Crusaders run away from Pinckneyville Panthers, 74-56, in front of sold-out CHS Colbert Memorial Gymnasium
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – Friday February 28 was the final night of the 2025 IHSA Class 2A Chester Regional Tournament. The Championship game featured the No. 1 team in Class 2A and the No. 2 team in Class 2A in a battle to advance to the 2025 Carterville Sectional Tournament.
No. 1 Belleville Althoff Catholic Crusaders and No. 2 Pinckneyville Panthers faced off at 7:00 p.m. in the title game in front of a sold-out crowd of basketball fans from across Southern Illinois to see the top-2 Class 2A teams fight to the finish for the right to claim the 2025 Championship Trophy.
Coming into the game, Althoff was seeded No. 1 in the Chester Regional. The No. 10 Chester YellowJackets competed well with Althoff for the first two quarters in the Semi-Final game Wednesday night February 26. Chester trailed by only nine points, 19-10, after one quarter of play, and 10 points, 27-17, at halftime.
In the second Semi-Final game Wednesday, No. 12 Red Bud trailed No. 4 Pinckneyville by only seven points, 17-10, after one quarter, but the Musketeers were outscored, 27-13, in the second quarter to trail, 44-23, at the half.
Many local fans were therefore of the opinion that the Championship game would be rather close between Althoff and Pinckneyville. Some even thought that Pinckneyville would prevail or even run away with the Championship game vs the Crusaders.
Colbert Gym was packed as a sold-out event. Many fans stood around the upper concourse for a better viewing advantage. The doors to the gym opened at 6:15 p.m. (45-minutres prior to the tip-off). There were fans waiting at all entrances to the gym as early as 4:30 p.m. Lines grew all the way to the road on both sides of the gym until the doors opened.
Once the doors opened, it took little time for open seating to fill Colbert Gym. Approximately 3/4 of the gym appeared to be filled with Pinckneyville fans dressed in light “Pinckneyville Blue” apparel. The other ¼ was filled with Althoff fans or other fans wishing to see the top-2 teams in the State of Illinois in Class 2A battle for the title.
The Student Section was filled with Pinckneyville students on the east side and Althoff students on the west side. In-between, the middle section was packed with adult fans of both persuasions. The atmosphere was that of a collegiate game in many respects.
Both CHS concession stands were open and extremely busy throughout the entire night, and the Chester High School Pep Band, under the direction of Steve Colonel, was on hand to provide music. There were four media outlets there broadcasting the game live on various Television networks and several more print media on hand covering the game. The atmosphere was “electric”, as Colbert Memorial Gymnasium was sold-out for the first time in decades!
At precisely 7:00 p.m. the game tipped-off with Althoff’s Dierre Hill, Jr. and Pinckneyville’s AJ Keith facing each other for the jump-ball. Althoff got the ball and scored the first 3 points of the game at the 7:42 mark.
Just 18 seconds later Pinckneyville’s AJ Keith drained a 3-pointer and tied the game, 3-3, at the 7:24 mark. At this point it appeared as if earlier predictions of a close, competitive game was posed to take place.
Althoff’s Bryden Grysmala followed 38 seconds later with another Crusader 3-pointer. Althoff led, 6-3 at the 6:58 mark. Panther Ty Laur followed with a free throw at 6:41 and then hit a field goal at the 5:01 mark, to give Pinckneyville its first AND LAST lead of the game, 7-6, at the 5:05 mark.
Belleville would then go on a 17-0 run to take a convincing, 22-8 lead with just .40 remaining in the opening quarter. Each team would hit 3-pointers in the final .40 (Zach Winkeler for Althoff and Ty Laur for Pinckneyville) to end the first quarter with Althoff leading by 14 points, 25-11, after one quarter of play.
Going into the second quarter some fans were dismayed at the outcome of the first eight minutes, but most still had hopes that the Panthers would turn things around and make it a good game. Pinckneyville struck first with a bucket by Ty Laur just 43 seconds into the second quarter to trail by 12 points.
Althoff’s Zach Winkeler dropped in a basket at 6:44 to re-take a 14 point lead, 27-13. Five seconds later, Pinckneyville’s AJ Keith responded with a basket to give the Panther’s their 15th point to trail again by 12 points, 27-15 at 5:49. Spectators once again thought that Pinckneyville was going to stay with the Crusaders after such a competitive start.
That confidence was once again shaken as Belleville went on an 11-2 run during the next three minutes to increase their lead to 21 points, 38-17. To end the half, Pinckneyville would make 3-of-4 free throws (Kolton Smith 2 and Ty Laur 1) and Althoff’s Jeremiah Conway would sink a field goal as the Crusaders took a 20 point lead into the locker room at halftime, 40-20.
In the second half Pinckneyville outscored Althoff 26-24, but it was too little-too late, to erase the damage done in the opening two quarters.
The third quarter started with Pinckneyville going on a small 4-0 run capped with a huge dunk by AJ Keith. Panthers trailed by just 16 points, 40-24, just a minute into the third quarter. The remainder of the quarter Pinckneyville and Althoff exchanged baskets throughout the remaining seven minutes.
The Crusaders did have an 8-1 run during a 1-minute period from 4:16-3:14 when Dierre Hill, Jr. (4), Kyle Johnson (2), and Bryden Gryzmala (2) each combined to extend the Althoff lead to 23 points, 51-28. Pinckneyville’s Riley Bauersachs sank a free throw during that stretch.
Pinckneyville closed the quarter on a 5-3 run of its own as Riley Bauersachs continued his hot hand with a free throw and a 3-pointer and Tyler McConnell made a free throw.
All Althoff could muster up to end the 3rd quarter was three free throws, two by Bryden Gryzmala and one by Kyle Johnson. The Crusaders did outscore the Panthers by one point, 14-13, in the third quarter and led, 54-33, going into the final quarter.
Down the stretch Pinckneyville continued to challenge the Crusaders, only to be met with answers to every Panther challenge. The Panthers did outscore Althoff, 23-20, down the stretch.
Belleville began the period with an 8-0 run on baskets by Winkeler, Johnson, Gryzmala, and Hill. The Crusaders extended their lead to 29 points, 62-33, in the first 1:30. Pinckneyville answered with a 6-0 run on buckets by Tyler McConnell and Riley Bauersachs and a pair of free throws by Lucas Lietz. The Panthers pulled within 23 points, 62-39, at 4:43.
A technical foul on Althoff at 4:27 led to a 5-1 run by Pinckneyville when AJ Keith made the two ‘technical foul’ free throws, and a ‘field goal and free throw’ for a three-point play. The Panthers pulled within 20 points, 64-44, with that occurrence, with 4:12 remaining in the game.
In the final 4:02 it was the Dierre Hill, Jr. vs AJ Keith show as both key players for Althoff and Pinckneyville stole the show. Pinckneyville’s Keith scored eight points on a pair of 3-pointers and a pair of free throws, and Althoff’s Hill scored six points on two field goals and two free throws. At the final buzzer, Althoff led by 18 points, 74-56, to win the 2025 Championship game.
In the win, Althoff was paced by three players who scored in double figures including Dierre Hill, Jr. and Zach Winkeler who each scored 21 points apiece and Bryden Gryzmala who scored 14 points. Other contributors included Kyle Johnson (7), Steven Brown (4), Jeremiah Conway (4), and Luke Smith (3). At the free throw line the Crusaders made 16-of-23 (70%). They also hit 20 two-pointers and six 3-pointers.
Pinckneyville also had three players score in double figures including AJ Keith (20), Ty Laur 15), and Riley Bauersachs (10). Other scorers included Lucas Lietz (4), Tyler McConnell (3), Brady Conway (2), and Kolton Smith (2). The Panthers shot 75% at the free throw line (21-of-28). They also made 10 two-pointers and five 3-pointers.
