Columbia’s Ryan Gudeman makes a pass during a recent game. (Alan Dooley photo)

Three local teams are participating in mid-winter tournaments this week.

The Waterloo and Gibault boys basketball teams began mid-winter tourney play with wins on Tuesday night. Columbia dropped a nail-biter on Wednesday night at Belleville East. Waterloo and Columbia suffered tourney defeats on Thursday, while Gibault posted another impressive win. On Friday, Waterloo lost while Gibault won its third straight.

The Bulldogs, playing without leading scorer Ben Huels, pulled out a one-point victory, 54-53, over DuQuoin in the Sparta Mid-Winter Tournament on Tuesday. Dylan Hunt and Griffin Lenhardt scored 16 points each for the ‘Dogs. Ross Schrader added 15 points. Waterloo (6-12) played Murphysboro on Thursday, falling 56-32. The ‘Dogs suffered another loss Friday at the hands of Red Bud, 63-52.

The Hawks (15-6) easily defeated Vandalia on Tuesday night, 82-53, in the Okawville Invitational Tournament. Gibault shot 56 percent from the floor for the game, led by Jacob Rueter with 19 points and seven assists. Trevor Davis added 18 points and eight rebounds. The Hawks posted a similar showing Thursday, ripping Wesclin 75-48. Davis scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Brian Deterding added 21 points and nine boards, as Gibault shot 62 percent from the floor. The Hawks played Madison on Friday and came away with a 63-48 victory. Davis led the way with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Deterding added 16 points. Gibault plays host team Okawville on Saturday.

The Eagles opened play in the Chick-fil-A Classic at Belleville East on Wednesday after Tuesday’s game was postponed due to weather. Columbia showed why it is having a great season, leading most of the way against tourney host Belleville East until a late three-pointer sent the Eagles to defeat in a 68-66 contest. The Class 3A Eagles led the Class 4A Lancers by five points entering the fourth quarter and were up by four points with just one minute remaining in the game. But Drew Millas drained a three-pointer with just six seconds left to give Belleville East the lead. A last-second shot attempt by Columbia’s Ryan Gudeman was swatted away by the Lancers’ Jalen Jones.

Jonathan Holmes turned in another fine performance for Columbia (13-3), scoring 25 points with 12 rebounds. Gudeman added 14 points for the Eagles.

On Thursday, the Eagles suffered a defeat at the hands of highly ranked Althoff, 93-50. The Crusaders marched out to a 24-2 lead after the first quarter and poured it on from there. Columbia committed 20 turnovers in the contest. Holmes, this week’s Republic-Times Athlete of the Week, led the way again with 18 points.

Columbia plays Belleville West on Saturday.

In non-tourney action, New Athens edged Dupo on Friday night, 57-54. Jaxson Heintz scored 15 points to lead New Athens. Cody Richardson scored 18 points to lead the Tigers.