Less than six years since achieving his 700th career win, legendary longtime Gibault Catholic High School head boys basketball coach Dennis Rueter was honored Friday night for reaching 800 victories. 

At a ceremony celebrating No. 700 in February 2017, Rueter told a packed Father Hustedde Gymnasium at Gibault that “he was hoping we can do this again at 800.”

Well, with a Dec. 16 victory over Father McGivney, the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association said Rueter reached his latest milestone. 

It was initially thought by the school that the win over Father McGivney was No. 799 for Rueter, but the IBCA announcement was a welcome surprise and put plans in order for a Friday night celebration prior to tip-off at home against Wesclin. 

Rueter, 65, has served as head coach of the Hawks since 1980, coming in fresh out of college. 

With many former players in attendance along with longtime Gibault fans, Rueter remarked that his overall record of 800-451 is special to him since that means he has coached 1,251 total games and over 3,000 hours of practice over the years.  

Gibault presented Rueter with a commemorative basketball in honor of the latest milestone, and IBCA board member Steve All was in attendance Friday night to present a silver whistle to Rueter.

In all, Rueter’s 800 wins ranks ninth on the all-time list for Illinois boys hoops. He is a seven-time IBCA Coach of the Year and a 2010 member of the IBCA Hall of Fame. 

Of the other eight coaches with 800 or more wins in Illinois, there are only two other active coaches – one with at 933 wins for second all-time and another at 827 for fifth all-time.

Rueter has won 16 regional titles, five sectional titles, and one state title that finally came last season with a team that went 32-7 overall. 

His 1999 squad was a state runner-up. 

As for Friday’s contest against Wesclin, the Hawks (5-8) fell behind 12-2 early before making it close entering the fourth quarter, but Wesclin ultimately won the contest by a score of 55-45.

Gibault is playing in the Columbia-Freeburg Holiday Tournament this week at Columbia High School, starting with a Wednesday afternoon tilt against Kentucky’s Nelson County before battling the tourney host Eagles Wednesday evening. The Hawks won 52-47 over Nelson County.

The Hawks continue tourney play Thursday against Civic Memorial and then conclude action Friday. 

Gavin Kesler (15.9 points per game) and Kanen Augustine (14.7 points per game), both seniors, are the top scorers this season for Gibault. 

Waterloo improved to 7-4 on the season and 3-1 in the Mississippi Valley Conference by virtue of a 71-58 win at home Friday over Jerseyville. 

Alex Stell scored 22 points and Caleb Yochum scored 17 points to lead the Bulldogs. Stell is averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds per game on the season. 

Waterloo opened the holiday tourney at CHS with an early Wednesday afternoon game against Marquette, falling 49-46, then a 5 p.m. Wednesday match against Columbia JV.  Waterloo then battles Freeburg at 6:30 p.m. Thursday before concluding tourney play Friday. 

Columbia (7-4) posted an easy 63-20 win last Tuesday over Roxana. Sam Donald scored 15 points and Micah James added 14 points for the Eagles. Donald leads the Eagles in scoring this season at 20.6 points per game. 

The Eagles opened tourney play Wednesday morning with a 51-32 win over Civic Memorial, with Donald scoring 18 points.

Columbia plays Wednesday evening against Gibault and at 5 p.m. Thursday against Nelson County before concluding on Friday. 

Valmeyer (3-6) posted a 53-11 win over Dupo last Tuesday. Landon Roy led the way with 10 points for the Pirates. 

Valmeyer is playing in the Valle Catholic Tournament, starting at 3 p.m. Wednesday against Saxony Lutheran. 

Aiden Crossin leads the Pirates in scoring this season at 14.3 points per game, followed by Roy at 11.8 points per contest.