EDWARDSVILLE — The Staunton Bulldogs boys basketball team opened the NCCAA Live Event with two victories Friday in Edwardsville, beating MICDS 40-35 before closing the day with a 55-38 win over Lincoln.
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The event, held Friday through Sunday at Lucco-Jackson Gym and Liberty Middle School, features 70 schools and is sanctioned by the NCAA, with major college coaches in attendance.
Staunton entered the showcase after a 29-4 season last year in which the Bulldogs went 9-0 in conference play before losing to Rochester 52-49 in the sectional semifinals. The team graduated two seniors, Aaron Bodner and Bryce Coalson. Coalson was Staunton’s second-leading scorer last season at 16.3 points per game.
“We are still trying to figure out how we are going to replace Coalson but this summer we have played some great compation and we have had a lot of players step up and take on that role,” Staunton coach Ty Laux said.
The Bulldogs return Lucas Dillon, Jeremiah Graham and leading scorer Isiah Laux, along with other players expected to contribute this season.
“Our guys they compete everyday and they play hard everyday this is just another basketball game but with great talent,” Laux said.
Staunton is scheduled to play two more games Saturday to finish the weekend.
The showcase includes Metro-East teams such as Edwardsville, Collinsville, Father McGivney Catholic, Breese Mater Dei Catholic, Belleville East, Belleville Althoff Catholic, Staunton, Alton, Mascoutah, Belleville West, Trenton Wesclin, O’Fallon, Granite City, Freeburg, Breese Central, Maryville Christian,Alton Marquette, Madison and Calhoun.
St. Louis-area programs including Vashon, CBC, Ladue Horton Watkins, St. Louis Lift For Life Academy, Kirkwood, Principia, St. John Vianney Catholic, Mary Institute-Country Day, De Smet Jesuit and Westminster Christian also are competing, along with Illinois schools such as Chicago Wendell Phillips, Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin Catholic, Taylorville, Normal Community, Quincy, Normal University, Frankfort Lincoln-Way East and Chicago Brother Rice Catholic.
