The Candy Cane Classic is underway at Gibault Catholic High School, and two local squads have their sights set on the tourney title.

The host Hawks posted a 47-40 victory Monday night over Riverview Gardens to begin their tourney run. Gibault led by just one point after the third quarter, but closed out the final frame with a 14-8 run. Karmon Grohmann led the Hawks with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Claire Higgenson added 14 points. 

Gibault (8-2) faced Metro East Lutheran in the tourney on Tuesday night, winning 41-8. Kamille Grohmann scored 13 points, with Karmon Grohmann pitching in with 10.

Prior the tourney, Gibault won 42-21 over Maryville Christian on Friday. Karmon Grohmann had 17 points, 10 rebounds and six steals. Kamille Grohmann added 11 points and 10 rebounds. 

Kamille Grohmann, a senior, is averaging 12.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, four steals and 1.7 blocks per game on the season. 

Karmon Grohmann, a junior, is averaging 10.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.4 steals per contest.

The Candy Cane Classic continued Wednesday and then concludes Saturday with the championship game set to take place at about 1 p.m. 

Meeting the Hawks in the final will be Columbia (8-2). The Eagles opened the tourney Monday night with a 56-20 throttling of New Athens. The Eagles led 21-2 after the first quarter and 34-5 at halftime. Sam Schmuke had 12 points and six steals for Columbia, which also got 12 points from Kinley Jany. 

The Eagles faced Red Bud on Wednesday for a berth in the tourney final, winning 55-30. Columbia went on a 16-4 run in the second quarter to take control of the contest. Schmuke scored 16 points and had six steals. Jordan Holten added 15 points.

Columbia plays a non-tourney game Thursday against Breese Central.

This past Thursday, the Eagles won 50-46 at Salem despite trailing 14-9 after the opening quarter. Schmuke poured in 15 points and had five steals. Ava Mathews scored 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Jany added 10 points.

Schmuke leads the team in scoring this season at 15.3 points per game in addition to averaging 5.44 steals per contest. Holten is averaging 10.3 points per game.

Waterloo (5-6) won two of three recent contests.

The Bulldogs lost 62-43 at home Wednesday night against Mater Dei. Aubrey Heck led the way for Waterloo with 15 points.

On Friday, the Bulldogs won 53-47 at home over Mascoutah. Sam Juelfs led the way with 16 points and nine rebounds. Kristin Smith added 12 points, and Kate Lindhorst contributed 10 points.

Last Wednesday, it was a 59-18 win for Waterloo at Affton. The Bulldogs led 34-4 at halftime. Juelfs again led the way with 19 points. Heck added 12 points, five assists and five steals. 

Juelfs is averaging nearly 10 points per game this season to lead the Bulldogs, who play Friday at Civic Memorial, and travel Monday to Jerseyville. 

Dupo (2-7) posted a 50-7 victory this past Thursday over O’Fallon First Baptist Academy. Kylie Kloess scored 13 points to lead the Tigers, who hosts New Athens on Thursday.

On Monday, it was a 46-38 loss for Dupo against Sparta. Kaitlynn Townsend scored 14 points for the Tigers.

On Wednesday, Dupo lost 51-24 to Steeleville.