VHT Day Three: Cougars will play for seventh
The South Central Cougars are probably sick of playing first thing in the morning.
Playing in the first game of the day for the third-straight time, the Cougars appeared sluggish early in a 57-49 loss to Altamont on Day Three of the 43rd Annual Vandalia Holiday Tournament on Monday.
Early risers all-tourney, the Cougars managed just six points in the first quarter and were playing catch-up the rest of the way.
Brett Harmeier scored 11 points to lead South Central, while Evan Langley and Dre Hill added nine points apiece.
The Indians used a 7-0 run to pull away at 15-6, but the Cougars answered back with seven straight points of their own to cut Altamont's lead to 15-13. After three-pointers from Harmeier and Hill, South Central took a 21-20 lead into halftime.
A back-and-forth third period ended with Altamont holding a 38-33 lead. The game was still up for grabs late when Klaiton Wolff scored six-straight points for Altamont, giving the Indians a 54-45 lead with just 1:01 left.
South Central had two-straight turnovers that proved to be too much to overcome. The Cougars had to start fouling and the Indians made enough at the charity stripe to secure the win.
South Central turned the ball over 27 times and Coach Rick Simmons noted that was the biggest factor in the game.
Ryan Armstrong scored 24 points for Altamont and Wolff added 13. The Indians finished 2-2 in pool play and advanced to the third-place game.
Shelbyville 65, S. Central 56
Shelbyville knocked off South Central, 65-56, on Monday afternoon.
The win put Shelbyville in the fifth-place game, while the Cougars settled for the seventh-place game.
Langley carried South Central with 19 points and 12 rebounds.
South Central got off to a solid start, taking a four-point lead in the opening period.
But the Rams tied the game at 15 on a three-pointer from Tice Robinson. The second quarter was back and forth all the way, with Shelbyville taking a 31-29 lead into the locker room. Shelbyville finished the third period on a 7-0 run to take a 44-36 lead.
The Rams had a 59-49 lead with two minutes left.
Altamont 57, South Central 49
AL 13 7 18 19 — 57
SC 6 15 12 16 — 49
South Central: Harmeier 5 0-0 11, Ratermann 3 0-0 8, Hill 3 2-2 9, Wilkins 2 0-0 4, Langley 3 3-7 9, Riley 1 2-2 4, Peters 0 0-0 0, Powless 2 0-0 4. Totals 15 (4) 7-11 49. Three-pointers: Ratermann 2, Harmeier, Hill. Rebounds 24 (Langley 8). Fouls 17. Fouled out: Harmeier. Turnovers 27.
Altamont: Caravello 0 2-2 2, Hosick 0 2-2 2, Mayhaus 2 0-2 4, Armstrong 8 3-4 24, Deadmond 2 0-1 4, Runge 1 0-1 2, Cornett 1 0-0 2, K. Wolff 3 6-6 13, Shepard 1 2-2 4. Totals 12 (6) 15-20 57. Three-pointers: Armstrong 5, K. Wolff. Rebounds 18 (K. Wolff 5). Fouls 13. Turnovers 12.
Shelbyville 65, South Central 56
SC 15 14 7 20 — 56
SH 15 16 13 21 — 65
South Central: Harmeier 3 2-3 9, Ratermann 2 0-0 5, Hill 1 0-0 3, Wilkins 0 2-2 2, Langley 9 1-5 19, Riley 3 2-2 8, Peters 2 0-0 4, Powless 3 0-0 6. Totals 20 (3) 7-12 56. Three-pointers: Harmeier, Ratermann, Hill. Rebounds 28 (Langley 12, Powless 8). Fouls 15. Turnovers 21.
Shelbyville: Smith 0 3-4 3, Wade 4 0-0 9, Smith-Fox 0 2-2 2, Hendryx 2 5-5 9, Plummer 1 0-0 3, Robinson 2 1-2 6, Miner 1 0-0 3, Peterson 5 2-2 13, Wooters 1 1-2 3, Peifer 1 0-0 2, Roedl 1 0-0 3, Kennell 4 1-3 9. Totals 17 (5) 16-24 65. Three-pointers: Wade, Plummer, Robinson, Miner, Peterson. Rebounds 25 (Peifer 7). Fouls 17. Turnovers 8.
Brett Harmeier of South Central scores in the lane against Altamont’s Ryan Armstrong on Monday morning at the VHT.
South Central’s Evan Langley scores inside against Altamont.