Tigers Cruise In Don Maurer Holiday Invitational Opener Against Parkway South
The Tigers previously played in the Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic before making the switch.
LADUE, Mo. – For the fourth straight season, the Edwardsville Tigers crossed over the Mississippi River to take part in the Don Maurer Holiday Invitational, hosted by Mary Institute and Saint Louis Day School (MICDS).
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Edwardsville earned itself the number four seed in the 16-team bracket-style tournament, paring them against 13th-seeded Parkway South in the opening round on Tuesday, December 23.
The Tigers led wire to wire, beating the Patriots 54-35.
A little over three-minute scoring drought was stopped by Miccah Butler’s basket, followed by a three-pointer from Brady Niemi. Another three, this time from Butler, and a basket from Tucker Lindstedt put the Tigers ahead 10-2 after the first quarter.
Edwardsville grew its lead to 15-4 thanks to five straight points from Matthew Wilson. But the Patriots didn’t go away.
A basket from Tyler Shanfeld and back-to-back threes from Josiah Davis closed the gap to 15-12. After that, Edwardsville finished the half on a 7-3 run to lead 22-15.
Parkway South closed the gap to four points at 27-23 midway through the third, but Edwardsville responded with a quick eight-point run. From there, the Tigers’ lead was never in danger, prevailing 38-25 after the third quarter.
“I thought the separator was, we kept guarding good,” Edwardsville head coach Dustin Battas said. “I think we were 2-for-19 on threes in the first half, or something that’s not good. Then we made a couple in the third quarter. We combined a couple of stops with a couple of threes, and I think that’s how we were able to get away from them a little bit, which led to our lead in the second half.”
The Tigers made three three-pointers in the first half. They broke out for seven more in the second half, three of which came from Niemi. He and Butler led the Tigers with 15 points each. Wilson added 10 points.
Jacob Sidwell was the only Patriot in double figures with 11 points.
Edwardsville continues its run in the tournament on Friday, December 26, at 4:30 p.m. against fifth-seeded Clayton.
The Greyhounds (5-2) narrowly beat twelfth-seeded St. Charles 63-61 in their opening round game.
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