 points but we've got to get over 40. We've had our moments this year where we've struggled scoring. Today was definitely one of those days. The effort by our guys was there but we have to be able to hit open shots.”

(CONTINUED)

The Explorers made two mini runs in the second half but neither got the Explorers a tie or a lead.

Cameron Jones scored six-consecutive points for Marquette (6-2 run) to start the third quarter, which cut the Staunton lead to just 24-22.

Once on a rebound effort, again on a drive for a short bank and again on a short attempt in the lane.

He added a 3-pointer from the top of the circle late in the quarter as he accounted for all nine of his team's points in the third.

Staunton got a 3-pointer from the left corner from Machota on a drive and pass assist from Sharp as the Bulldogs led 29-25 heading to the final quarter.

Twice in the final minutes Marquette got within a basket of the Bulldogs but they never got even.

Two drives to the goal by Sharp and eventually enough free throws allowed the Bulldogs to hang on for the shootout victory.

Laux closed the book hitting three-straight free throws with the fourth one being waived off on a lane violation.

Chase Jones ended the Marquette scoring with :22.0 left before a final free throw by Bodner gave Staunton its margin of victory.

The final stats were nothing to brag about by either team but there was one column that made the difference for Coach Laux and Crew.

Marquette was 14-of-42 overall, 5-of-20 from long range compared to 13-of-42 and 4-of-20 from the arc for the Bulldogs.

However while Staunton hit 9-of-16 from the foul line, the Explorers were just 2-of-8, 1-of-4 in the final minutes.

Staunton committed just seven turnovers compared to 10 from Marquette.“Our guards really take care of the basketball. When the ball is in their hands it's hard to take it from them,” said Coach Laux. “We're on a little bit of a roll here. This wasn't our best basketball today but we got the job done.”

Staunton has four games left in the regular season in the South Central Conference as they hold a one-game lead over Litchfield in the league championship race.

“We've got Piasa (Southwestern) for a third time Tuesday. (Ian) Brantley is a huge challenge for us,” said Coach Laux. “If we win out we can win the conference. We're sitting right where we want to be.”

The last time the Bulldogs wore the conference crown was their third consecutive championship back in 1992-93.

That squad also won the Class AA state championship.

Marquette has work to do as Coach Best's young club is still learning on the fly moving forward this season in the Gateway Metro Conference.

“We're young. We don't have any seniors and we start two freshmen. It's just a learning process but we're getting there,” said Coach Best.

Senior Adam Ogden scored 18-points for Civic Memorial, 12 in the first quarter as the 3A club soared out to a 26-9 advantage and led 43-17 at the half.

Coach Lee Green's club improved to 17-10 on the season.

Senior Jack Piening added 13-points, with three 3-pointers while sophomore Lukus Zangori and junior Riley Lamb scored eight-points each.

Junior Charlie Kilpatrick scored seven-points for Civic Memorial and senior August Frankfort netted six.

East Alton-Wood River and head coach Eric DeWerff got 16-points from junior Tamarion Marshall in the loss.

Senior Matthew Bruce (seven) and both senior Harrison Smith (five) and sophomore Jordyn Spiller (five) added points in the loss.

Civic Memorial hit seven 3-pointers in the triumph.