Craig Westendorf doesn’t look like the prototypical 3-point shooter.

The 6-foot-4, 240-pound senior looks better suited to score near the basket than 20 feet away from it.

But Teutopolis’ starting center sure played the part of the deadly outside shooter, hitting all five of his 3-pointers and leading the Wooden Shoes to their second straight state tournament appearance after Teutopolis beat Moweaqua (Central A&M) 55-45 Tuesday night at Lantz Arena.

“(Teams) don’t think I can usually shoot it from out there,” Westendorf said. “I can either do that or go in the post and go down there too.”

Westendorf’s outside shooting came at crucial times in the third quarter, as Teutopolis broke open a close game to lead 37-25 heading into the fourth quarter.

Westendorf hit a 3-pointer from the left corner with 7 minutes, 16 seconds remaining in the first quarter, upping the Wooden Shoes lead to 24-20. He made two straight 3-pointers at the end of the quarter, one from the top of the key with 3:39 to go giving Teutopolis a 12-point lead, and another with 1:05 to play to keep the Wooden Shoes up by 12.

“Our guards were driving and I was coming off screens wide open,” Westendorf said. “The guards penetrated and got me open looks.”

Teutopolis head coach Ken Crawford, in his final year as the Wooden Shoes head coach, said Westendorf usually does offensive drills with the outside players, but at Tuesday’s practice, told his coach he wanted to work more with the post players.

“He works all inside last night and goes out and bust three’s tonight,” Crawford said. “Go figure that. Craig is an excellent 3-point shooter. At one point in time, he was shooting almost a 44 percent clip this year.”

The Wooden Shoes upped their lead to 48-33, before Central A&M cut it to 48-37.

Runde held off the Raiders by converting at the free throw line late, making 10 of 12 free throws in the final 2:45.

“My team relies on me so much,” said Runde, a second-team all-state selection. “I shoot about 40 free throws every day at practice and in the morning, so I take pride in that.”

Teutopolis (30-2) got out to a quick 14-7 lead, using its ability to get to the basket, mixed in with two 3-pointers Westerndorf.

The seven-point lead the Wooden Shoes quickly built up quickly went away. Central A&M went on a 13-5 to eventually take a 20-19 lead following a baseline drive and reverse, left-handed layup by guard Tanner Sloan.

After a Teutopolis miss, Central A&M appeared that it wanted to hold the ball for the final shot of the half.

However, the Raiders (18-15) did take a shot, but Brad Stringer’s inside shot was blocked with 47 seconds to play.

Teutopolis worked the clock for the final shot, but Stringer blocked Runde’s layup attempt.

However, Teutopolis’ Rich Borries was there for a putback layup, giving the Wooden Shoes a 21-20 halftime lead they never relinquished.

Teutopolis now faces the state’s top-ranked team, undefeated Nashville, in the quarterfinals of Friday’s state tournament in Peoria.

Last year, the Wooden Shoes lost to the top-ranked team in the state, and eventual state champion Seneca, in the quarterfinals.

“Nashville’s a very, very good ballclub,” Crawford said. “They clubbed us by 14 (points earlier in the season), and I mean they clubbed us. We have to figure out a way to get 15 more points.”

Jason Runde from Teutopolis looks to shoot the ball against Bryce Hogan from Central A & M during the Super Sectional game held at Lantz Arena on Tuesday night. The Wooden Shoes beat the Raiders 55-45. (Nora Maberry/The Daily Eastern News)

(more…)