ALAH boys beat Okaw Valley in Decatur St. Teresa Tournament

By Editor | January 6, 2026 |

By Mike Monahan

LEROY – The Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond boys basketball team snapped a six-game losing streak with a 62-56 win over fellow Lincoln Prairie Conference member, Okaw Valley in the Decatur St. Teresa Holiday Tournament December 29.

However, the Knights opened the 2026 portion of their 25-26 season with a 74-26 loss to LeRoy,the No. 4 team in Class 1A according to Maxpreps.

The Panthers improved to 12-1 and Sam Edmundson, the son of Former Arthur Knight standout Mark Edmundson, had eighth points.

ALAH’s Marcus Otto was one of eight players to make the all-tournament team.

Against Okaw Valley the Knights led 34-25 at the half, but the Timberwolves cut the deficit to 47-44 heading into the final quarter.

Junior Marcus Otto led ALAH with 23 points, while Cruz Hale was also in double digits with 14 points.

On December 30 Arthur dropped a 59-45 game to Heyworth, a team that is 8-6. The first half proved costly as the Knights trailed 30-14. ALAH did cut it to 45-35 heading into the final period before losing by 14.

Hale led the Knights with 11 points.

ALAH played host to Meridian Tuesday before playing Cerro Gordo/Bement Friday in the Corn Bowl with the girls playing first at 10 a.m. followed by the boys around noon.

Saturday’s game

ALAH 9 4 4 9–26

LeRoy 25 22 22 5–74

ALAH: Hilligoss 3-0-7, Grant 0-0-0, Otto 0-0-0, Hale 3-0-6, Frederick 0-0-0, Brennan Hutson 1-0-2, Reed 0-0-0, Bentley Hutson 2-2-7, Leib 1-2-4, Shoemaker 0-0-0, Parsons 0-0-0, Vanausdoll 0-0-0, Burket 0-0-0, Totals 10-4-26

3-point goals: ALAH 2 (Hilligoss 1, Bentley Hutson 1)

Decatur St. Teresa Holiday Tournament December 29 game

ALAH 17 17 13 15–62

Okaw Valley 11 14 1 9 12–56

ALAH: Hilligoss 2-3-8, Otto 7-6-23, Shoemaker 0-0-0, Frederick 2-2-5, Parsons 0-0-0, Hutson 1-0-2, Grant 3-1-8, Hale 7-0-14, Vanausdoll 1-0-2, Totals 23-10-62

3-point goals: ALAH 6 (Hilligoss 1, Grant 1, Otto 3, Frederick 1)

Decatur St. Teresa Holiday Tournament December 30 game

ALAH 6 8 21 10–45

Heyworth 17 13 15 14–59

ALAH: Hilligoss 3-1-7, Grant 0-3-3, Otto 2-3-8, Hale 5-1-11, Frederick 2-0-6, Hutson 1-0-2, Leib 0-0-0, Shoemaker 1-0-2, Warrior 0-0-0, Parsons 1-0-2, Vanausdoll 1-2-4, Burket 0-0-0, Totals 16-10-45

3-point goals: ALAH 3 (Otto 1, Frederick 2)

All-tournament team: Marcus Otto, Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond; Julian Rice, Riverton; Caebrin Lee, Maroa-Forsyth; Jaxsen Trager, Riverton; Eli Etchsason, Decatur St. Teresa; Chase Ruppert, Heyworth; Qayden Bond, Unity Christian; Dillon Clark, Unity Christian

Decatur St. Teresa Christmas Tournament

(seeds, records prior to tourney in parentheses) (using shot clock, mercy rule (30 point lead after three quarters) is in effect, but games will not start early)

Orange Pool: Heyworth (1,5-4 ), Maroa-Forsyth (4, 4-3), Decatur St. Teresa (5, 3-4), Judah Christian (8, 0-9). Total 12-20 .375

Blue Pool: Unity Christian (2, 7-2), Riverton (3, 3-4), Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond (6, 1-7), Okaw Valley (7, 0-6) Total 11-19 .367

December 22

Heyworth 83 def. Judah Christian 26

Maroa-Forsyth 61, Decatur St. Teresa 41

Unity Christian 75,Okaw Valley, 43

Riverton 73,ALAH 49

December 23

Unity Christian 72, ALAH 51

Riverton 69, Okaw Valley 30

Decatur St. Teresa 51, Decatur St. Teresa 49

Maroa-Forsyth 84, Judah Christian 14