Photo courtesy of Summer Inselmann.
Photo courtesy of Summer Inselmann.

Westminster Pulls Away to Sink Red Devils, 88-72

EUREKA – Westminster knocked down 14 3-pointers en route to an 88-72 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory over Eureka, Saturday afternoon at Christine Bonati Bollwinkle Arena and Convocation Center. Hank Thomas (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods H.S.) netted 21 points for the Red Devils, one of three starters to score in double figures.

Thomas was perfect in eight trips to the free throw line and handed out seven assists. Austin Juergens (Pekin, Ill./Pekin H.S.) registered 15 points and Jordan Dehm (Metamora, Ill./Metamora H.S.) narrowly missed a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds.

Dehm's free throws gave the hosts a 13-10 lead at the 14:39 mark of the first half, punctuating a 13-3 EC surge. The Blue Jays regained the lead less than more minutes later when Nolan Huot connected from beyond the arc for a 19-17 advantage. WC ultimately stretched the first-half advantage to 10 before Eureka responded by scoring 10 of the final 13 points of the frame to trail 32-29 at the break.

The Red Devils opened the second half with a defensive stop and an Alex Wiegand (Washington, Ill./Washington H.S.) field goal to trim the deficit to 32-31, but Eureka never did get over the hump. Juergens's basket kept the hosts within a possession as late as the 14:21 mark, but Huot hit a 3 just 13 seconds later and the Red Devils wouldn't have another possession with a chance to tie or take the lead.

Eureka will visit Blackburn next Saturday at 3 p.m. in Carlinville, Ill.