ERIE, Ill. — West Carroll scored half its points in the fourth quarter from the free-throw line, converting on 11 of 15 attempts, to hold off Riverdale for a 67-64 victory Friday at the Cliff Warkins Memorial Cardinal Classic boys basketball tournament.

Tommy Losch, who led all scorers with 30 points, scored 13 of West Carroll’s 16 third-quarter points as it turned a 29-29 halftime tie into a 45-39 advantage. Losch’s 30 points ties Erie’s Jacob Johnston and Riverdale graduate Wes DeClercq for the seventh-most points scored in a Warkins game.

Losch made 4 of 6 free-throw attempts in the fourth quarter, while Trevor Jones was 5-for-7 and Travis Hartman made both his attempts to help preserve the win. Jones finished with 17 points, nine in the fourth quarter, and Hartman added 11 for the Thunder.

“We played a better game today, and we played well together,” West Carroll coach Josh Knuth said.

Riverdale tried to close the gap in the fourth quarter by drilling 3-pointers and sending the Thunder to the free-throw line. The Rams connected on four 3-pointers in the period, scoring nine of their final 16 points from beyond the arc.

“Defensively, we gave up some open looks at the end of the game that almost cost us,” Knuth said. “We have to continue to improve at end-game situations and on our defense. If we do those things, we can become a solid team.”

Hartman had a team-high five rebounds, and Nick Hughes dished out nine assists for West Carroll.

Jared Richmond led Riverdale with 16 points.

West Carroll and Morrison will square off at 1:30 p.m. today, while Riverdale will face Mercer County at 4:30 p.m.



Orion tops Erie

Orion advanced to the title game for the sixth year in a row with a 50-32 win against host Erie on Friday.

Dylan Schultz poured in 18 points to lead the five-time defending champions.

The Chargers led just 10-7 after the first quarter, then widened the gap to 27-18 at the half. They kept the margin at nine through three quarters, then pulled away over the final eight minutes.

Jacob Johnston led Erie with 14 points.

Orion will face Bureau Valley in tonight’s 7:30 title game. Erie wil face Knoxville at 4:30 p.m.



Morrison beaten

Morrison was unable to overcome a slow start Friday, dropping a 48-24 decision to Mercer County of Aledo, Ill.

Mercer County raced to a 13-3 lead in the first quarter, led 28-13 at the half and then outscored the Mustangs 18-5 in the third period.

Tyson Nylin made four 3-pointers and led the winners with 14 points, and Tanner Matlick added 10. Hunter Hamstra scored 13 points to lead Morrison.

Morrison will face West Carroll at 1:30 p.m. today in the high school gym.



Elsewhere

In other games Friday:

Stockton outscored Stark County 11-7 in the fourth quarter to pull out a 42-39 win. Trent Schubert scored 13 points to lead the Blackhawks, while Stark County’s Jake Berchtold led all scorers with 14 points. Stockton will meet Kewanee Wethersfield at 6 p.m. today in the Annex Gym.

Riverdale bounced back from its loss to West Carroll to beat Bureau Valley 53-41. Drew Beale led the Rams with 16 points, while Parker Neuhalfen scored 15 for Bureau Valley, which still advanced to the championship round.

Kewanee Wethersfield and Knoxville were tied after three quarters, but Wethersfield pulled out a 65-61 win. Trevor Lay scored 15 points for the Flying Geese, while Matt Jenkins and Kegan Jacobson added 14 apiece. Nolan Lewis of Knoxville led all scorers with 17 points.



WEST CARROLL 67, RIVERDALE 64

RIVERDALE — Travis Smeltzly 2 0-0 5, Bart Johnson 3 0-0 7, Mitchell Sand 3 3-4 11, Jared Richmond 6 2-4 16, Eli Smith 0 0-2 0, Zach Mikles 0 0-0 0, Cade Sharp 3 1-2 7, Cole Soloman 5 0-0 10, Drew Beale 3 2-3 8. Totals 25 8-15 64.

WEST CARROLL — Nick Hughes 0 0-0 0, Tommy Losch 8 9-12 30, Travis Hartman 4 2-2 11, Jordan Bracero 3 1-2 7, Trevor Jones 6 5-7 17, Jacob Ritchie 0 0-0 0, McGinnis 0 0-0 0, Even Gengenbach 1 0-0 2, Tommy Watson 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 17-23 67.

Riverdale    16    13    10    25    —    64

West Carroll    16    13    16    22    —    67

3-point goals — Riverdale 6 (Sand 2, Richmond 2, Smeltzly, Johnson); West Carroll 3 (Losch 2, Hartman). Total fouls — Riverdale 21, West Carroll 13. Fouled out — Smeltzly. Technical foul — Sharp.



MERCER COUNTY 48, MORRISON 24

MERCER COUNTY — Brett Bieri 0 0-0 0, Austin Hyett 1 3-4 5, Tanner Matlick 4 2-4 10, Brandon Butcher 3 3-4 9, Zach Aldinger 0 1-2 1, Darrin Harrison 0 0-0 0, Tyson Nylin 5 0-0 14, Trenton Higgins 2 1-2 7, Brad Sabel 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 10-16 48.

MORRISON — Brock Deter 1 0-0 2, Alexander Volckmann 1 0-0 2, Alex Weeks 1 0-0 3, Matt Wilkens 0 1-2 1, Kyle Meurs 0 0-3 0, Will Greul 0 0-2 0, Connor Duncan 1 0-0 2, Tom Wierenga 0 0-0 0, Hunter Hamstra 6 1-3 13. Totals 10 2-10 24.

Mercer County    13    15    18    2    —    48

Morrison    3    10    5    6    —    24

3-point goals — Mercer County 6 (Nylin 4, Higgins 2); Morrison 2 (Deter, Weeks). Total fouls — Mercer County 12, Morrison 14. Fouled out — None.



ORION 50, ERIE 32

ERIE — Jacob Johnston 5 4-4 14, Connor Saad 2 0-0 6, Jordan Chandler 1 2-3 4, Rhett Stover 2 0-0 4, Owen McConnelll  2 0-0 4. Totals 12 6-7 32.

ORION — Jason Marshall 3 0-0 6, Kayman Martens 1 0-0 3, Adam Killion 4 1-1 10, Dylan Schultz 8 1-2 18, Trent Zwicker 1 0-0 2, Dakota Grant 2 0-2 4, Drew Amador 1 0-0 3, Jake Schulenberg 1 2-2 4. Totals 21 4-7 50.

Erie    7    11    12    2    —    32

Orion    10    17    12    11    —    50

3-point goals — Erie 2 (Saad 2); Orion 4 (Martens, Killion, Schultz, Amador).