Hearts Hold Off St. Thomas More for Season Opening Win

The Effingham Hearts saw a 14-point lead evaporate, but came back to post a 60-57 win over Champaign St. Thomas More Tuesday night at the St. Anthony Thanksgiving Tournament.

The game was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com 

The Hearts pulled away to a 14-8 lead after one quarter and extended the lead to 14 points early in the second half, but St. Thomas More came back to tie the game in the fourth quarter before Effingham got some late points and a key steal by Sean Zerrusen to come back and post the victory.

Junior Grant Wolfe led Effingham with 19 points, including six fourth quarter points to help seal the win. Junior Jacob Donaldson scored 15 points including four in the fourth quarter and senior Jared Minor got a fourth quarter bucket to help stave off the Sabres.

Effingham was up 31-23 at halftime, but St. Thomas More was within 47-41 after three quarters, in part due to three three-point baskets by Paris Parham. Doug Wallen led St. Thomas More with 20 points, five in the fourth quarter, while David Horn scored 17 points, seven in the fourth quarter.

Junior Brent Beals and senior Brady Jackson came off the bench to score a combined 12 points for the Hearts, seven for Beals, five for Jackson. Zerrusen scored six points, Minor five points, and Reed Schafer three points.

Effingham shot 42% from the field, making 20 of 48 shots. They added 15 of 23 from the line, and committed just eight turnovers while pulling down 29 rebounds. The Hearts struggled from three-point range, making just two of 15 attempts.

St. Thomas More made 19 of 44 shots, 43%. They added 14 of 20 from the line, turned the ball over 12 times and grabbed 22 boards. They were five of 15 on three-point tries.

It was the opener for both teams.

In the other contests, Breese Central defeated Mount Zion 65-44 while Mattoon was a 52-35 winner over Robinson.

The Hearts are back in action Wednesday night at 6:30pm against Clifton Central, the squad that beat St. Anthony Monday night in overtime. St. Anthony then plays St. Thomas More at 8pm. Both of those games will be on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. In the 5pm opener, Breese Central will take on Mattoon.

St. Anthony Tournament

Game Four

EFFINGHAM (60)

Schafer 0-3 -- 3, Zerrusen 3-0 -- 6, Jackson 2-0 -- 5, L. Wolfe 0-0 -- 0, G. Wolfe 7-5 -- 19, Hull 0-0 -- 0, Beals 3-1 -- 7, Minor 2-1 -- 5, Donaldson 4-6 -- 15. TOTALS 21 FG, 16 FT.

ST. THOMAS MORE (57)

Davis 1-0 -- 2, Parham 3-0 -- 9, Lamb 0-0 -- 0, Froehling 0-0 -- 0, Francis 1-0 -- 2, Miller 0-1 -- 1, Sellett 0-0 -- 0, Yumba 2-2 -- 6, Wallen 6-6 -- 20, Horn 6-5 -- 17. TOTALS 19 FG, 14 FT.

Effingham                   14    17    16    13    --    60

St. Thomas More          8    15    18    16    --    57

3-point FG -- Effingham 2 (Jackson 1, Donaldson 1), St. Thomas More 5 (Parham 3, Wallen 2).