Caldwell County kept its season record above the .500 mark with an 80-67 win over Villa Madonna in the Ballard Memorial Christmas Shootout.
Pax Aikins had 25 points and Daelyn Lander added 17 for the Tigers in Sunday afternoon’s matchup in LaCenter.
Next up for the Tigers (5-4) will be Livingston Central (5-3) in the fifth-place game. That contest is set for Monday at 1:45 p.m.
Caldwell jumped out to a 28-23 lead after one quarter in its first-ever matchup against the Vikings (2-6).
The Tigers took a 44-38 advantage to halftime and led 59-50 through three quarters.
Aikins had five 3-pointers as part of his big day and was named Player of the Game.
Kese Wilson added 12 points for the Tigers.
Michael Popham had 18 points to lead Villa Madonna while Jay Meyers added 14. Michael Callioni had 12 points and Drew Thomas 10.
Caldwell played its first game in the tourney on Saturday but fell to Union County 84-71.
Caldwell County 28 16 15 21 — 80
Villa Madonna 23 15 12 17 — 67
Caldwell County (5-4)—Aikins 25, Lander 17, K. Wilson 12, Boyd 7, Mitchell 7, Phelps 6, Roach 4, D. Wilson 2.
Villa Madonna (2-6)—Popham 18, Meyers 14, Callioni 12, Thomas 10, Webb 7, Workman 3, Brandstetter 3.
