Gibault’s Lexi Chambers dribbles the ball up the court during a recent game against Valmeyer. (Corey Saathoff photo)

The Gibault and Columbia girls basketball teams are playing well ahead of next week’s Candy Cane Classic in Waterloo.

The annual tournament begins Monday night at Gibault and continues through Dec. 16, with the host Hawks competing against Columbia, Valmeyer, Waterloo, Red Bud, Wood River, Marquette and Roxana. See the full tourney bracket in this week’s paper.

Gibault is 6-2 on the season, having won two of its past three contests.

Last Tuesday, the Hawks defeated Chester, 70-63, exploding for 36 points in the final frame. Freshman Maddie Davis scored 28 points, with Ashlyn Wightman and Lexi Chambers chipping in 17 points apiece.

Chambers added 15 rebounds.

On Thursday, the Hawks dropped a 53-38 game to New Athens. Ashlyn Wightman scored 19 points with 13 rebounds and eight blocks. Sidney Wightman added nine points.

Monday night, Gibault defeated Madison, 52-42. The Hawks broke open a close game by outscoring Madison 27-18 in the second half. Ashlyn Wightman had a monster night, scoring 29 points, grabbing 20 rebounds and blocking seven shots.

Chambers added 12 points and seven rebounds.

Ashlyn Wightman leads the team, averaging 16 points, 10.6 rebounds and five blocks per game. 

Davis, who has missed recent action due to a concussion suffered Thursday, is averaging 13 points per game. 

Chambers is averaging 9.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.

Gibault hosts Red Bud on Wednesday and Metro-East Lutheran on Thursday prior to tourney play.

Columbia (4-3) has won three straight following a 1-3 start.

The Eagles defeated Wesclin on Thursday, 59-39. Columbia stormed out to a 17-4 lead after one quarter and led 33-13 at halftime. 

Sophia Bonaldi scored 25 points and Whitney Edwards added 17 points and 10 rebounds.

On Saturday, the Eagles downed Carlyle, 70-60. Columbia broke open a close game by outscoring the Indians 39-26 in the second half. 

Bonaldi scored 26 points and recorded six steals. Edwards added 23 points and 12 rebounds.

On Monday, the Eagles defeated Salem, 43-38. Edwards led the way with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Bonaldi added 10 points and seven rebounds.

Bonaldi leads the team in scoring at 17.3 points per game. Edwards is next at 14 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.

Columbia hosts Breese Central on Thursday prior to tourney action next week.

In other girls hoops action, Waterloo finally picked up its first win Monday night following an 0-7 start.

The Bulldogs edged Mascoutah, 34-31. Riley Diekman led Waterloo with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Sydney Luedeman added nine points, five rebounds, four assists and three blocks.

Luedeman, a senior, leads the team in scoring this season at 7.4 points per game.

Waterloo hosts Highland on Thursday prior to tourney play next week.

Valmeyer is 0-6 this season following losses to Lebanon on Thursday and New Athens on Monday.

Freshman Tinleigh Jakimaukas leads the team in scoring at nine points per game; sophomore McKenna Litteken is next at six points per game.

The Pirates host Marissa on Thursday prior to tourney play next week.

Dupo is 1-7 on the season following recent losses to Father McGivney, Marissa and Lebanon. 

The leading scorers for the Tigers are Reagan Carner, Cameron Foster, Khourtney LaChance and Annalese Gill.

Dupo hosts Wood River on Thursday and hosts Red Bud on Saturday.

For a printable version of the bracket for the Candy Cane Classic, which is Dec. 11-16, at Gibault Catholic High School, click here.