The annual Columbia-Freeburg Holiday Tournament opened late Saturday morning at Columbia High School, and the host squad looked to close it out Monday night with the top trophy.

The Eagles (9-3) opened tourney play with a 50-31 victory early Saturday over Civic Memorial, getting 15 points apiece from Brody Landgraf and Kyle Chudd. Eddie Smajic added 14 points. 

On Saturday night, Columbia – playing without Smajic – pulled out a close contest with Freeburg, 52-48. Landgraf was again the top scorer for the Eagles with 22 points and added eight rebounds. Chudd contributed 13 points.

With Smajic still out due to back issues, Sunday evening saw Columbia face Monroe County rival Waterloo. The result was a 49-28 win for the Eagles. Landgraf led the way again with 15 points, with Ayden Sepich chipping in 10 points. Columbia shot 58 percent from the floor for the game.

Owen Niebruegge led the Bulldogs with 10 points. 

Columbia took on Marquette in the tourney title game Monday night. The result was a 67-64 overtime defeat for the Eagles.

Columbia led 12-9 after the first quarter, but the Explorers took a narrow 24-23 advantage into halftime. Columbia clung to a 38-37 lead entering the fourth quarter, but the two teams were tied at 55-55 at the end of regulation. Marquette just barely pulled it out in the extra frame.

Smajic returned to the lineup for the Eagles and scored 34 points in the loss.

Landgraf, a 6-foot-5 senior, is averaging 17.5 points and seven rebounds per game this season.

Columbia plays this coming Tuesday at Althoff.   

Waterloo (3-11) opened tourney play at CHS on Saturday afternoon with a 66-58 win over Freeburg.

On Sunday afternoon, it was a 59-54 loss for the Bulldogs to Civic Memorial.

Following the loss Sunday evening to Columbia, Waterloo concluded tourney play Monday against Benton with a 46-35 defeat.

Tyler DeVilder is averaging nearly 12 points per game this season for the Bulldogs, who host Carbondale this coming Tuesday.

Gibault (4-8) played in the annual Mater Dei Christmas Tournament.

The Hawks lost 55-34 to St. Charles West on Saturday afternoon, then dropped a 68-36 contest to Nashville on Saturday night. 

Gibault faced Christ Our Rock Lutheran on Monday, pulling out a 53-46 victory. The Hawks faced Father McGivney to conclude tourney play Tuesday afternoon. 

Colby Kincheloe is averaging nearly 12 points per game this season for the Hawks, who host Pinckneyville this Saturday night – which is also band, cheerleading and boys hoops alumni night at Gibault. The Hawks then host Wesclin on Tuesday.

Both Valmeyer and Mt. Olive competed this past weekend in the Piasa Southwestern Holiday Tournament. 

Valmeyer (5-7) opened tourney play with a 59-26 win over Mt. Olive on Friday, getting 16 points from Evan Hill, and 13 points apiece from Tallen Jakimauskas and Carter McSchooler. 

Also on Friday, the Pirates lost 72-39 to Piasa Southwestern despite 11 points from Gavin Rau. 

On Saturday, Valmeyer lost 57-54 to Kaskaskia Division rival Dupo. McSchooler scored 18 points for the Pirates. Tramar Bean and Chase Davis each scored 13 points to pace Dupo.

Valmeyer, led in scoring by Hill’s 13.3 points per game so far this season, hosts New Athens this Friday night.

Dupo (5-6) lost on Friday at this tourney to Piasa Southwestern, 59-34, and to Mt. Olive, 48-45.

Bean was the high-point guy in the loss to Piasa with 11 points. Brrayden Esterlein netted 22 points in the loss to Mt. Olive.

Esterlein is averaging 11.3 points per game this season to lead the Tigers, who play Tuesday at First Baptist Academy.