The Columbia High School girls basketball squad captured the Candy Cane Classic championship at Gibault Catholic High School, winning all three of its games. 

Following its opening round win over Valmeyer last Monday, the Eagles (10-3), edged Red Bud last Wednesday, 51-47. 

Jordan Holten paced Columbia with 17 points and eight rebounds. Sam Schmuke contributed 13 points and five steals. Kinley Jany – the younger sister of former CHS multi-sport standout Karsen Jany chipped in with 10 points.

Following a non-tourney contest Thursday against unbeaten Cahokia Conference foe Breese Central which they lost 60-31, the Eagles played in the tourney final on Saturday against Chester.

Columbia dominated the final, winning 62-37. Jany led the way with 17 points, followed by Holten and Ava Langhans each with 13 points. Schmuke added 10 points. 

Holten was named MVP of the tourney, with Schmuke named to the all-tourney squad.

Columbia carried its tourney success into a conference tilt Monday at Roxana, winning 55-48. Trailing after the third quarter, the Eagles dug deep to outscore the Shells by the count of 23-14 in the final frame. 

Jany continued her scoring ways with 15 points – including four three-pointers. Langhans and Schmuke each scored 12 points.

Columbia hosts Oakville on Wednesday before playing in the Waterloo Holiday Tournament that begins Tuesday and also includes Carlyle, Red Bud, Waterloo, Roxana, Marquette, Gibault and Marissa.

Holten leads the Eagles in scoring this season at 16 points per game. Schmuke is averaging 12.2 points per game in addition to her four steals per game average. 

Waterloo (4-7) lost 71-45 to unbeaten Civic Memorial on Friday in a Mississippi Valley Conference game at home. 

Kristin Smith and Mallory Thompson each scored 12 points for the Bulldogs, who play Thursday at Mater Dei and host MVC foe Jerseyville on Friday.

Liv Colson averages 11 points per game this season, and Smith averages 10 points per game for the ‘Dogs.

Waterloo will kick off its own tourney at 2 p.m. Tuesday against Marissa.

Gibault (4-6) opened its Candy Cane Classic with a 48-21 win over Metro East Lutheran last Tuesday but dropped its two succeeding contests.

The Hawks lost 32-31 to Chester on Thursday and 36-32 to Red Bud on Saturday.

Bri Baldridge was named to the all-tourney team for the Hawks, who host Wesclin on Thursday before battling in the Waterloo tourney. 

Gibault opens the tourney at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday against Marissa.

Valmeyer (6-3) has strung together some victories of late. 

After falling to tourney champ Columbia last Monday at the Candy Cane Classic, the Pirates won 55-34 over New Athens last Wednesday. 

Brooke Miller scored 25 points, grabbed 17 rebounds and made seven steals. Kierstin Miller added 18 points and 11 rebounds. 

On Saturday, Valmeyer won 55-19 over Waterloo JV to conclude its tourney action. Brooke Miller again had a big day with 26 points, 17 rebounds, five steals and four blocks. Kierstin Miller added 16 points, 12 rebounds and nine steals. 

On Monday, Valmeyer returned to regular season play with a 57-21 win over Dupo. The Pirates went on a 13-0 run in the second quarter to put the game away early. 

Brooke Miller is averaging 16.6 points, 12.8 rebounds, 4.25 steals and four blocks per game this season. 

Kierstin Miller is averaging 13.5 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3.63 steals per contest.

Prior to Monday’s loss against Valmeyer, Dupo (2-9) lost 30-28 at New Athens on Thursday. 

Addison Mitchell, who leads the Tigers in scoring this season, scored 14 points for Dupo.