The 25th annual Lutheran Invitational Tournament (LIT) for girls eighth grade basketball was conducted Saturday and Sunday at Trinity Lutheran High School.

Lutheran Central recorded its 25th win on the season, and captured the 2018 girls LIT basketball championship by defeating St. John’s Sauers 28-21 in the tournament’s final game.

Lutheran Central had wins against Zion New Palestine (60-9) and St. Peter’s, Columbus (31-17) to reach the championship game.

Lutheran Central and St. John’s Sauers are now tied with the most girls LIT championships (six each) in the 25-year history of the tournament.

The Saints’ last championship was in 2007.

Lutheran Central team members include Peyton Brock, Maddy Hackman, Zori Otting, Addie Shelton, Hannah Stahl, Zoe Stuckwisch, and Kelsey Jo Wischmeier.

The coaches are Beth Shelton and Andrea Hromowyk.

Hackman, Stahl and Wischmeier were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Other tournament participants included Calvary Lutheran (Indianapolis), St. Bartholomew Catholic (Columbus), White Creek Lutheran and Immanuel Lutheran.

Immanuel Lutheran took third place against St. Peters Lutheran.

White Creek Lutheran received the Christian Sportsmanship award.

Emma Klinge (Sauers), Grace Schrader (Immanuel), Emma Schepman (Sauers), Julia Sitterding (St. Peters), Ellen Zabor (Sauers), Liza Frodge (White Creek) and Sage Stahl (Immanuel) joined Hackman, Stahl and Wischmeier on the All-Tournament Team.

Lutheran Central will next play in the Indiana Lutheran Schools Athletic Association (ILSAA) state tournament from Feb. 23 to 25 in Fort Wayne. Immanuel, St. John’s Sauers and St. Peter’s also will participate in the state tourney.