By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
Bishop LeBlond had gotten a great test from West Platte just 12 days ago in Weston, where the Golden Eagles escaped with a 36-35 win.
The BlueJays (4-5) came into the LeBlond Holiday tournament championship on a three-game winning streak, determined to deny the Golden Eagles a win in their home tournament.
West Platte, once again, played LeBlond tough, but the Golden Eagles were up to the challenge, turning the BlueJays over 19 times and knocking down key free throws in a 42-35 win in the LeBlond tournament title game on Friday night at Grace Gymnasium.
LeBlond (10-1) made 15-of-17 attempts at the free throw line, overcame an early 5-0 deficit and never looked back after reeling off a 10-0 run in the first quarter.
The Knights of Columbus trophy stays at Grace Gymansium for a third straight year.
"We made our free throws and executed when we needed to," LeBlond head coach Jackie Steltenpohl said. "That helped us keep that spread and keep that confidence going into the fourth quarter."
LeBlond got a little separation, going up 21-13 at halftime. West Platte (4-6) made their best push in the third quarter, scoring 16 points in that frame and knotting the game at 29 in the final minute of the third.
Momentum swung back the other way, though, as LeBlond senior Kyla Conard was fouled on a long three-point attempt as the buzzer sounded at the end of the third.
Conard made all three free throws to put the Eagles ahead 32-29 entering the fourth.
West Platte never tasted the lead, as LeBlond went 6-for-6 at the foul line in the fourth quarter. The Jays were also limited to six fourth quarter points.
Senior Kaleigh Ziesel, named the LeBlond tournament MVP, finished with a game-high 15 points to go with some critical rebounding on both ends.
"It feels amazing," Ziesel said. "All of our work is paying off. We practice all week long for this. It just feels good to finally have that threepeat in this tournament."
Conard finished with 13 points and all-tournament team honors. Sam Baker led West Platte with 12 points. Avery Holmes and Blair McHenry each had nine.
LeBlond now rides a five-game winning streak heading into 2024. With the bulk of the Midland Empire Conference schedule still in front of them, confidence is again high for the Golden Eagles, following their state runner-up campaign the previous year.
"I think our girls are so versatile, there's a different leading scorer every night," Steltenpohl pointed out. "So, it's hard for other teams to prepare, knowing who to guard, because you never know who is going to step up."
LeBlond boys bounce back strong, take 3rd place over Savannah
After falling to Plattsburg in heartbreaking fashion the night before, the Bishop LeBlond boys' basketball team came back strong the following day.
The Golden Eagles (9-4) held Savannah down defensively in a 45-33 victory in the third place game at the LeBlond Holiday tournament at Grace Gymnasium Friday.
It was a nice payback for LeBlond, who lost to Savannah 46-40 in the third place game last year.
"It felt really good, because (Savannah) beat us last year and we were really upset," LeBlond junior Cooper Waterman said. "We came into this one, wanting to win and got the job done. So, we feel good."
Waterman, who scored 13 against Plattsburg Thursday, was certainly feeling good again on Friday. He scored 11 points in the first half and ended with a game-high 16.
Leading only 10-9 at the end of the first, LeBlond took over, going on a 13-1 run in the second period to lead it 23-10 at halftime.
Savannah (5-7) got it back to within single digits a couple times, but never made any serious push for the lead in the second half. It didn't help that seniors Carsyn George and Zayden Snapp fouled out late.
George led the Savages with 11 points. Junior Jaiden Martinez had nine. Savannah also committed 20 turnovers in the loss and were called on 21 total fouls.
LeBlond got 12 points from Trey Icke and Chris Miljavic Friday as well. The Golden Eagles took some lumps to great teams like Maryville (7-0), Weaubleau (9-1) and Plattsburg (10-2) this month, but have won three of their last four going into the New Year.
"We've played a good mix of teams and have competed," said LeBlond head coach Mitch Girres. "Hopefully, we just continue that, because our schedule doesn't get any easier. We have really tough games ahead. Hopefully, we'll be prepared for it and just see where it goes."
"I'm proud of them, though. I think they played really well these last couple of days."
Other LeBlond tournament results Friday
Boys
1st place - Plattsburg 63 West Platte 55. Tigers win it for the second straight year.
5th place - Lawson 48 Pleasant Hill 33
7th place - North Andrew 64 Nodaway Valley 47
Girls
3rd place - Nodaway Valley 49 Savannah 39
5th place - Plattsburg 46 North Andrew 39
You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.