Terrier teams win conference titles

After a long break for the holidays, the Staunton Terriers played three games in three days last week, with road contests at Nokomis and Southwestern before welcoming Carlinville. With victories in the latter two games, both Terrier squads would secure conference titles on the year.

On Tuesday, Jan. 3, SJHS traveled to Nokomis to take on the Braves. Both Terrier squads looked rusty after the long break. Though the 7th graders were able to pull out a close victory, the 8th grade team dropped its first game of the year by the score of 32-31. The Terriers, despite being down two starters due to illness, had plenty of chances to emerge victorious, but in the end Nokomis made key plays down the stretch to secure the home win. Owen Looney was on fire from long range, as he netted five 3-pointers on his way to a 20-point night. Luke Moore (7 pts.), Ty Simpson (2 pts.) and Braylen Brown (2 pts.) rounded out the scoring. The 7th graders received balanced scoring in a 31-28 victory. Cale Dugger (9 pts.), Kaiden Linkeman (8 pts.), Paxton Brown (7 pts.), Aiden Saracco (4 pts.), Blaine Sievers (2 pts.), and Xander Clark (1 pt.) all scored for SJHS in the victory.

The Terriers traveled to Piasa for a game at Southwestern on Wednesday. The 8th grade team played well in a 42-29 conference win. Looney paced the attack with 12 points, while Moore (8 pts.), Peyton Luketich (6 pts.), Isiah Laux (5 pts.), Jeremiah Graham (4 pts.), Simpson (4 pts.), Brown (2 pts.), and Lucas Coalson (1 pt.) also scored for the Terriers. The 7th graders dominated in a 34-8 victory. Dugger (9 pts.), Brown (8 pts.), Saracco (4 pts.), Linkeman (4 pts.), Chase Bodner (4 pts.), Wolfie Rantanen (3 pts.), and Ethan Watters (2 pts.) all entered the scoring column for SJHS.

Staunton welcomed Carlinville the very next night for a home game. With a victory, both Terrier squads would secure conference titles for the season. Neither team would disappoint, as the 8th graders won by a score of 38-9, while the 7th grade squad was victorious 22-17. Looney again notched double figures with 10 points, leading a slew of scorers that included Moore (5 pts.), Bryan Podwojski (5 pts.), Graham (4 pts.), Laux (4 pts.), Luketich (3 pts.), Calvin Harbers (3 pts.), Coalson (2 pts.), and Simpson (2 pts.). Brown led the way for the 7th graders with 10 points, while Saracco (4 pts.), Linkeman (4 pts.), Dugger (2 pts.), and Clark (2 pts.) rounded out the scoring for SJHS.

Staunton also played one game before the holiday break, as the Terriers welcomed Hillsboro to town. The 8th graders shot out to a 46-12 halftime lead en route to a 62-18 victory. Looney (16 pts.) and Brown (career high 10 pts.) both hit for double figures on the night. Laux (9 pts.), Moore (9 pts.), Luketich (5 pts.), Graham (4 pts.), Harbers (3 pts.), Lucas Dillon (2 pts.), Coalson (2 pts.), and Josh Dahl (2 pts.) rounded out the scoring. The 7th graders had defeated Hillsboro earlier in the season for the tournament championship at Gillespie in a very close game. However, this game was never in doubt, as the team shot out to a 32-5 lead after three quarters in an eventual 40-25 victory. Saracco paced the attack with 16 points, while Dugger (7 pts.), Brown (5 pts.), Linkeman (4 pts.), Chase Foster (4 pts.), Bodner (2 pts.), and Clark (2 pts.) also entered the scoring column.

The Terriers were set to welcome Mt. Olive on Monday, Jan. 9, before celebrating 8th Grade Night on Thursday against Gillespie. The 8th graders will then head to Greenville for a very tough invitational tournament, while the 7th graders will prepare for postseason play.