Redbirds finish in 6th Place at Centralia

Saturday was a busy one for the Alton Redbirds at the 80th Centralia Holiday Tournament.

The day started bright and early and finished in the early evening hours - with mixed results. The Redbirds went 1-1 Saturday and finished sixth at the 80th annual Centralia Holiday Tournament.

Chatham Glenwood defeated the Redbirds 40-33 in the fifth-place game Saturday evening. That game tipped off at 4:30 p.m. after an early morning fifth-place semifinal win by Alton over Champaign Central, 51-47.

The Redbirds finished 2-2 overall in the 16-team tourney. They had opened with a 59-55 win over MHEA of Memphis, Tennessee 59-55 then lost to Evanston 43-41 in the quarterfinal round.

In Saturday's fifth-place game loss to Glenwood, the Redbirds trailed 12-8 after the first quarter and 20-12 at halftime.

Alton was led by Semaj Stamplay with 12 points. Hassani Elliot added five points Kobe Taylor and Ka'Nye Lacey each scored four points.

Alton made 10 of 20 two-point shots, but were just 3of 25 from beyond the three-point arc.

Alex Macias pulled down five rebounds for Alton and Elliott grabbed four.

Glenwood out-rebounded the Redbirds 31-21. 

Earlier Saturday, in an 8:30 a.m. tipoff, the Redbirds Stampley and Taylor provided a one-two scoring punch. Stampley scored 16 points, including a pair of 3-point baskets. Taylor scored 14 points, including one trey.

Chis Busch led Champaign Central in scoring with 17 points.

Elliott hauled down nine rebounds for the Redbirds in the morning win and Stampley had six. Central out-rebounded Alton overall 28-26.

The Redbirds are 9-6 overall on the season. They will return to action with a non-conference game Jan. 5 at Belleville Althoff. On Jan. 9, they will return to Southwestern Conference action at Collinsville before returning home for a Jan. 12 SWC game against Edwardsville.