12/13/2025
BY JACK BULLOCK
WAYNE CITY – Despite having some kids missing this season due to injuries, Edwards County took a big step on Saturday afternoon towards a second consecutive championship at the 71st annual Wayne City Holiday Tournament.

The Lions threw a brick wall at Thompsonville in the final game of the opening day, forcing 18-turnovers, which turned out to be the same amount of points they allowed in the 54-18 victory.

Coach Kevin Schnicker and Company took care of business early and never trailed as they pushed their overall mark to 5-3.

Jax Duncan, a senior standout, scored 17-points to lead the way while teammate junior Evan Rhodes added 16 points along with seven rebounds in the contest that was basically over by the end of the second quarter.

As well as the Lions played, Coach Kevin Smith witnessed a below average performance from his Thompsonville club, who dropped to 5-5 and 0-1 in Pool A.

After taking a 13-5 first quarter lead, Duncan scored eight straight points to begin the second quarter.

An assist from Rhodes on a basket in the lane was followed by four made free throws on two different trips to the line.

A score on an inbounds play closed the personal run for a 21-5 lead with 5:22 left in the first half.

Sophomore guard Grayson Clark scored for Thompsonville to stop the run but the Lions didn't slow down.

Junior guard Elijah Brinkman took yet another Rhodes assist and connected on a 3-pointer from the left wing to start another blitz.

Duncan added another score in the lane and senior Wyatt Greathouse nailed down another long range shot for Edwards County.

One of two free throws by Duncan followed by the senior making another journey to the basket for a score closed the first half with the Lions in command at 34-10.

Thompsonville committed seven of their turnovers in the third quarter and fell further behind.

Junior Drew Roosevelt scored in the lane and then recorded an assist to Greathouse to begin the second half.

Rhodes took care of the late quarter scoring, scoring on a rebound basket and nailing a 3-pointer from the left corner for a 45-17 lead at the end of the third.

Two free throws by Rhodes opened the fourth quarter scoring and triggered the mercy rule continuous clock with 7:51 remaining.

Reserves finished out the the final minutes of the Lions' victory.

Greathouse finished with eight-points for Edwards County while Roosevelt added five.

Edwards County hit just 19-of-44 overall but the were 5-of-11 from the arc and out rebounded Thompsonville 34-15, including 13 offensive rebounds.

The Lions were much better with the ball, committing just six turnovers, three in each half.

Edwards County's quest for a second title continues on Monday with a Pool B game against Cisne at 8:30 pm.

Thompsonville will play North Clay on Tuesday at 5:30 pm.

“I told the guys I know what we did last year but we just have to come in here and win games, one at a time no matter who we're playing,” said Coach Schnicker.

The Lions, according to Coach Schnicker, haven't been at full strength this season as two of his starters have been on the shelf with injuries.

Sophomore guard Walker Sledge could be back this week and sophomore forward Aidan Roosevelt is still a question mark for the tournament.

“I haven't had my full starting unit together this year,” said Coach Schnicker.

WEBBER TOWNSHIP 81, SANDOVAL 30
In another of the lopsided, mercy rule games the Trojans took care of Midland Trail Conference rival Blackhawks early as scoring ace Nathaniel Marlow netted 24-points for the now 5-1 club, and 1-0 in Pool A.

Webber Township broke away from Sandoval with a 10-0 run that closed the first quarter and began the second.

Senior Waylon Jones added 17-points for Webber in the victory while sophomore Jacob Marlow added 16-points and 12-rebounds in the contest.

Sophomore Brayden Dalby chipped in eight-points, including a couple of early baskets in the first quarter.

The only bright spot for Coach Don Shaffer was 6-3 junior forward Josh Gordon, who scored 19 of the team's 30.

He scored on a nice move in the lane for a conventional three-point play close the Blackhawks to within 8-7 with 4:23 left in the opening frame.

That was as close as the game would be for the remainder.

Webber's big run ballooned the lead to 26-11.

Senior Grayson Loman scored on a fast break after a steal and Nathaniel Marlow scored twice in the run, beginning the sprint with a rebound of his own missed shot and then on a fast break after another Loman steal.

Senior Carter Bain and Dalby each scored in the run.

After a Gordon score, Webber added eight more points with two 3-pointers from Marlow and a drive by brother Jacob as the lead was now 34-13.

The Trojans closed the half with senior Brennan Tate getting in on the scoring fun on a transition basket and senior Kaden Richardson added a pair of free throws.

A 3-pointer from Jones from the left corner closed the half at 45-17 Webber.

