Red-hot Columbia wins 12th in a row and Okawville Tournament championship

The Okawville Invitational Tournament has become a favorite midseason destination for the Columbia basketball team in recent seasons. On Saturday night, the Eagles put their stamp on the tournament once again.

Thanks to a big night from 6-8 junior forward Sam Donald and a solid outing from 6-5 sophomore forward Brody Landgraf, Columbia overcame a slow start against a scrappy Highland club and pulled away late in the fourth quarter, posting a 41-32 victory to win the Okawville Tournament Championship game at Okawville High School.

Columbia (17-4), which has now won 12 straight games since Dec. 19 won the tournament for the third straight time and enjoyed every moment of this one long the way.

“We enjoy it and we will go anywhere where we can earn a hard-fought win and that was a hard-fought win right there,” Columbia coach Mark Sandstrom said.

Highland started solidly in the first quarter as a Grant Fleming three-ball and Garrin Stone backdoor bucket gave the Bulldogs a 9-4 lead late in the first quarter.

A Hayes Van Bruesegen driving two pulled the Eagles within 9-8 at the end of the first quarter.

Columbia turned up their defense and forced Highland guard Jake Ottensmeier into giving up the ball and of Donald baskets capped a 7-2 run pushing the Eagles to a 16-11 lead.

“They denied Jake the ball and he had to be a screener and guys have got to recognize that and we’ve got to backscreen people so we can get people open and you got screen and cut hard in those situations, and they (Columbia) did a good job off the ball screens keeping us on one side of the floor,” Highland coach Deryl Cunningham said.

The Eagles carried an 18-11 lead into the break. Donald had a strong night, scoring 10 his 20 points in the first half along with eight rebounds.

“I think us just staying patient and finding the right shots and just eight, nine, to ten (passes) and just get good looks,” Donald said.

Another factor that hurt the Bulldogs offense was Ottensmeier being held in check by the Eagles as he managed just two points on the night. “We made it really, really tough on Ottensmeier and we just wanted to limit his touches and make it as hard as possible,” Sandstrom said. I really believe that was the difference in the game.”

Highland (12-11) pulled within six in the third quarter on Ottensmeier’s only basket of the night, making it 22-15 with just over four minutes left in the third quarter.

A Grant Fleming triple pulled HHS within 25-19 early in the fourth quarter but Donald and Landgraf picked u their scoring over the final seven minutes and the Eagles finished the evening with another trophy celebration.

“This atmosphere is awesome and probably one of tbe top five gym I’ve ever been in, probably top two,” Donald said. It’s just a great gym, great atmosphere to play in.”

Landgraf pumped in 10 points.

Despite the championship game loss, Cunningham was very pleased with the Bulldogs tournament showing as HHD posted wins over Okawville (59-290, and Wesclin (46-42) to advance to the championship game.

It was Highland’s first trip to the championship game in their third tournament appearance. “The first year we lost in the semis and last year we lost in the first round and this year we got to the championship,” Cunningham said. Our guys fought hard.’

Stone led Highland with 16 points and Fleming added 10 points.

Donald, Van Bruesegen, and Michah James from Columbia were named to the all-tournament team.

Ottensmeier and Stone of Highland were also named to the all-tournament team.