Eagles win on Pack the Place Night
By TERRY LIDY
With a sea of orange and blue present, the NCHS Eagles broke their three game losing streak with a 62-42 belting of the Charleston Trojans last Friday at the friendly confines. After suffering two tough road losses at Casey and Paris and a hard fought match with Robinson last Tuesday, the Eagles were eager to make amends against the Trojans who came in with a six game skid of their own.
The first quarter ended tied at 10 all after Charleston had their only lead at 6-4 on a Brad Wheeler three-pointer. However, Jake Pilman and Japheth Bear scored the next 6 points to give the Eagles a 10-6 lead that they held until Charleston tied it with a couple of baskets to close the quarter.
However, in the second period the Eagles forged ahead scoring the first 7 points in a minute and a half to take a 17-10 cushion.
Jake Pilman sparked the string with two field goals and Brian Emmerich tossed in a three-pointer forcing a Charleston timeout with 6:31 left. After the Trojans scored on a Joey Miller basket, the Eagles reeled off another 9 point run as Peyton Wyatt nailed a pair of treys and Scott Jansen fired in another as the Eagles enjoyed a 26-12 advantage. The quarter ended with the Eagles holding Charleston to 7 points and a 28-17 halftime cushion.
"We were able to hold down Nead and Miller and keep them off the boards," said a pleased Doug Mammoser after the game.
Meanwhile, Jake Pilman and Japheth Bear led the first half attack with 7 points each. Peyton Wyatt added 6 to help out.
Charleston scored the first four points to cut the Eagles edge to 28-21 early in the third quarter. However, the Eagles were able to build back their edge as Brian Emmerich drilled a basket and Japheth Bear tossed in a three-pointer to take off the pressure. When Brian Emmerich connected on another three after Bear's shot, the Eagles had a 13-point advantage at 36-23. Charleston rallied scoring the next four points, but were able to sneak no closer as the Eagles ended the quarter with a 12-point barrage and a 48-31 cushion. Brian Emmerich closed out the period with another trifecta as the Eagles canned four in the 20-point quarter.
Charleston made one last run scoring the first nine points of the final stanza to close to within eight points at 48-40. However, Peyton Wyatt broke the spell with a long three and the Eagles were out of danger as the Trojans were held to a single basket over the final 4:27. Up 51-42, the Eagles scored the games' final eleven points as Alex Frohning, Peyton Wyatt, Japheth Bear and Jake Pilman scored down the stretch to put this game away. In the final minute, Doug Mammoser was able to clear the bench as the Eagles picked up their 11th victory of the season and ended a three game skid. They improved to 3-7 in the Apollo. Charleston fell to 7-14 overall and 3-7 in the conference.
"We played well and executed well. It was a good win at home. We did a good job keeping Charleston off the boards," said Eagle Coach Doug Mammoser later.
The Eagles had four players in double figures led by Japheth Bear's 17 points. Peyton Wyatt was next with 13, while Brian Emmerich and Jake Pilman had good games with 11 each. Alex Frohning added 7 and Scott Jansen had a three-pointer as the Eagles made 20 field goals with half being from behind the arc and shooting 48%. They converted 12 foul shots and had 10 turnovers.
Charleston shot 38% making 17 baskets including 3 from long range. They added 5 foul shots.
The Eagles also won the preliminary game 46-33 to improve to 5-8 as eight Eagles scored. Dylan Casey led with 14. Scott Jansen tallied 7 points. Mitch Mammoser, Landon Rauch and Elijah Knepper each had 5. A.J. Hyatt added 4, while Derek Casey and Dylan Davidson scored 3 points each. Also seeing action were Mark Mammoser, Austin Blair and Jake Stone.
Last Tuesday, the Eagles hosted co-conference leader Robinson with the Maroons winning 68-52 behind the 22 point performances each from Ben Jones and Meyers Leonard. Leonard, the 7'0" future Illini was held well in check in the first half scoring 6 points. However, Leonard broke loose with 16 second half points including 14 in the fourth quarter as Robinson denied the Eagles an upset with a 68-52 win.
