Saxony Lutheran falls in Chester, Ill., title game

The Saxony Lutheran boys basketball team fell in the closing seconds to Marissa, Ill, 56-54 in the Chester, Ill., tournament championship game Saturday.

"With all do respect to Bell City, Marissa is the best team we've played this year," Saxony coach John Daniel said. "We really played an outstanding game. We just couldn't hold them off. Our kids came out ready to play. It was a big game and a great atmosphere. We played with a lot of intensity. Bret Steffens really got us going early."

Steffens, who netted 17 points, helped the Crusaders (12-3) jump out to a 34-23 lead at halftime.

Marissa gained possession of the basketball with the game knotted 54-54 with a minute and a half remaining in the contest. It then ran the clock down to 7 seconds when it converted the game-winning field goal on a backdoor cut.

Saxony's Max Wieser and Steffens made the seven-member all-tournament team.

Steffens was also named the most valuable player of the tournament.

Marissa 6 17 20 13 -- 56

Saxony 13 21 12 8 -- 54

Marissa (54) -- Ricky Weber 2, Craig Place 9, Andrew Vasques 13, Ryan Weber 8, Caleb Wine 4, Jordan Wagner 18, Peter Pannier 2. FG 20, FT 12-16, F 14 (3-pointers: Vasques 3, Wagner 1. Fouled out: none)

Saxony (56) -- Garrett Ruppel 3, Zach Bohnert 3, Bret Steffens 17, Max Wieser 19, Ben Courtois 10, Austin Kwikkel 2. FG 19, FT 10-16, F 14 (3-pointers: Ruppel 1, Steffen 1, Wieser 2, Courtois 2. Fouled out: Courtois).

GIRLS BASKETBALLCor Jesu 80, Central 54

Sarah Uptmor scored a season-high 16 points to lead the Tigers, but it wasn't enough against the host Chargers.

"She had a really good game shooting the ball," Central coach Sherri Shirrell said of Uptmor. "I was really glad to see that because we needed that."

Uptmor hit four 3-pointers in the loss.

The Tigers (5-7) were forced into action without Taylor Kirn, who tweaked her hamstring in practice Friday. Shirrell said she expects Kirn to return for Tuesday's game.

Central 10 16 10 18 -- 54

Cor Jesu 26 15 24 15 -- 80

Central (54) -- Sadie Pittman 12, Jenna Matthews 2, Lauren Kinsey 8, Chelsea Pannier 2, Breia Twiggs 1, Sarah Uptmor 16, Wendi Zickfield 13. FG 22, FT 6-10, F 12 (3-pointers: Uptmor 4. Fouled out: None)

Cor Jesu (80) -- Lisa Burmeister 13, Susie Fontana 6, Kelly Gorman 20, Kim Gorman 8, Rachel Henry 15, Bridget Hormberg 4, Ashley Poth 2, Meg Riley 6, Liz Sinclair 2, Mairin Talerico 4. FG 33, FT 8-14, F 10 (3-pointers: Burmeister 1, Kim Gorman 2, Henry 3. Fouled out: None)

JV -- Cor Jesu won 52-35.

Oran 64, Scott City 30

Oran's Callie Kielhofner netted 18 points and Kirstie Margels and Cheyenne King each chipped in 15 to help the No. 3 Eagles beat No. 4 Scott City by 34 points to claim third place in the Scott Mississippi Conference girls basketball tournament.

Scott City was led by Stephanie Essner, who scored 11 points.

Scott City 5 17 4 4 -- 30

Oran 14 22 16 12 -- 64

Scott City (30) -- Stephanie Essner 11, Becky Holder 3, Whitney Tapley 2, Holli Shemonia 2, Beth Razer 4, Emily Essner 6, Donielle Howell 2. FG 12, FT 6-10, F 14 (3-pointers: none)

Oran (64) -- Rachel Moore 6, Claire Seyer 4, Ellen Sikes 4, Taylor Tenkhoff 2, Callie Kielhofner 18, Kirstie Margels 15, Cheyenne King 15. FG 25, FT 11-15, F 12 (3-pointers: Margels 3.)

Saxony 43, COSL 38

The Crusaders overcame a seven-point deficit at halftime to earn the win in Evansville, Ill.

Kara Versemann dropped in a team-high 14 points while Julia Steffens added 12 for Saxony Lutheran (2-10).

Saxony 4 10 18 11 -- 43

COSL 7 14 4 13 -- 38

Saxony (43) -- Brooke Valleroy 9, Emma Meraz 2, Julia Steffens 12, Tiffany Haertling 2, Deanna Dippold 1, Logan Hunt 2, Kara Versemann 14, Kristen Dippold 1. FG 16, FT 11-19, F 23 (3-pointers: None. Fouled out: Valleroy, Meraz)

COSL (38) -- Jessica Kaaz 13, Kristen Kaaz 7, Amanda Hipp 3, Linly Mayer 11, Jenna Otten 4. FG 12, FT 12-22, F 19 (3-pointers: J. Kaaz 1, Mayer 1. Fouled out: Hipp)

GIRLS SWIMMINGMICDS 114, Ursuline 105, Notre Dame 86

Lauren Castleman won the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle to lead the Bulldogs. She also helped the 200 freestyle relay to victory.

Team scores -- MICDS 114, Urseline Academy 105, ND 86

Notre Dame top-three finishers

200 free -- 3. Brittany Menz, 2:09.35

200 IM -- 2. Jackie Bader, 2:38.12

50 free -- 1. Lauren Castleman, 27.09

100 free -- 1. Castleman, 1:00.08

500 free -- 3. Ava Andersson, 6:18.92

200 free relay -- 1. Notre Dame 1:55.07 (Menz, Rachel Henson, Abbie Messmer, Castleman)

100 back -- 3. Menz, 1:10.60

100 breast -- 2. Messmer, 1:24.49

400 free relay -- 3. Notre Dame, 4:26.65

-- From staff reports