Girls hoopsters take aim

Columbia’s Sam Schmuke shoots during a Dec. 27 game at Waterloo. The Eagles return to Waterloo this coming Tuesday night.

A couple of local high school girls basketball squads are trending up. For other teams, not so much.

Columbia (13-10) recently won two straight home games to snap a six-game losing skid. 

On Monday, the Eagles posted a 61-29 victory over Granite City. The team shot nearly 42 percent from the floor on the night. 

Jordan Holten scored 17 points, Jay Brister scored 16 points and Kinley Jany added 13 points for Columbia. 

On Thursday, Columbia picked up a 53-40 win over Wood River. Brister led the way with 17 points, followed by Sam Schmuke with 16 points and seven steals.

Holten leads the Eagles in scoring this season at 13.6 points per game. Schmuke, who returned recently from injury, is averaging 12 points and 4.16 steals per contest.

Columbia plays at rival Waterloo this coming Tuesday night. The Eagles lost 57-49 at Waterloo during tournament play on Dec. 27.

Waterloo (8-14) was in the midst of a five-game losing streak entering play Tuesday.

The Bulldogs fell 64-23 to a tough Breese Central squad at the Highland Tournament on Saturday. Waterloo committed 22 turnovers in the game. Sam Juelfs led the Bulldogs with nine points. 

On Thursday, Waterloo lost 49-28 at Triad, committing 23 turnovers in this contest. Mallory Thompson scored nine points to lead the ‘Dogs.

Waterloo rallied from being down 31-18 at halftime to win 54-51 over Collinsville at the Highland Tournament on Tuesday. Liv Colson scored 17 points for the Bulldogs, who take on Teutopolis at the tourney on Wednesday, then plays Monday at East St. Louis before hosting the clash with Columbia. 

Colson, who recently missed some game action but has since returned, is averaging 9.1 points, 6.27 rebounds and 3.27 steals per game this season for Waterloo. 

Kristin Smith is averaging 8.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. She is shooting 43.2 percent from three-point range. 

Thompson is averaging 8.5 points per game. 

Valmeyer (10-4) continues to win. The Pirates blasted rival New Athens on Thursday, 55-35, thanks to a double dose of Millers.

Brooke Miller scored 25 points and grabbed 19 rebounds. Kierstin Miller added 14 points and also grabbed 19 rebounds. 

Brooke Miller is averaging 17.6 points, 12.6 rebounds, 4.07 steals and 2.86 blocks per game on the season. 

Kierstin Miller is averaging 11.4 points, 11.4 rebounds and 3.64 steals this season. 

Valmeyer hosts Red Bud this coming Monday. 

Gibault (5-14) snapped a recent losing skid with a victory last Wednesday over Roxana, 45-39.

The Hawks held a slim one point lead after three quarters before outscoring the Shells 15-10 in the final frame. 

Gibault hosted Steeleville on Tuesday and will travel to Althoff on Thursday. 

Dupo (3-14) lost 60-12 to Marissa on Thursday. 

The Tigers played at Metro East Lutheran on Tuesday and will host O’Fallon First Baptist this coming Monday. 

Corey Saathoff

Corey is the editor of the Republic-Times. He has worked at the newspaper since 2004, and currently resides in Columbia. He is also the principal singer-songwriter and plays guitar in St. Louis area country-rock band The Trophy Mules.
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