An avalanche of points from the Trojans turned the game into a mercy clock fourth quarter.

Webber outscored Sandoval 32-4 in the eight minute period.

Seven of the baskets came on fast break scores.

Jacob Marlow scored nine of the points with a 3-pointer and pair of rebound baskets to go with another in the paint score.

Jones scored 10 of his points in the frame.

His final basket of the run, on a rebound put-back, made it 77-21 heading into the fourth quarter.

Webber ended up a sizzling 31-of-52 overall from the field, 5-of-12 from long range and they held a 36-21 rebounding advantage.

Sandoval hit just 12-of-54 shots from the floor, 2-of-21 from long range as they fell to 0-1 in Pool A, 2-6 on the season.

WAYNE CITY 75, CRAB ORCHARD 32
The host Indians took care of their first game business on Saturday, rolling out to an early double-digit lead before the Trojans knew what hit them.

Wayne City improved their overall mark to 4-4 and are 1-0 in Pool A.

They did it by causing havoc to Crab Orchard on the defensive end.

Coach Jake Talbert's club forced 24-turnovers in the game, eight in the first quarter as Wayne City rolled out to a 25-7 lead.

Before Coach Tyler Hatton's squad knew what hit them, they were down 12-0 with less that four minutes gone in the opening stanza.

Wayne City was led by senior James Walker, who scored 31-points.

Thirteen of his points came in the first quarter, including a 3-pointer from the left corner for a 21-2 lead with 2:36 left.

Crab Orchard had only two players in double-figures in scoring with sophomore Dawson Poland scoring 11 and senior Brody Watts with 10.

The Indians received contributions from junior Rhyver Tibbs with 14-points and sophomore Peyton Harrison with 13.

Eight different players scored for Wayne City in the romp.

What drama that could have happened in the contest vanished during a 20-8 second quarter for the Indians.

Tibbs, who also led the Tribe with seven rebounds, scored three times in the second quarter; all on the inside.

His rebound bucket with 3:27 left in the half made it 36-15.

It also started a half-ending 10-0 run.

Walker scored on three-consecutive trips down the floor on steals and lay ups and sophomore Cole Tucker, who finished with seven-points, scored on an assist from sophomore Jaxon Slover to close the half at 45-15.

Tibbs added to his totals by opening the second half with a pair of scores in the lane.

Harrison closed the quarter with a 3-pointer from the left corner on an inbounds play as the Indians led 66-28 heading into the final quarter with a continuous clock in place.

Wayne City finished 34-of-61 from the field, 3-of-11 from downtown and held a commanding 37-21 advantage on the glass.

“The games that we have done that (played with intensity) we've won. We talked about the keys to the game. Number one was rebounding and we dominated the boards in the first half,” said Coach Talbert. “And we want to use our speed. We forced a lot of turnovers on Tuesday night against Cisne and we did another good job today.”

Crab Orchard ended up just 13-of-47 overall with only 2-of-12 from the outside.

The Indians had just eight turnovers in the contest and they will face Grayville on Tuesday night at 8:30 pm.

Crab Orchard will play Webber Township on Monday at 5:30 pm.

Wayne City (75) – Walker 14 1 0-0 31, Tibbs 7 0 0-0 14, Harrison 4 1 2-4 13, Loker 0 0 0-0 0, Gregory 0 0 1-2 1, Musgrave 1 0 0-2 2, Keen 0 0 0-0 0, Cole Tucker 3 0 1-2 7, Braddock 0 0 0-0 0, Slover 2 0 0-0 4, Talbert 0 0 0-0 0, Scarbough 0 0 0-0 0, Stanek 0 0 0-0 0, Gardner 0 0 0-0 0, Crew Tucker 0 1 0-0 3.
2FG-31, 3FG-3, FT-4-10, PF-8.

Coach Josh Zink's team, the tournament favorites, got 26-points and eight-rebounds from senior Mason Byers in the win, improving to 1-0 in Pool B and 5-1 on the season.

Senior Cody Zimdars added 19-points for the Cardinals, 16-points and 12-rebounds came from senior Carter Walden and Kade Atwood pitched in 12-points for the high scoring squad.

Junior Lucas Griffey scored 11 in the victory.

Cisne and head coach Collin Klingler slipped to 0-1 in Pool B, 1-7 for the year.

Junior Zach Dagg scored 25-points for the Runnin' Lions in the loss.

Senior Hagen Howard added nine-points and junior Will Coin finished with eight.

It was the only game of the four that didn't produce a continuous clock.

The total margin of victory in the four games on Saturday was 147-points.