LINN — Sent to the third-place game following a 61-55 semifinal loss last Thursday night against Fatima in the Legends Bank Holiday Classic at Linn High School, Jeff Schultz’s Belle Tigers looked to bounce back with a victory Saturday afternoon against Tipton’s Cardinals with third-place hardware on the line.

Taking a 34-27 lead into the fourth quarter, Belle went 12-14 from the free-throw line helping them pull away from the Cardinals for a 54-38 victory giving them third-place hardware from Linn and a 6-2 record entering the 2026 portion of their season.

“We were able to get two quality wins this week against a competitive field at Linn,” Schultz said. “I was proud of the guys for bouncing back against Tipton after a tough loss to Fatima in the semifinals.”

Garrett Gehlert led the Tigers with 24 points and seven assists while Hank Stratman joined him in double figures with 14 points including a 6-6 night at the free-throw line.

Hank Willis nearly chipped in a double double finishing with eight points and 14 rebounds.

Kooper Elrod added four points followed by two points apiece from Kaegan Kinsey and Avery Craigmiles all on free throws in the fourth quarter.

Dane Schlotzhauer paced Tipton with 12 points all on made 3-pointers.

Tigers vs. Fatima

Dispatching Eldon 68-48 in opening-round action last Monday night at Linn, Belle looked to book passage to the Legends Bank Holiday Classic championship game with a semifinal victory last Thursday night over Fatima’s Comets.

Leading the Westphalians 17-15 after one quarter, Belle was then outscored 15-6 in the second quarter leaving them staring at a 30-23 halftime deficit.

Having to play from behind the entire second half, every Belle run was answered by the Comets before the Tigers eventually ended up on the short end of a 61-55 final score.

Gehlert led Belle with a team-high 19 points while Kelhen Struemph also reached double figures scoring 10 of his 13 points in the second half.

Willis would’ve had a good night at the craps table in Las Vegas finishing with seven points and 11 rebounds.

Stratman added six points, six rebounds and two assists.

Craigmiles scored all five of his points in the fourth quarter while also pulling down three rebounds.

Elrod finished with three points and three rebounds while Luke Rohrer threw in two points in the fourth quarter.

Xavier Stuecken hit for a game-high 26 points leading Fatima and all scorers.

Blake Kliethermes also reached double figures for the Comets finishing with 20 points.

Tigers vs. Eldon

Suffering a tough 59-58 loss to Newburg earlier in the month, Belle looked to bounce back last Monday night in opening-round action of the Legends Bank Holiday Classic at Linn High School against Eldon’s Mustangs.

Leading 19-10 after one quarter, Belle outscored the Mustangs 18-6 in the second quarter giving them a commanding 37-16 halftime lead.

Riding the momentum into the second half, Schultz’s Tigers went on to post a 68-48 victory over Eldon.

Stratman called blackjack finishing with a game-high 21 points while Willis was one rebound shy of a double double finishing with 18 points and nine rebounds.

Gehlert made it a double-digit trio for the Tigers winding up with 16 points, six assists and five steals.

Elrod added seven points followed closely with six points from Struemph.

Cody Tamm led three Mustangs in double figures with 16 points followed by 11 points from Lane Strokes and 10 markers out of Zach Hull.

Idle for the rest of 2025, Belle will open the 2026 portion of their season on Monday, Jan. 5 at New Bloomfield.