The annual Candy Cane Classic high school girls basketball tournament is taking place this week at Gibault Catholic High School. 

Columbia battled Valmeyer in the tourney on Monday night, winning 68-47. The Eagles held a 28-17 edge after the first quarter, as both teams managed to make several buckets. In the end, the Eagles proved too powerful for the smaller school Pirates.

Jordan Holten poured in 26 points to pace Columbia, followed by Sam Schmuke with 22 points and seven assists. In fact, Schmuke was a perfect 11-for-11 from the floor on the night. 

Columbia faced Red Bud in the tourney Wednesday night, pulling off a 51-47 victory. The Eagles trailed 31-17 at halftime but came out with a purpose in the third quarter, going on a 21-10 run. Holten scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Schmuke added 13 points, six assists and five steals.

The Eagles played at Breese Central in a Cahokia Conference tilt, falling 60-31.

Columbia will face Chester in the tourney final on Saturday.

After concluding Candy Cane Classic action, Columbia plays Monday at Roxana. 

On Thursday, Columbia (8-3) won 56-40 over Salem. Schmuke scored 19 points, and Holten scored 18 points. 

Holten leads the Eagles in scoring and rebounding at 17.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per contest this season. Schmuke is averaging 13.1 points and 4.3 steals per game. 

Prior to Monday’s tourney game, Valmeyer (4-3) won 35-29 over Marissa in overtime on Thursday. Valmeyer trailed 25-17 after three quarters, only to rally in the fourth quarter to tie the game. 

Brooke Miller scored 11 points, grabbed 17 rebounds and blocked four shots for the Pirates. Kierstin Miller added 11 points and nine rebounds. 

Valmeyer won 55-43 over New Athens in the tourney on Wednesday night. Brooke Miller scored 25 points and Kierstin Miller added 18 points.

Following tourney play, the Pirates host Dupo on Monday. 

Brooke Miller is averaging 13.2 points, 11.2 rebounds and 4.8 blocks per game this season. Kierstin Miller is averaging 11.4 points and 11.8 rebounds per contest.

Waterloo (4-6) split two recent contests. 

Last Wednesday, the Bulldogs welcomed the program’s all-time leading scorer as head coach of Affton. Waterloo took down Jennifer Conway’s squad, 43-28. The Bulldogs clung to a 15-14 lead at halftime before going on a 15-5 run in the third quarter to pull away. 

Mallory Thompson led Waterloo with 13 points, followed by Liv Colson with 11 points and nine rebounds. 

On Friday, the ‘Dogs dropped a 48-43 contest in overtime at Mascoutah. Thompson again led the way for Waterloo with 15 points and eight rebounds. Two Waterloo players fouled out of the contest.

Waterloo hosts Civic Memorial this Friday night. 

Colson leads the ‘Dogs in scoring this season at 11 points per game, followed by Kristin Smith at 10 points per game and Thompson at nine points per game. 

Gibault (4-5) opened its own tourney Tuesday night against Metro East Lutheran, winning 48-21. The Hawks faced Chester on Thursday, falling 32-31.

Last Wednesday, the Hawks lost 49-29 to Red Bud.