The 31st annual Lutheran Invitational Tournament for eighth grade girls basketball was held Saturday and Sunday at Trinity Lutheran High School in Seymour.

Lutheran Central School in Brownstown served as the host school.

St. Peter’s Lutheran School in Columbus recorded its third-straight championship by defeating White Creek Lutheran School, Columbus, 32-27.

The Lady Lions went 2-0 for the weekend to record their sixth championship in the history of tournament.

St. Peter’s joins Lutheran Central, Brownstown, and St. John’s Sauers Lutheran School, Seymour, with the most LIT championships in tourney history with six each.

St. Peter’s received a first-round bye and then defeated Immanuel Lutheran School, Seymour, 43-33 to reach the championship game. Other tournament participants included St. Peter’s Lutheran School’s seventh grade team (Columbus), St. John’s Sauers, Emmanuel-St. Michael of Fort Wayne and Holy Cross, also of Fort Wayne.

Immanuel defeated St. John’s Sauers 40-32 in the third-place game. The St. Peter’s seventh grade team won the consolation championship game over Emmanuel-St. Michael 35-24.

Holy Cross received the Christian Sportsmanship Award for the tournament.

All-tournament team

St. Peter’s Columbus: Sydni Schiefer, Rian Strietelmeier, Bailey Rohde

Immanuel Lutheran: Marissa Baker, Rachel Bonde, Bella Wehmiller

White Creek: Annie Kleffman, Ellie Burbrink

St. John’s Sauers: Gracie Hatchett, Kennedy Butler

Emmanuel-St. Michael: Macy Hendrickson

Holy Cross: Lily Spreen

The hot shot competition winner was Marissa Baker (Immanuel), and the free throw contest winner was Rachel Bonde (Immanuel).

The Indiana Lutheran Schools Athletic Association state tournament for eighth grade girls and boys teams will be Feb. 23 to 25 in Fort Wayne. St. Peter’s (Columbus), White Creek (Columbus), Immanuel (Seymour), St. John’s Sauers (Seymour) and Emmanuel-St. Michael (Fort Wayne) will all compete in the girls portion of the state tourney.

2024 Lutheran Invitational Tournament game scores

Game 1: Immanuel defeated St John’s Sauers 42-37

Game 2: St. Peter’s (seventh) defeated Emmanuel-St. Michael 35-30

Game 3: White Creek defeated Holy Cross 52-37

Game 4: St. Peter’s defeated Immanuel 43-33

Game 5: Emmanuel-St. Michael defeated Holy Cross 36-22

Game 6: White Creek defeated St. Peter’s (seventh grade) 39-20

Game 7: Immanuel defeated Emmanuel-St Michael 46-27

Game 8: St. John’s Sauers defeated St. Peter’s (seventh grade) 43-23

Game 9: St. Peter’s (seventh) defeated Holy Cross 43-24

Game 10: Immanuel defeated St. John’s Sauers 40-32 (third place)

Game 11: St. Peter’s (seventh) defeated Emmanuel-St. Michael 35-24 (consolation game)

Game 12: St. Peter’s defeated White Creek 32-27 (championship)