The Waterloo and Columbia girls basketball teams entered regional play this week after closing out the regular season.

Gibault, Valmeyer and Dupo all lost in regional play last week, ending their seasons.

Waterloo lost its final three games of the regular season last week — not the way they were hoping to enter regionals.

Last Monday, the ‘Dogs lost to Highland, who tied for the conference championship, 48-28. Thursday against Triad on senior night, Waterloo fell 53-28. Saturday, Waterloo hosted Freeburg. The ‘Dogs got up early after the first period, but the Midgets battled back to win, 49-45.

“I thought we played a tough game against Freeburg on Saturday,” Waterloo head coach Matt Lucash said. “We finally made some shots and defended OK. Had we made a few more free throws, we could have won that game.”

Waterloo lost Monday night to Mascoutah in the Cahokia regional, ending their season at 7-18.

This leaves Columbia as the last local team standing. Columbia (14-10) played Tuesday night in the Cahokia regional and slid by the host team, 49-48, to advance to Thursday’s regional game against Althoff to be played at 7 p.m.

Friday against Mehlville, the Eagles won 47-46. Kaylee Bastien led the way with 12 points. Cheyanne Newland and Danielle Sellers each scored 10.

“Kalli Farmer is back after missing the past three weeks with an ankle injury and should give us an extra spark heading into regional play,” Columbia head coach Scott Germain said.

Dupo, Valmeyer and Gibault ended their seasons last week.

In the Metro East Lutheran Regional, Valmeyer won Feb. 10 against Madison, 43-30, but lost Feb. 11 to Lebanon, 44-29, ending their season.

“We beat them every quarter of play and that is our goal, to win every quarter. We take each game quarter by quarter,” Valmeyer head coach Neil Siburt said of the Madison game.

Valmeyer ran into a tough Lebanon team next.

“We played them really tough,” Siburt said. “Lebanon went on to beat Gibault for the regional.”

Valmeyer freshman girls basketball player Blair Brady advanced to sectional competition on Feb. 22 in the three-point shootout for her stellar performance at regionals.

Gibault also played in the Metro East Lutheran Regional, and would make it all the way to the championship game before falling to Lebanon.

The Hawks defeated Metro East Lutheran, 44-38. Kendra Davis led Gibault with 18 points and Cierra Colbert added 13.

“To beat them on their own court in regionals, with a tough crowd, easily the toughest environment we’ve been in all year, is really a great win,” Gibault head coach  Brian Hart said.

Lebanon jumped out to an early 10-point lead and Gibault was never able to get back into the game. The final score was 62-46.

“Their defense was good. We had to fight just for open looks. We lost the first half by 16, and won the second half by 1. That’s what was great about this team. They never give up,” Hart said. “Our record (6-16) doesn’t show it, but we had a good year. I am very proud of our seniors and our team.”

In the Nashville Regional, Dupo (8-16) won Feb. 10 against Chester, 41-25, but then lost Feb. 11 against host team Nashville, 35-9, ending their season.

Megan Brown scored 16 points with 12 rebounds against Chester; Rachael Donald added 10 points and 11 rebounds.

“We played really well as a team that night,” Dupo head coach Josh Lemond said.

Unfortunately, Dupo’s season ended against Nashville.

“We couldn’t get many shots to fall, but our young team gave Nashville a run for their money,” he said.

Dupo’s Leia Campbell made eight three-pointers to advance to the sectional three-point shooting competition in West Frankfort this Thursday.