In a showdown of regional Class 3A powers, Cahokia senior Keenan Minor returned from a knee injury and scored 18 points to lead the Comanches past Alton Marquette 68-48 at the Jerseyville Winter Classic.
Darius Austin and Vincent Jackson contributed 14 points each for the Comanches (18-2) and Derenzo Jennings added 10, Mike Williams-Bey led Marquette (12-5) with 11 points while Jake Coddington and Deion Lavender scored 10 each.
Central 50, Freeburg 30
Austin Rickhoff scored 16 points and Kyler Scheer tossed in 11 as defending Nashville Invitational Tournament champ Central breezed past Freeburg in a first-round game.
Luis Perez added nine points for the Cougars and Justin Becker had eight, while Freeburg got 12 points from Justin Diecker.
In the other NIT game Wednesday, tourney newcomer Teutopolis had little trouble with Mascoutah in a 66-37 victory as Rourke Schultz led the way with 14 points.
Jerseyville 49, Collinsville 35
Jerseyville outscored Collinsville 25-11 in the second half and Luke Shively scored 17 points as the Panthers held on for a win at the Jerseyville Winter Classic. Falando Wilkinson led Collinsville with 15 points and Chris Mathes had 11.
