The image shows the Columbia High School boys basketball team celebrating their victory over Marquette at home on Friday night, securing the championship title at this year’s Columbia-Freeburg Holiday Tournament. Additional photos can be viewed on page 2B and online at republictimes.smugmug.com.
In the championship game held at their home court, the Columbia High School boys basketball team, known as the Eagles with a record of 10-4, triumphed over Marquette with a final score of 46-35. This victory marked their third consecutive holiday tournament win.
The Eagles took an early lead of 17-11 after the first quarter, thanks to a flawless performance of 5-for-5 three-point shooting.
Throughout the second and third quarters, the game remained competitive before Columbia secured a 12-9 advantage in the final quarter.
Leading the charge was Sam Donald, a 6-foot-8 junior, who delivered an impressive performance with 21 points and 14 rebounds. Notably, he reached a milestone by scoring his 1,000th point during the fourth quarter and was honored as the tournament MVP following the team’s championship win. Micah James also contributed significantly with 13 points for the Eagles.
In the preceding matches, Columbia exhibited a dominant performance. They secured a 68-35 victory over Nelson County (Ky.) in the semifinals, with a commanding 39-18 lead at halftime. James led the scoring with 24 points, including a remarkable 6-for-12 from beyond the arc, while Brody Landgraf and Sam Donald added 15 and 13 points, respectively.
The tournament journey began with two wins for Columbia. They started with a 51-32 triumph over Civic Memorial, fueled by a decisive 21-11 run in the second quarter. Donald showcased his skills with 18 points and seven rebounds, supported by Landgraf’s 15 points and eight rebounds.
Continuing their winning streak, Columbia secured a 57-37 victory over rival Gibault, with Donald’s stellar performance of 24 points and James contributing 10 points.
Donald has been a standout player for Columbia this season, averaging 20.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. The Eagles are set to face Cahokia Conference rival Freeburg in their upcoming game this Friday.
Waterloo, with a record of 9-6, had a mixed performance in the holiday tournament, finishing with a 2-2 record and facing challenges due to injuries. The Bulldogs lost their top player to injury during the tournament.
In their opening game against Marquette, Waterloo suffered a narrow 49-46 defeat despite leading 39-35 after three quarters. Caleb Yochum and Rodrigo Lopez-Tercero each contributed 14 points, while Alex Stell, a 6-foot-10 junior, added seven points and grabbed 16 rebounds.
Waterloo faced a tough match against Columbia’s junior varsity team, narrowly winning 36-30 but losing Stell to an undisclosed injury, which kept him out of further tournament action.
Despite the setback, Waterloo bounced back with a 58-54 victory over Freeburg, led by Yochum’s 21 points and Lopez-Tercero’s 15 points. The team displayed an impressive 58 percent shooting accuracy from the field.
In the third-place game, Waterloo fell short against Civic Memorial, losing 66-48, with Yochum scoring 15 points and Lopez-Tercero adding 11 points.
Stell, who is averaging 19.2 points and 10.7 rebounds per game this season, remains a key player for Waterloo. Yochum averages 14 points per game, while Lopez-Tercero contributes an average of 11.4 points per contest.
Gibault, with a record of 6-10, had a competitive showing in the holiday tournament, splitting their four games. They started with a 52-47 victory over Nelson County, led by Gavin Kesler’s 19 points and 15 rebounds, along with Kanen Augustine’s 17 points.
Despite a loss to Columbia, Kesler stood out with 10 points for Gibault. In subsequent games, the team faced a 54-42 defeat to Civic Memorial but ended on a high note with a 50-39 win over Columbia JV, where Kesler reached a career milestone of scoring his 1,000th point.
Augustine, averaging nearly 15 points per game, continues to be a key player for Gibault. The team is scheduled to play at Steeleville and Civic Memorial before hosting Chester in their upcoming fixtures.
Valmeyer, with a record of 3-9, faced tough competition in the Valle Catholic tournament in Ste. Genevieve, Mo., losing all three games.
Despite the losses, players like Landon Roy and Aiden Crossin showcased strong performances. Roy led the team with 17 points in the game against Saxony Lutheran, while Crossin top-scored with 19 points in the match against Valley Park. In the final game against Valle Catholic, Crossin, Roy, and Luke Blackwell contributed significantly with 20, 17, and 17 points respectively.
Crossin maintains an average of 15.3 points per game, while Roy averages 12.3 points per game this season. Valmeyer is set to host Lebanon before participating in the Chester tournament.
Dupo, with a record of 0-10, faced tough competition in the tournament at Piasa Southwestern, losing all three games against Piasa, SIUE Charter, and Maryville Christian. Kaden Scheppelman and Keith West have been the leading scorers for Dupo in the season.
These results reflect the competitive nature of the holiday tournaments and the resilience displayed by the teams in the face of challenges and injuries.