Posting three wins last week, Jeff Schultz’ Belle Tigers secured their first 20-win season in over two decades with victories over Bourbon (112-22), the Rolla Royals (79-65) and Missouri Military Academy (MMA) by a score of 68-55 last Friday night during homecoming.

Moving one step closer to an outright Gasconade Valley Conference (GVC) title with a 112-22 road victory in Bourbon last Tuesday night, Belle then turned back Rolla’s Royals on the home court 79-65 last Thursday night before hosting MMA’s Colonels out of Mexico last Friday night for homecoming.

Nursing a 15-12 lead after one quarter, Belle broke the game open outscoring MMA 20-8 in the second quarter giving them a double-digit halftime lead at 35-20 before going on to a 68-55 win capping a happy homecoming.

Garrett Gehlert led three Tigers in double figures finishing with 15 points, 10 assists, nine rebounds and three steals.

Hank Willis added a double double of 14 points and 10 rebounds while Hank Stratman rounded out the Tiger double-digit scoring trio with 12 points, eight rebounds and three steals.

Kooper Elrod narrowly missed making it four Tigers in double figures finishing with nine points and six rebounds.

Luke Rohrer and Kelhen Struemph each added six points followed by the trio of Avery Craigmiles, Kaegan Kinsey and Chase Trainor with two points apiece.

In the JV boys game prior to coronation, Belle allowed a first-quarter 3-pointer from MMA before going on to a convincing 73-3 victory behind 22 points from Lathan Miller.

Malachi Fredendall also reached double figures for Nick Halbrooks’ Belle JV Tigers with 12 points. Tucker Harris and Easton Schroeder nearly made it four JV Tigers in double digits finishing with nine points apiece.

Cooper Guinn added eight points to go along with five markers from Braxton Ahart all in the second quarter.

Capping the Belle JV Tiger scoring against MMA with four points apiece were Brayden Barzee and David Skaggs.

Tigers vs. Rolla Royals

Welcoming the Rolla Royals to Belle High School last Thursday night, Schultz’s Tigers went for the 20th win of the season against just three losses.

Tied at 16-16 after one quarter and clinging to a 33-31 halftime lead, Belle outscored the Rolla Royals 46-34 in the second half of their 79-65 victory.

Five Tigers finished in double figures led by Stratman’s 22 points, six rebounds and five assists.

Gehlert added 16 points, six steals, four rebounds and three assists while Struemph threw in 15 points, three rebounds and three assists.

Willis chipped in a double double of 14 points and 10 rebounds while Elrod also joined the BHS double double club with 12 points, 16 rebounds and four assists.

Tigers at Bourbon

Looking to move one step closer to an outright GVC title like their Lady Tiger counterparts, Schultz’s Tigers hit the road into Crawford County last Tuesday night to face Bourbon’s Warhawks.

Racing out to leads of 43-8 after one quarter and 79-15 at halftime, Belle went on to post a 112-22 road victory with 10 different Tigers finding the scoring column.

Stratman showed the way with 26 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals while Gehlert added a double double of 19 points, 11 assists, six rebounds and six steals.

Luke Rohrer canned six 3-pointers giving him 18 points on the night.

Willis nearly joined Gehlert in double double land finishing with 14 points, eight rebounds and three steals.

Struemph made it five Tigers in double figures at Bourbon ending up with 12 points, six steals and five assists.

Kinsey threw in seven points, five rebounds and three assists while Elrod finished with six points and two steals.

Craigmiles chipped in four points to go along with three points each out of Guinn and Harris.

Posting a 53-20 victory in JV action at Bourbon, Belle’s JV Tigers were led by Guinn’s 23 points in addition to seven points from Harris.

Adding five points apiece for Belle was the trio of Cody Hamm, Miller and Fredendall.

Hitting for three points each were Brayden Barzee and Easton Schroeder while Ahart capped the JV Tiger scoring with two points in the second quarter at Bourbon.

Returning back to Crawford County facing Steelville’s Cardinals last night (Tuesday),  Belle will end their regular season this Friday night on the road in Westphalia against Fatima’s Comets looking to avenge one of their three losses on the season.