HS boys’ basketball: Staunton ends Southwestern’s three-year county dynasty
The 2025 Macoupin County Tournament champion Staunton Bulldogs. Photo contributed.
By JACKSON WILSON
Enquirer Democrat Reporter
After the Staunton High School boys’ basketball team won the Carlinville Holiday Tournament, the Bulldogs checked another box off their list of coveted goals – return to the Big House and lift the county championship trophy three weeks later.
On Jan. 23, Staunton ended Southwestern’s three-year dynasty with a dominant 38-21 victory over the Piasa Birds.
From the opening buzzer throughout, the Staunton defense had the defending champions against the wall and never let up.
The Bulldogs sprinted ahead 15-5 in the first quarter and kept the momentum alive heading into halftime up 25-11. The Birds put up a fight in the second half and reduced the deficit to single digits before bowing out as runner-up.
Luke Moore led the charge for Staunton with 10 points. Ethan Sharp set the tone with two big threes in the first quarter and finished with eight tallies. The Bulldogs also received offensive contributions from Jeremiah Graham with seven points, Aaron Bodner with four points, Bryce Coalson with four points, Lucas Dillon with three points and Isiah Laux with two points.
Ian Brantley, Southwestern’s 6’7” star and scoring leader that came in averaging over 20 points per game, was held to just seven points on a rough shooting night from the floor. Ike Austin had six points on two threes. Ryan Lowis scored four points. Cason Robinson and John Kunz rounded out the Piasa offense with two tallies apiece.
Sharp, Bodner, Brantley and Lowis were named to the All-Tournament team.
Staunton elevated to 16-4 on the season.
Southwestern is 12-10 overall.
Quarterfinals
Southwestern opened the tournament with a 65-16 quarterfinal win over Mt. Olive Jan. 20. The Birds led 17-4 after the first quarter then scored 14 unanswered points heading into halftime. Brantley scored 11 baskets and put up 24 tallies in the victory.
Semifinals
On Jan. 22, Staunton and Southwestern both pulled away in their respective semifinals.
The Bulldogs, fresh off a first round bye as the tournament’s top seed, overcame a shaky start and defeated Bunker Hill, 51-25. Staunton, which received double figures from Coalson (16 points) and Bodner (14 points), removed all doubt with a 29-11 run in the second half.
Southwestern overpowered Carlinville, 46-28. Trailing 7-5 after one, the Birds turned the tides on the Cavaliers with a 16-8 run in the second quarter and 19-7 surge in the third. Brantley was once again the top scorer with 17 points for Piasa.
Wood and Lowis added nine tallies apiece.
