CENTRALIA —Chicago Marist held off a fourth-quarter rally by Alton and downed the Redbirds 49-45 in Saturday’s night’s third-place game of the Centralia Holiday Tournament.
Alton, which trailed 38-33 heading into the fourth quarter got to within two points twice, at 42-40 and 45-43. But the Redhawks, behind 26 points from Morgan Taylor, didn’t relinquish the lead.
A rebound basket by Marist’s Jack Ellison made it 47-43 with 2:48 remaining in the game. Taylor then drove for a basket with two minutes left to make it 49-43.
A basket by Alton’s Kevin Caldwell Jr. got the Redbirds within 49-45. The Redbirds were led by Caldwell’s 19 points. Donovan Clay added 12 points.
Alton (9-3) was downed earlier in the day by Belleville West 72-53 in a semifinal, dropping the Redbirds into the third-place game. West beat Champaign Central in the championship game 62-61.
