Mt. Vernon Outlasts Effingham at Salem Tournament

The Mt. Vernon Rams downed the Effingham Hearts 58-47 in the third place game at the Salem Invitational Tournament Saturday evening. The game was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

Mt. Vernon packed a one-two punch of Braden Fitzjerrels and Gilwan Nelson that combined for 52 of the Rams' points, 30 for Fitzjerrels and 22 for Nelson, plus Nelson added 11 rebounds.

Effingham tried to counteract those two with 39 points from Michael Carie and Braydon Bone, a career-high 23 for Carie and 16 for Bone, 12 of those in the second half.

The Hearts finally got a couple of early shots to fall after several slow starts, but Mt. Vernon got on a roll and led 18-10 after the first quarter. Effingham bounced back, though, to outscore the Rams 25-20 over the middle two quarters to pull within 38-35 after three quarters. The Hearts scored the first bucket of the fourth quarter to make it 38-37, but Mt. Vernon then reeled off nine unanswered points to pull back in front 47-37. The Hearts got back within seven with about a minute left, but Mt. Vernon cashed in at the foul line and won by 11.

In addition to Carie and Bone's points for Effingham, Grant Wolfe and Sean Zerrusen each scored four points. In addition to Fitzjerrels' and Nelson's points for Mt. Vernon, Shauntez Taylor scored three points, Luke Wilson two and Dylan Reeves one.

Effingham shot 42%, 19 of 46, compared to 44% for Mt. Vernon, 19 of 43. Mt. Vernon hit five of 10 three point shots, though, while Effingham made just two of 12. Mt. Vernon also outscored Effingham 15-7 at the foul line. Effingham outboarded Mt. Vernon, 26-24, but Mt. Vernon won the turnover battle, 15 for the Hearts to 11 for the Rams.

Mt. Vernon is now 17-4 on the season, while Effingham is 12-6. The Hearts are back in action Friday against the Charleston Trojans in Apollo Conference action.

Salem Tournament

EFFINGHAM (47)

Bone 6-2 -- 16, Schafer 0-0 -- 0, Zerrusen 1-2 -- 4, Wolfe 2-0 -- 4, Carie 10-3 -- 23, Minor 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 19 FG, 7 FT.

MOUNT VERNON (58)

Reeves 0-1 -- 1, Jones 0-0 -- 0, Nelson 8-6 -- 22, Fitzgerrells 9-7 -- 30, Taylor 1-1 -- 3, Wilson 1-0 -- 2, Bowers 0-0 -- 0, Hunter 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 19 FG, 15 FT.

Effingham                  10    11    14    12    --    47

Mount Vernon           18      9    11    20    --    58

3-point FG -- Effingham 2 (Bone 2), Mount Vernon 5 (Fitzgerrells 5).