The Eagles came out on fire as they scorched the nets with 17 opening quarter points to take a 17-9 advantage. Peyton Wyatt nailed a pair of threes and led with 8 points.
Alex Frohning added 5 in the period with Jake Pilman contributing two baskets. That lead evaporated in the second quarter as the Eagles were held scoreless from the field and converted but two free throws by Japheth Bear in the period. Meanwhile, the Maroons found the range with 15 points to take a 24-19 lead into intermission. "Robinson changed defenses and went to a triangle and two. We had some good looks, but couldn't hit," commented Doug Mammoser.
The Eagle came back with a solid third quarter hitting seven baskets and scoring 17 points nearly matching Robinson's 18. Down only 42-36 going into the final eight minutes, Leonard and Jones dominated the quarter tallying 21 of the team's 26 points to pull away from the pesky Eagles.
Robinson ended the half-shooting 18 of 26 which is 69% and hard to beat.
The Eagles had a decent second half too scoring 33 points with the second quarter drought being the big difference. The Eagles made 19 field goals including 5 from three-point land. They converted 9 of 12 foul shots. Peyton Wyatt led with 15 points, while Brian Emmerich and Jake Pilman were in double figures with 11 and 10, respectively. Alex Frohning scored 9. Japheth Bear tallied 6 and Taylor Kerner converted a free throw. Robinson made 24 baskets including three from the arc. They added 17 of 24 free throws. Robinson also won the junior varsity game 69-52.
The Eagles stayed busy last week with a third game, their annual non-conference battle with Dieterich on Saturday at Dieterich. This time the Movin' Maroons avenged a 64-52 Eagle victory at the Dieterich Holiday Tourney with a 53-49 win.
Held to 14 first half points, the Eagles had trouble finding the range as Dieterich led 7-5 after one quarter and 23-14 at the half.
Down 35-24 after three periods, the Eagles more than equaled their first three quarters with a 25 point output in the final eight minutes, but fell short 53-49.
The Eagles shot only 38% in the contest making 19 field goals including four from behind the arc. They converted 7 of 10 foul shots and had 7 turnovers. Dieterich shot 42% making 17 baskets with 7 coming from three-point land. They converted only 12 of 25 free throws and had 10 turnovers.
Jake Pilman led the offense with 19 points. Peyton Wyatt was also in double figures with 13. Alex Frohning tossed in 8 points. Japheth Bear tallied 5 and Brian Emmerich scored two baskets for 4 points for the 11-10 Eagles.
The Eagles continue on the road this week with Apollo games against co-leader Effingham at 9-1 and last place Mt. Zion 0-10.
Next week the Eagles finish up with Apollo games at Olney on Tuesday and a home finale against Paris on Senior Night on Friday, February 19.
Dieterich had three players to lead their attack with each scoring 14 points. Blake Kuhl, Jeremy Ohnesorge, and Taran Bohnoff paced the Movin' Maroons.
Lady Eagles fall to Apollo champ
By TERRY LIDY
Charleston came to Newton last Thursday tied for the top spot with Salem for the girls Apollo basketball crown. When they left, they had not only defeated the Lady Eagles 58-43, but also claimed the title as Salem lost to Mt. Zion 51-48.
In this game, the Lady Eagles stayed even with the Lady Trojans after the first quarter. A 20-6 Charleston cushion left Newton trailing for the rest of the night. The Lady Eagles got two baskets from Amy Koebele and a pair of Tara Wirth free throws in the quarter. Meanwhile, Charleston converted on nine field goals in the period.
The Lady Eagles came to life in the second quarter as Megan Jansen led with 6 points. Terra Flowers canned a three-pointer and Amy Koebele also connected for a three and added two foul shots as the Lady Eagles trailed 32-20 at the half.
Charleston made six baskets in the third quarter with half coming from three-point land to take a 47-29 cushion into the fourth quarter. The Lady Eagles were held to nine points in the period as Megan Jansen and Mallory Kocher each had a three-pointer.
