Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009

Freeburg Midgets finally find win column with one-point victory over Lebanon

COLUMBIA -- No team entered the Columbia-Freeburg Holiday Tournament more in need of a win than the Freeburg Midgets.

The Midgets were floundering at 0-11 following a loss earlier Saturday to top-seeded Triad, but then put the streak behind them with a 62-61 victory over the Lebanon Greyhounds.

Dustin Kimball tossed in a season-high 24 points and the Midgets overcame a 47-41 deficit heading into the fourth quarter.

"We had faith that we definitely could win this game," said Kimball, a 6-foot-5 senior who earned first-team News-Democrat All-Area football honors as a receiver. "It's hard to even knows what it feels like. We won, but what emotions do I show?

"It could definitely change us. After that win, we came together as a team."

Freeburg jumped out to a 10-0 lead, but trailed the Greyhounds 31-17 at halftime and seemed headed for another defeat.

The Midgets hung close and then took the lead in the fourth quarter, hitting eight of nine free throws down the stretch to hold off a late Lebanon charge.

Conner Halloran and Nick Koesterer each sank two free throws in the final 23 seconds. A late 3-pointer by Tyler Sonsoucie wasn't enough as Lebanon (5-5) fell by a point.

"It felt good," Freeburg coach Donovan McMillian said. "It's kind of funny, with a couple minutes left in the game there we got the lead and those were waters we hadn't traveled on in a while.

"Fortunately tonight we were able to come out on top."

McMillian liked the way his team responded when things got tight down the stretch.

"In the fourth quarter they showed a lot of confidence and hit some free throws," McMillian said "We toughened up a little on the defensive end. I'm proud of them, because they showed a different side they haven't showed this year with maintaining the lead at the end of the game."

Lebanon got 16 points from David Thornton and 15 from Sonsoucie along with 13 from Michael Clark.

Murphysboro 54, Gibault 38

The upset-minded Gibault Hawks (3-6) pushed second-seeded Murphysboro in the first half, taking a 21-20 lead midway through the second quarter on a 3-pointer by John Pratl.

That proved to be the high-water mark for the Hawks as Murphysboro (10-0) embarked on a 22-0 run that didn't end until Nick Kovarik hit a short jumper with 2:02 remaining in the third quarter.

Pierre House led the way for Murphysboro with 18 points, while Jerrod Gaston contributed 10 and Dylan Craig had 10. Gibault guard Justin Rueter tossed in 15 points and Kyle Prader had 10.

Triad 81, Civic Memorial 49

Top-seeded Triad (9-0) posted its second lopsided victory of the day by rolling past Mississippi Valley Conference rival Civic Memorial. Travis Felax had 14 points for Triad, while Jake Lewis and Ryan Findlay each contributed 13. Senior Thomas Woelfel tossed in 15 points for Civic Memorial.

Triad 50, Freeburg 38

Freeburg led 11-8 after one quarter, but then the roof fell in as the Knights stormed back for a first-round win. Travis Felax topped the Knights with 20 points and Mason Petrie added 10.

Columbia 66, Valmeyer 46

Tanner Hall tossed in 14 points and Billy Haag had eight as Columbia cruised past Valmeyer in its first tourney game. Kyle Kipping led Valmeyer with 14 points.

Marquette 51, Civic Memorial 47

Tyler Moore scored 15 points and Derrik Starrett added 12 as Marquette (6-4) outscored Civic Memorial 17-8 in the fourth quarter to escape with a win. Civic Memorial's Zach Standefer led all scorers with 23 points.

Contact reporter Norm Sanders at nsanders@bnd.com or 239-2454.