Altamont Wins Back To Back National Trail Conference Championships Defeating St Anthony 51-32

On Saturday night in front of a standing room only crowd the stage was set for the 87th National Trail Conference Tournament Championship game between Altamont and St. Anthony. The Indians jumped out to the early lead,  withstood a Bulldog rally, and ultimately won  the game going away 51-32.

Just like a heavyweight boxing match both teams took a little bit to feel each other out and to get on the scoreboard.

When one team finally did the points came in bunches.

Altamont went get on the board first with a basket by Eric Kollmann. That first basket would open the flood gates. The Indians in fact scored the first ten points of the game giving the capacity home crowd a lot to cheer for.  St Anthony would finally get on the scoreboard with two points from Collin Westendorf with  less than two minutes to go in the opening quarter.  Westendorf would score all three points for the Bulldogs in the quarter.  As Altamont would get out to the 10-3 lead after one.

In the second quarter things continued to come up all Altamont. Avery Jahraus would make his first three of the game and a Jared Hammer layup would make it 16-5 midway thru the second quarter.  The lead would eventually get up to 13 at one point. Griffin Sehy would finally get some positive momentum going for St. Anthony.  As Sehy made a three pointer in the closing seconds of the first half score 19-11.

The positive vibes would continue after the break for St. A, as Brock Fearday one of the Bulldogs leading scorers was was held scoreless in the first half. Four quick points from Fearday would cut the lead the lead down to four 19-15.

That was as close as St. Anthony would get the rest of the game

Just as quickly as the Bulldogs got back into the game, the momentum started to swing back in Altamont favor.  Eli Miller would make layup and with a turnover on the next possession,  Hammer would find Miller open for three. The ball would bounce off the rim, then backboard, then bottom of the bucket for a 27-15 lead.  Then a miss shot on, a nice outlet pass from Jahraus would find Hammer streaking down the floor.  Hammer would make the layup and get fouled to bring the Indians crowd into a frenzy. Hammer would make the and-one free throw to get the lead up to 30-15.  Kollmann would have another big and-one that pushed the lead up to 14. Altamont would hold the lead 37-22 after three.

In the fourth quarter Keinon Eirhart came in and got some big offensive rebounds. A put back by Eirahrt pushed the lead to up to 43-24.  Some more buckets from Elam and some Jahraus free throws would put the game away. The free throws would secure the Indians their first back to back NTC Tournament Championships since 1935-36. Which happens to have been the first years of the conference existence.

Altamont wins their 8th tournament championship overall and improve their record to 19-3 overall. The win streak also stands at 14 games and the Indians are back in action on Tuesday traveling to Flora .

St. Anthony falls to 17-9 on the season and don’t return to the court until Friday against Teutopolis.

Altamont Points

Elam 11, Jahraus 11, Hammer 8, Cornett 6,  Kollmann 6, Eli Miller,  Eirhart 2, Kaidyn Miller 2.

St. Anthony Points

Sehy 9, Westendorf 7, Fearday 7, Schmidt 6, Link 2, Koening 1.