The Lady Eagles came back to outscore Charleston 14-11 in the final eight minutes to make the final score more respectable at 58-43. Terra Flowers led the fourth quarter output with a pair of treys. Morgan Swingler was good on three of four free throws, while Amy Koebele had three points and Amy Bierman added two.
The Lady Eagles scored 12 baskets in the contest with half being of three-point value. They converted 13 of 18 free throws. Amy Koebele led with 14 points. Megan Jansen scored 10 points, while Terra Flowers was close behind with 9. Mallory Kocher and Morgan Swingler each tallied 3 points. Tara Wirth and Amy Bierman rounded out the attack with 2 points each. Charleston canned 22 field goals including five from behind the arc. They added 9 of 12 free throws.
With the win, Charleston took the Apollo title with a 13-1 record. Salem finished second with a 12-2 record. Olney was next at 10-4. Effingham and Paris finished at 6-8. Robinson was 5-9. Mt. Zion finished 4-10, while the Lady Eagles were 0-14 in the conference.
In other Apollo games last Thursday to finish the conference schedule Olney defeated Effingham 59-44. Mt. Zion edged Salem 51-48. Robinson won over Paris 57-45.
In the junior varsity game last Thursday against Charleston, the Lady Eagles posted a 42-30 victory after building on a 12-4 first quarter. Seven Lady Eagles dented the scoring column led by Megan Jansen's 15 points.
Terra Flowers scored 7 points in the win, while Amy Koebele and Morgan Swingler each tallied 6. Carly Niebrugge tossed in two baskets for 4 points. Brianna Nail and Mallory Kocher each added baskets for the Lady Eagles. Sydney May and Tara Wirth also saw action in the contest.
With their regular season over, the Lady Eagles seeded #5, next enter regional play at Casey as they tangle with the Casey-Westfield Lady Warriors, seeded #4. The winner of the game will meet #1 Paris.
Also in the 2A regional are #2 Robinson and #3 Marshall.
Saints win Class 8-1A regional
By TERRY LIDY
The St. Thomas Saints Class 8-1A boys failed to make the state finals after falling to Effingham Sacred Heart 43-28 in sectional play last week. This week the Saints will get another crack, this time as Class 8-1A regional champs versus the Sigel St. Michael Sharpshooters.
The Saints wrapped up the regional title last Thursday with an easy 61-28 thumping of Kansas at the Parish Center. The Saints had three players in double figures led by Luke Stone with 20. Brock Mammoser was next with 18 including four baskets from the three-point territory. Luke Huston was also in double digits with 14 on 7 baskets. The Saints also received 4 points from Nick Reis and 3 from Logan May. Brett Schackmann added a basket to round out the attack.
The Saints made 22 field goals including six from behind the arc. They converted 11 of 21 foul shots. Kansas made 11 baskets with two coming from three-point land. They added 4 of 6 foul shots.
After a 10 all first quarter tie, the Saints outscored Kansas 14-4 in the second period to take a 24-14 lead into the locker room. A 19-9 third quarter edge helped to seal the title for the Saints.
St. Thomas reached the finals with a 51-29 victory over Hutsonville in semi final action. The Saints used an 18-1 first quarter blitz to put all the mystery out of this contest.
The Saints were led by their two eighth graders, Luke and Luke, Stone and Huston. Stone scored 14 field goals for 28 points, while Huston formed the other part of the one-two punch with 18 on 9 baskets. Nick Reis had the other 5 Saints' points. The Saints tallied 25 field goals with one from behind the arc.
Up 34-10 at the half and 46-18 after three quarters, the Saints coaches Pat Mammoser and John Stone were able to clear the bench.
Those seeing action, but not denting the scoring column were Brett Schackmann, Jacob Volk, Quentin Huston, Brock Mammoser, Logan May, Garrett Hemrich, Kaleb Wright, Grant Stark, BoDee Steber, and Gunner St. Clair.
Congratulations to the Saints as they next tangle with Sigel St. Michael at the Effingham Sacred Heart Sectional.
