The Waterloo High School boys basketball team is on fire, having won seven straight games and nine of their last 10. This week the Bulldogs looked to defend their Sparta Mid-Winter Classic title and will get the chance to do so Saturday night.

They began their road to the tournament championship overpowering Red Bud Wednesday, winning 50-16. Shane Lenhardt led the way with 15 points for the ‘Dogs, who then defeated host team Sparta on Friday, 62-47, with Lenhardt putting up another 15 point night.

WHS will play for their second straight Sparta Tournament title Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. against Murphysboro.

The Gibault Hawks temporarily bounced back from last Saturday’s tough home loss to Althoff, winning 63-54 Tuesday against Mascoutah in the Nashville Invitational Tournament. Nick Row paced the team with 16 points. But Gibault then fell to host team Nashville Friday night, 43-36. Wes Degener led the Hawks with 13 points.

GHS will face Teutopolis at 6:30 p.m. in Nashville for the third place game Saturday.

In more tournament action, Columbia lost to Litchfield 63-53 Wednesday in the Litchfield tourney after having defeated Hillsboro on Monday. Ryan Gudeman scored 16 for the Eagles, who went on to fall again, to Nokomis 47-41 on Friday night. The Eagles will play Mt. Zion in their final game of the tournament on Saturday at 6 p.m.

Meanwhile Valmeyer traveled to Valley Park on Friday night for a regularly scheduled match-up, topping the Hawks 59-50.