Williams leads Belleville West to opening round win at Centralia Holiday Tournament
The Belleville West Maroons picked up where they have left off the last two years Thursday at the Centralia Holiday Tournament.
Junior guard Tommie Williams scored 16 points and sophomore Jadin Brazil added 11 as the two-time defending tournament champion Maroons opened play with a 65-39 win over St. Louis Confluence Academy.
The two-time defending Class 4A state champion Maroons (4-5) took a 30-15 halftime lead then put the game away with a 20-11 spurt in the third quarter.
West will play Chatham-Glenwwood in a quarterfinal round game on Friday beginning at 12:30 p.m.
In other tournament action on Thursday:
Mater Dei Christmas Tournament
Senior Caleb Zurliene connected on 11 of 12 shots from the floor and finished with a game-high 26 points as the second-seeded Knights (9-3) opened the 59th annual event with a 66-38 win over Highland Thursday at Mater Dei High School.
Grant Goebel (13 points) and Jacob Schadegg (11) were also in double figures for the host school which later in the day improved to 2-0 in the pool play event by beating Red Bay, Ala. 52-33.
Nashville 48, Metro East Lutheran 43
Senior all-state guard Carson Parker score 22 points as the top-seeded Hornets nipped the Knights (3-6) in the first game of the day. Nashville (9-2) was the runner-up at the Class 2A state tournament a year ago.
Nashville also defeated Doss (Ky.) 50-43 to join Mater Dei at 2-0 on the opening day of the event.
Central 45, Wesclin 32
Cameron Brandmeyer scored 12 points but it wasn’t enough for the cold-shooting Warriors (4-5) who fell to their Cahokia Conference rivals Central Cougars (4-5).
Mascoutah 74, Okawville 70 (3OT)
Justin King scored 28 points ans the Indians outscored the perennial Class 1A state power Rockets 17-13 in the third overtime to come away with a 74-70 win.
Braden Bryant and Cedric Rhodes added 17 points each for the Indians (4-3). Lucas Frederking was one of four players in double figures for Okawville with 23 points
Normandy Christmas Tournament
East St. Louis 72, St. Louis Blue Knights 28
Freshman Macaleab Rich scored 16 points as the East St. Louis Flyers rolled past the St. Louis Blue Knights in a first round game at Normandy High School.
The Flyers (6-4) will play Memphis (Tenn.) University High School in a tournament semifinal at 5:30 p.m. on Friday.
Columbia-Freeburg Tournament
Junior Jackson Holmes led a balanced attack with 16 points as tournament-co-host Columbia finished off a productive first day with an easy 50-22 win over Gibault Thursday at Columbia High School.
Jacob O’Connor added 11 points for the Eagles (6-4) which also defeated Lovejoy 69-67 on Thursday.
Columbia 69, Lovejoy 67
Holmes scored a season-high 37 points and the Eagles needed everyone of them to outlast Lovejoy (7-6). The Wildcats were led by Davion Hayden’s 20 points.
Freeburg 74, Valmeyer 35
The Midgets (8-2) ran out to a 25-11 lead and never looked back in trouncing the over-matched Pirates in a first round game. Jacob Blomenkamp scored 19 points while three teammates, including senior guard Luke Ervie, added 13 for Freeburg.
Senior Phillip Reinhardt scored nine points for Valmeyer (6-5).
Waterloo 70, Valmeyer 54
Joe Wade broke loose for 19 points as the Bulldogs defeated Valmeyer in a battle of Monroe County teams. Dustin Crawford added 12 points for the Bulldogs (3-7).
Sesser-Valier Tournament
Marissa 57, Waltonville 29
Sebastion Ivory-Greer scored a team high 19 points while Logan Jones chipped in with 16 as the Meteors (6-4) advanced in the winners bracket with the lopsided win over Waltonville.
Red Bud 63, Sparta 56 (OT)
Carter Wiegard scored 20 points as the Musketeers rallied late for a 63-56 win over the Bulldogs. Red Bud (4-4) outscored Sparta 13-6 in the overtime session
Pinckneyville Duster Thomas Hoops Classic
The Carlyle Indians (4-5) defeated Benton 49-41 in a first round game at Pinckneyville High School.
In other first round games, Jerseyville defeated Chester 49-45 and Salem nipped Roxana 61-51.
This story was originally published December 26, 2019 at 10:23 PM.
