Lions Look To Remain Unbeaten At Vienna Tonight

The Carterville Lions are back on the court tonight after a historic run last week at the Trico Pioneers Tip-Off Classic. Carterville rolled through the tournament with four straight wins, defeating Waterloo Gibault 65–40, Steeleville 71–48, Red Bud 65–34, and host Trico 64–40 to claim the championship. It marked the first time in program history that the Lions have won the Trico Tip-Off Classic, making the title even sweeter for players, coaches, and fans alike.

Individual honors followed the team success as Harper Lustenberger earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team, while Colton Hawkins was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player after his standout performances throughout the week. The Lions showed depth, balance, and defensive dominance across all four matchups, setting the tone early for what already looks like a special season.

Here are the game highlight from the 64-40 win over the Trico Pioneers.

Tonight, Carterville hits the road to face the Vienna Eagles, who come into the game with a 2–3 record. Pre-game coverage begins at 7:30 PM, and John Homan and I will have the call live on NewsRadio WJPF AM 1340 / FM 99.5 and on our livestream here:

This week only gets bigger from here. On Friday night, the Lions open SIRR Conference – Ohio Division play against the Herrin Tigers, followed by a Saturday matchup with Waltonville in the Carbondale Shootout. Three games in five days for a Lions squad that is already battle-tested and playing with confidence. Buckle up—this ride is just getting started. 🏀🦁