The Althoff Crusaders will now advance to 2025 IHSA Class 2A the Sectional Tournament March 4-7 at Carterville. Game 1 will feature Breese Central vs Benton at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday March 4.
Game 2 will feature Althoff vs Vienna Wednesday March 5 at 7:00 p.m. The Sectional Championship game will be Friday March 7 at 7:00 p.m. with the winners of Game 1 and Game 2 facing off for the title.
Zach Winkeler (25) from Belleville Althoff attempts to fire a shot over Pinckneyville’s Ty Laur (23) as Laur leans to block Winkeler’s shot in te Championship game of the Chester Regional last Friday February 28. The Crusaders went on to win, 74-56, to advance to the Carterville Sectional. Winkeler was one of Althof’s three players who scored in double figures with 21 points. Jim Beers Photo
Althoff’s Dierre Hill, Jr. (22 in white and Pinckneyville’s AJ Keith (44) in light blue) tip-off the Championship game of the 2025 IHSA Class 2A Chester Regional Friday February 28 at Colbert Memorial Gymnasium. Both Hill and Keity led their teams in battle throughout the game. Hill was Althoff’s top scorer and Keith led the Panthers in scoring with 20 points. Althoff won, 74-56, to win the Championship and advance to the Carterville Sectional. Jim Beers Photo
Althoff’s Dierre Hill, Jr. (22) looks for a teammate as Pinckneyville’s Lucas Laur (24) awaits Hill’s decision on defense. Hill was the one of the Crusader’s top scorers with 21 points and helped his team win, 74-56, to advance to the 2025 IHSA Sectional Tournament. Hill will graduate from Althoff this spring and will play football at the collegiate level at Oregon for the Ducks. Jim Beers Photo
Pinckneyville’s AJ Keith (44) a 6’4″ Panther senior, drives against Althoff’s Dierre Hill, Jr. (22) in the Championship game of the 2025 IHSA Class 2A Chester Regional. Keith led his team with 20 points in the 74-56 loss to the Crusaders. Keith and Hill were the two players to watch in the Championship game as they led their respective squads throughout the game as well as throughout their 2024-25 seasons. Jim Beers Photo
Althoff players, and coaches cut down the nets at Chester High School’s Colbert Memorial Gymnasium on Rocky Bridges Court Friday February 29\8 after the Crusaders beat Pinckneyville, 74-56, to win the 2025 IHSA Class 2A Chester Regional. Shown here Althof star, Dierre Hill, Jr. makes his cut after leading the Crusaders with 21 points. Jim Beers Photo
The Belleville Althoff Catholic Crusaders pose for a photo following their 74-56 win over the Pinckneyville Panthers Friday February 28 in the 2025 IHSA Class 2A Chester Regional. The Crusaders will now advance to the 2025 IHSA Class 2A Carterville Sectional Tournament. Althoff will face Vienna Wednesday March 5 in Game 2 at 7:00. Game 1 will feature Breese Central and Benton Tuesday March 4 at 7:00 p.m. The winners of Games 1 and 2 will face each other Friday March 7 at 7:00 p.m. for the Sectional Championship. Jim Beers Photo
Althoff players celebrate with their student section immediately following their win over Pinckneyville Friday night in the 2025 Chester Regional Championship game. The Crusaders won, 74-56 over the Panthers. Jim Beers Photo
There was a sold-out crowd Friday February 28 at Chester High School in Colbert Memorial Gymnasium, when CHS hosted the final game of the 2025 IHSA Class 2A Chester Regional Basketball Tournament. Tickets went on sale Thursday morning February 26 and sold out within a very short time. CHS Athletic Director Jenny Cartwright, Principal Jeremy Blechle and Superintendent Kim Briggs did a great job organizing and managing the three-night event, culminating in the sold-out Championship game Friday February 28. The concessions were fantastic, the CHS Pep Band under the direction of Steve Colonel received rave reviews from fans of all participating schools, and the hospitality room and media accommodations were fantastic. Hats off to CHS for an outstanding 2025 Regional Tournament. Jim Beers Photo