Hearts Return the Favor w/Win at Mt. Zion Friday; Other Friday Scores (UPDATED)

One of the tougher losses for the Effingham Hearts this season was a loss at home to Mt. Zion in December.

The Hearts got some revenge Friday night with a 63-54 win over the Braves at Mt. Zion. The game was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com.  

It was a fun game featuring good shooting, few turnovers and a lower foul total than is seen in most games.

The Hearts hit seven of 11 shots in the first quarter and held a 17-13 lead. The Braves, though, bounced back to outscore Effingham 19-13 in the second frame and hold a 32-30 lead over the Hearts at halftime.

Effingham regained the lead in the third quarter, outscoring Mt. Zion 18-14 to lead 48-46 heading to the final period. The Hearts then outscored the Braves 15-8 to post the nine-point win.

The Hearts overcame 10 three-point baskets by Mt. Zion in the victory. Effingham hit 24 of 45 shots, 53%, on the night. The Hearts made 10 of 15 foul shots, committed just 11 turnovers, and made five of 13 three-point tries. One glaring statistic is the whopping 31-12 rebounding edge posted by the Hearts.

Mt. Zion made 20 of 43 shots, including 10 of 22 three-point tries. The Braves made four of seven foul shots, and turned the ball over nine times. The huge rebounding edge for Effingham, though, really hampered Mt. Zion's ability to get any putback baskets.

The one-two combination of Effingham's Braydon Bone and Michael Carie propelled the Hearts to victory, Bone scoring 22 points including 17 second half points, and Carie scoring 19 points and completing a double-double with 13 rebounds. Grant Wolfe was also in double figures with 11 points and also registered eight assists. Also for the Hearts: Sean Zerrusen seven with six rebounds, and Jacob Donaldson and Michael Woltman two points apiece.

Charles Kuhle and Austin Thacker each scored 14 points to lead Mt.Zion with the two combining for seven three-pointers.

Effingham improved to 17-6 and 6-2 in the Apollo Conference, while Mt. Zion slipped to 6-2 in the conference and 13-12 for all games.

Both teams are back in action Saturday at the Teutopolis Shootout.

Mt. Zion won the JV game, 62-50. For the JV Hearts, Brent Beals and Brady Jackson each scored 11 points, while Mason Hull scored nine points.

Here's a look at scores from Friday night:

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL

Effingham 63, Mount Zion 54

Taylorville 57, Charleston 41

Salem 51, Mattoon 50

Stewardson-Strasburg 50, Beecher City 48 (Chandler Ballinger sank two free throws with three seconds left to give the Comets the come-from-behind victory; Ballinger and Mark Jones each scored 13 points to pace Stew-Stras; also for Stew-Stras: Josh Overbeck and Ted Kessler nine points each, and Austin Rincker and Aaron Blythe three points each; for Beecher City: Daniel Harder 17 to go with 16 rebounds and five blocked shots, Austin Rexroad 11, Austin Stefanski 7, Jackson Bales 5, Brendon Kemme 4, and Brady Randall and Austin Shelton two points each)

Olney 50, Newton 36 (for Newton: Brock Mammoser 17, Tim Weber and Joe Stone 6 each, Kyle Vahling 5, Mitch Jansen 2)

Altamont 63, St. Elmo/Brownstown 50 (balanced scoring for the Indians: Ryan Armstrong 16, Adam Mayhaus 15, Justin Goeckner 11, Evan Cornett 10, Klaiton Wolff 5, Thomas Caravello 4, Brandon Hosick 2; for SEB: Landon Feezel 18, Malachi Maxey 12, Cole Smithson 6, Brock Oberlink 5, Kyle Hardimon 4, Brenden Noll and Noah Flowers 2 each, and Nate Matthews 1)

Dieterich 90, Clay City 50 (Dieterich improved to 27-0 on the season and set a school record for consecutive victories; Alex Bohnhoff scored 21 points and Devin Aherin scored 18 points; also for Dieterich: Cody Gephart and Nick Feldhake with nine each, Noah Heuerman and Travis Niemerg with eight each, Travis Elmore six, Marshall Mellendorf four, Lance Niemerg three, and Charlie Thoele and Evan Kuhl two each)

Cowden-Herrick 58, South Central 54 (for C-H: Colton Burrus 22, Konner Blackerby 14, Dylan Barnes 11, Aaron Nohren 7, and Micah Sandiford and Trey Pasley 2 each; for South Central: Evan Langley 30, Noah Powless 11, Brett Harmeier 5, Dre Hill 4, and Chase Riley and Dylan Brauer 2 each)

LaSalette 60, Cumberland 56 (for Cumberland: Brumleve 19, Napier 16, Shaon 9, Monte Wolke 6, Dowd 5, Magee 1)

Robinson 63, Red Hill 38

Salem 51, Mattoon 50

Hillsboro 46, Nokomis 41

Lawrenceville 76, Casey-Westfield 62

Sullivan 61, Central A&M 48

Taylorville 57, Charleston 41

St. Teresa 79, Shelbyville 42