After sliding past some games on the schedule due to icy conditions at the end of the pre-Christmas term, Shelbyville Area teams got in some last licks before heading to the gauntlet that is the Vandalia Holiday Tournament.

Shelbyville lost their second home game in a row just prior to the tourney, playing Vandalia in Shelbyville and losing, 55-45. The Ram JV got a 45-40 win, but it wasn’t much consolation. Stew-Stras ruined Windsor’s Homecoming again, this time stealing the Homecoming Hatchet, 69-41. The Comets then played a barn-burner the next day in the Illinois College Shootout. They lost in overtime to Illini West, 64-61. Central A & M also got in a final game before Christmas, but lost to OVC opponent Tolono, 68-42.

Once at the Vandalia tourney, the Shelby Area teams barely survived the gauntlet on Day One. The four teams played in five games and only won one. Stew-Stras beat another area team, Pana, then Shelbyville lost two games, Stew-Stras lost their second game and Central A & M was clocked pretty good.

Stew-Stras, who entered with a 5-1 record, dismissed Pana in the opener, 71-56, but then lost to the host Vandals later that day by almost the same score as Shelbyville had, 56-46. Stew-Stras had pasted Shelbyville by 22 points in Shelbyville just two weeks earlier.

Shelbyville had their struggles on Day One of the Vandy tourney. They hung with Trenton Wesclin and even led at the half, but then faded and lost by eight, 47-39. Shelbyville struggled to score again in the nightcap against South Central, being beaten handily, 70-43. Central A & M played a red hot Altamont team in their only game of the day and couldn’t keep up, losing by almost 40 points, 73-34.

Day Two wasn’t much better for Shelby Area teams. Once again the only area team to win was Stew-Stras, which beat another area team, Central A & M, 61-48. Central A & M lost again earlier in the day to Vandalia in a close one, 51-44. Shelbyville lost to Greenville by 30, 65-33, and Pana lost to Altamont by 30, 62-31.

After the first two days of the tournament, Stew-Stras was 2-1, Pana was 0-2, Shelbyville was 0-3, and Central A & M was 0-3.

(12/19)

Windsor Hatchet Homecoming

Stew-Stras 69, Windsor 41

St-St 28-21-10-10—69

Windsor 10-12-9-10—41

Stew stats: Widdersheim 23 (4-2s, 3-3 pt FGs, 6 FTs), Rincker 17 (4-2s, 3-3- pt FGs), Tabbert 12 (4 FGs, 4 FTs), Hoene 9 (4 FGs, 1 FT), Ballinger 6 (1-2, 1-3 pt FGs, 1 FTs), Koontz 2 (FG), Becker 2 (FG). Team FGs 26. Team FTs 12.

Windsor stats: K. Floyd 15 ( 4-2s, 2-3 pt FGs, 1/2 FTs), 4 reboundds, 2 assists; Cushing 9 (2-2s, 1-3 pt FGs 2/2 FTs), 6 rebounds, 1 assist; McIlwain 7 (FG, 5/5 FTs), 4 rebounds, 4 assists; Leasher 7 (3 FGs, 1/4 FTs), 11 rebounds; Warner 3 (FG, 1/2 FTs); Wiltermood 4 rebounds; Weber 3 rebounds; R. Floyd 1 rebound. Team FGs 14. Team FTs 10-of-15.

(12/20)