Another Close Loss for Hearts Boys

The Effingham Hearts suffered another gut-wrenching loss Thursday night, this time 74-72 to Thornton Fractional North in opening round action at the 61st Annual Salem Invitational Tournament. The game was heard on KJ Country 102.3 and www.kjcountry.com. 

TF North overcame a huge number of fouls and abysmal free throw shooting to post the come-from-behind win.

Effingham had perhaps its best offensive output of the season, posting two 20+ point quarters, but committed a whopping 24 turnovers. The foul line was also not the Hearts' friend, as Effingham shot 32 free throws but made just 18, a 56% effort.

Their foul shooting looked magnificent, though, compared to TF North, who tried 29 foul shots and made just eight for 28%.

Still TF North shot great from the field, 54%, making 32 of 59 shots including two of six threes. Effingham shot 45% from the field, making 25 of 56 shots including four of 12 threes.

The Hearts did outrebound the Meteors, 36-33. TF North turned the ball over 19 times.

Effingham held a 21-17 lead after the first quarter, hitting 50% from the field including three of five threes. TF North came back, though, outpointing the Hearts in the second quarter 16-13 to trail only 34-33 at halftime.

The Hearts responded well in the third quarter, hitting eight of 13 shots and pulling ahead by as much as 10 points before posting a 59-55 lead after three quarters.

TF North, though, never quit and eventually took the lead midway through the fourth quarter. The Hearts battled back and regained the lead, but TF North hit seven of nine shots in the final period and moved back ahead. Effingham had its chances, but missed both ends of a two-shot foul, turned the ball over in the last seconds, and just generally had trouble closing out the game well.

The frustration continues to mount for Effingham. The team has now suffered their last four losses by a total of seven points.

Grant Wolfe led Effingham with 22 points, while Jacob Donaldson added 16 points and Sean Zerrusen 15 points. Reed Schafer scored nine points, Jared Minor six points, and Brady Jackson and Brent Beals two points each. Schafer led the Hearts with eight rebounds, while Zerrusen grabbed seven.

Effingham fell to 10-6, while TF North is now 13-2 this season.

Effingham will next play Saturday at 1pm at Salem against Andrews Osborne Academy of Ohio. TF North will play Edwardsville Friday at 8pm. Edwardsville smashed Andrews Osborne in the other game Thursday night, 89-29.