Neoga Wins 2nd Straight NTC Tournament Championship 58-50 Over St. Anthony

For the second year in row the National Trail Conference Tournament Championship trophy is going home with the Neoga Indians. The 2023 version of the championship game went to overtime again but only one overtime was needed this year.  Neoga came back in the final quarter to even it up and eventually win in overtime, 58-50 over St. Anthony.

It was a complete different game than the one that occurred last week when St. Anthony blew out Neoga by 40.

Both teams took a little while to get on the board and in this matchup Neoga would be the team hitting their shots. A big and-one by Sydney Richards gave the Indians the early advantage. Sydney would lead the way for Neoga in the opening quarter finishing with seven. It was the duo of Nancy Ruholl and Lucy Fearday for the Bulldogs who combined for all of St. A points. The first quarter ended in a dead lock at 13.

The action would continue to be back and fourth practically in the final minutes. Ruholl would tie the game at 23 then on the next possession, Adysen Rios hit a three to put St. A up 26-25 with 48 seconds left.  Sydney Richards would answer right back to put Neoga on top 27-26 with 15 seconds left. One last lead change at the buzzer, a jumper from Fearday would put the Bulldogs ahead 28-27 at the half.

Out of the locker, the game would continue to be close. Neoga would take the lead again as Sydney Richards was fouled on a three pointer and would make all three to put the Indians ahead.  Ruholl would take over in the third has she matched her first half point total in one quarter to give St. Anthony the five point lead 42-37.

Neoga would comeback in the fourth as Sydney Richards would step up and make a three to get the Indians back within striking distance. The game was 48-45 in favor of St. A for awhile, until Allison Sampson stepped up and hit the biggest shot of the game.  With 57 seconds left Sampson would hit a three pointer to tie the game. Then a foul was called on St. Anthony that would send Sampson to the line for one-and-one bonus free throws. Sampson would make both free throws to give Neoga the lead 50-48.  Anna Faber would step up and make her only points of the game to tie the game at 50 with 37 seconds left.  Neither team would  score and that would mean FREE BASKETBALL!!

In the overtime session it would be all Neoga.  Six of the eight Indians points would come at the free throw line. Haylee Campbell would also have a big put back as well. St. Anthony just couldn’t get anything to fall in the extra session. Neoga would come away with the win and captured back to back conference tournament titles.

Neoga improves to  23-3 on the season and are back in action on Monday back in NTC play at home vs CHBC.

St. Anthony falls to 19-5 on the season and are back in action next Saturday hosting Pana.

Neoga Points

Sydney Richards 26, Sampson 12, Campbell 11, Brynn Richards 6, Hakman 3.

St. Anthony Points

Ruholl 20,  Fearday 12, Vonderheide 6, Nuxholl 5, Rios 5, Anna Faber 2.

All Tournament Team

Sydney Richards- MVP (Neoga)

Allison Sampson  (Neoga)

Haylee Campbell  (Neoga)

Nancy Ruholl (St. Anthony)

Stacie Vonderheide  (St. Anthony)

Lucy Fearday  (St. Anthony)

Laney Baldrige (BSE)

Lexi Seabaugh (BSE)

Brooklyn Garrett (South Central)

Miah Ballard (North Clay)

Ella Kinkelaar (W/SS)

Gracie Heckert (CHBC)