St. John boys' basketball team play in Lutheran State Basketball tournament
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The St. John Hornet boys' basketball team took their 23 & 3 record to the Lutheran State Basketball tournament in Chicago March 2-4. This invitational is for the top 16 Lutheran school teams in Illinois. Admission is based on team records and tournament wins. St. John in not a stranger to this level of competition, receiving 7th place in 1995, 8th place in 1996, and 5th place in 2009. The girls' team placed 11th in 2000 and 4th in 2001. St. John's girls won the Lutheran State Track title in 1993 and 1996.
After a 6 ½ hour bus ride on March 2, SJS lost to Holy Family of Chicago 43-32. Holy Family, a school with an enrollment of 250 students, led 17-5 after the 1st quarter and controlled the most of the game. St. John's tied the score late in the 3rd quarter, but couldn't hang on. Jordan Berner led the Hornets with 13 points and 14 rebonds, Tyler Redeker had 10 points and 11 rebounds, Austin Welge scored 6, Jason Schwartz contributed 2, and Matt Smith made a free throw.
The second game faced the Hornets against Our Savior of Springfield. Tied at the first break, and leading by only four at half, SJS extended that lead each quarter to claim a 43-26 victory. Redeker led the scoring with 13 points, Berner scored 12, Jack Weir made 6, Welge put in 4, and Smith, Trent Doiron, and Chris Lang each scored 2. Lucas Doiron helped the defense with a steal and a rebound.
Saturday evening, SJS met Trinity from Roselle, another large school with 305 students. The Hornets were down 12-7 after the first buzzer and 20-17 going into the locker room at half-time. Still on the bottom end of the scoreboard after 3, St. John's out scored Trinity 16-9 in the last quarter to put them in the championship game of the consolation bracket. Berner enjoyed his best game of the weekend, adding 17 points and 8 rebounds for the victors. Welge also had a great game with 13 points and 3 assists. Redeker scored 6, and Schwartz and Weir each made 2 points.
The Consolation Championship game set SJS against from Altamont. A tense game from the beginning, the Hornets were up 20-19 at half. During the final minutes of the game, Altamont came within 2 points, but Jason Schwartz came through for The Big Green making 6 out of 7 free throws to put the Hornets up 48-40 at the final buzzer. Three guys scored in double figures with Welge scoring 12, Berner adding 14 points and 7 rebounds, and Redeker putting in 13 points and grabbing 9 rebounds. Schwartz finished with 8 and Smith made a free throw.
Jordan Berner was named to the All-Tournament team. Only three other teams south of Effingham were selected for this tournament: Zion Belleville, Trinity Edwardsville, and Altamont. St. John's had beaten Zion and Trinity earlier in the season, to earn them the unofficial title of "Best Lutheran Team of Southern Illinois."
St. John ended their stellar season with a record of 26 & 4. To their trophy case, they added 1st place hardware from St. Mark's All-Lutheran Tournament, Okaw Valley Conference and the Conference Tournament, and SIJHSAA Regional. In the 16 team Collinsville Tournament, SJS won 3rd place, and the Consolation Trophy from the memorable Lutheran State weekend. Team members for the 2011-12 A-team are Jordan Berner, Lucas Doiron, Tyler Redeker, Jason Schwartz, Austin Welge, Trent Doiron, Christopher Lang, Matthew Smith, Joey Stahlheber, and Jack Weir. Coaches for the 7th straight year are Steve Schwartz and Jake Arbeiter.
The players, coaches, and fans thank the faithful Hornet supporters for their help with recent fundraising efforts to cover travel expenses for the Chicago trip.