Board work carries Alton to tourney win over Calhoun

Greg Shashack, gshashack@thetelegraph.com

 Updated 9:58 am CST, Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Photo:

Telegraph File Photo

Alton’s Laila McNeal scored 15 points in the Redbirds’ victory Tuesday night in the Alton Tip-Off Classic girls basketball tournament.

Alton owned the boards Tuesday and that rebounding dominance carried the Redbirds to a 52-48 victory over the Calhoun Warriors on opening night of the Alton Tip-Off Classic girls basketball tournament.

The Warriors trimmed an eight-point halftime deficit to one point with less than two minutes remaining, but the Redbirds scored off an offensive rebound and turned a Calhoun turnover into another quick basket to repel the threat.

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It was the last of three tourney games at Alton High, following Breese Mater Dei’s 58-41 victory over Springfield Southeast and Jersey’s 48-43 overtime victory over Breese Central.

Calhoun, which plays Southeast at 6 p.m. Tuesday, got a game-high 19 points from senior guard Sophie Lorton and 17 points from Colleen Schumann.

The Redbirds, who were up 27-20 at the half, were led by Laila McNeal’s 15 points. Danita Smith chipped in 11 points and Cri’Shonna Hickman scored eight points for Alton, which takes on Mater Dei at 6 p.m. Friday.