EHS Edges Greenville in Girls Tourney

The Effingham Hearts didn't take their lead until late in the fourth quarter but, once they had it, they didn't let it get away.

Effingham edged the Greenville Comets 38-34 in Tuesday night girls basketball action at the 15th Annual Effingham Girls Round-Robin Basketball Tournament. The game was heard on KJ Country 102.3 and www.kjcountry.com.

Neither team shot well, particularly at the foul line, and there were way too many turnovers, but it still turned out to be an interesting game because it was such a close affair. Greenville had a seven-point lead, and Effingham's biggest lead was the four-point margin at the final buzzer.

Greenville held a 9-4 lead after one quarter, but the Hearts outscored them 11-7 in the second period to trail only 16-15 at halftime. An 8-8 third quarter standoff left the score at 24-23 Greenville heading to the final stanza. Effingham finally tied the game at 23-23 before Greenville hit a foul shot to take the one-point lead back after three.

The fourth quarter saw the Hearts finally get the lid off the basket, posting a 15-10 advantage to win by four.

Effingham made just 15 of 40 shots for 38% and struggled again at the foul line, making just five of 15. The Hearts turned the ball over 18 times and made three of eight threes. A bright spot for Effingham was their total of 29 rebounds.

Greenville made 14 of 30 shots for 47% including two of six threes. The Comets were four of 15 from the foul line, turned the ball over 22 times and pulled down just 18 rebounds.

Freshman Carsyn Fearday led Effingham and all scorers with 17 points including three threes. Shelby Nunamaker scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds, six of those points in the fourth quarter. Miranda Fox scored five points and led the Hearts with eight rebounds. Also for Effingham: Marranda Steffen three, Bria Barr and Taylor Crowell two apiece, and Shelby Myers one.

Brianna Wade and Madison Funneman each scored 13 points to pace Greenville.

Effingham improved to 15-6 on the season in their opening game of the tournament. Greenville is 15-8.

In the opening game Tuesday, Centralia defeated Vandalia 42-38. Pana had the bye night.

Through the first two days of the round-robin tournament, Pana and Effingham are each 1-0, Centralia and Greenville are each 1-1, and Vandalia is 0-2.

Effingham Tournament

GREENVILLE (34)

Wade 5-2 -- 13,  Funneman 6-1 -- 13, Snow 2-0 -- 5, K. Meadows 1-0 -- 2, VanKleef 0-1 -- 1, Cantrill 0-0 -- 0, McEvers 0-0 -- 0, L. Meadows 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 14 FG, 4 FT.

EFFINGHAM (38)

Fearday 6-2 -- 17, Nunamaker 4-0 -- 8, Fox 2-1 -- 5, Steffen 1-1 -- 3, Crowell 1-0 -- 2, Barr 1-0 -- 2 , Meyers 0-1 -- 1,  Armstrong 0-0 -- 0,  Webster 0-0 -- 0, Carrie 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 15 FG, 5 FT.

Greenville           9      7     8    10    --    34

Effingham           4    11    8    15    --    38

3-point FG -- Greenville 2 (Wade 1, Snow 1), Effingham 3 (Fearday 3).

Here are other Tuesday night scores: