Effingham Secures Apollo Conference Championship w/Close Win Over Mt. Zion; Other Friday Scores

(THE APOLLO CONFERENCE CHAMPION EFFINGHAM HEARTS)

The Effingham Hearts are once again champions of the Apollo Conference in boys basketball.

Effingham posted a tough 69-66 victory over the Mt. Zion Braves to clinch the title. The Hearts are now 8-0 in the conference while Mt. Zion fell to 6-2 in the Apollo with two games remaining. Effingham will close out the conference at Taylorville and at Salem.

The game was exciting throughout. Effingham took a 7-0 lead, but Mt. Zion started cashing in on a few of their 10 three-pointers to pull within 17-13 after one quarter. Effingham outscored the Braves 19-17 in the second quarter to lead 36-30 at halftime. Mt. Zion posted an 18-16 edge in the third quarter to pull within 52-48 heading to the final quarter. The Braves, who trailed by as many as 13 points in the contest, eventually tied the game 59-59, but the Hearts regrouped and hit some key foul shots down the stretch to post the three-point win.

Jared Minor stepped up big for the Hearts, scoring 21 points on seven of 12 shooting. Minor also grabbed four rebounds and had two assists. Jacob Donaldson scored 16 points and hit three straight foul shots in the fourth quarter to help secure the win. Grant Wolfe celebrated his 17th birthday by scoring 12 points against bruising defense employed by the Braves. Sean Zerrusen was also in double figures with 10 points along with some great defense. Reed Schafer and Brady Jackson each scored five points for the Hearts, who won their seventh straight game.

The Hearts shot 47% from the field, 23 of 49, including four of 10 threes. Effingham made 19 of 26 foul shots, committed just eight turnovers and grabbed 20 rebounds.

Mt. Zion made 23 of 51 shots for 45% incuding 10 of 21 threes that almost secured them the win. The Braves made 10 of 16 from the line, turned the ball over 12 times and grabbed 29 rebounds.

Charles Kuhle led Mt. Zion with 21 points, while sophomore Jonah Smith scored 19 points and Kevin Cox added 14 points. Brandon Price scored nine points and A.J. Davis hit a three pointer.

Effingham improved to 17-6 on the season and are right back in action Saturday night against Pana on Senior Night at EHS. The Hearts cheerleaders and pom pon seniors will also be recognized in a ceremony between the JV and varsity games.

Effingham won the JV game 63-51. Brent Beals scored 25 points, Landon Wolfe scored 19 points and Mason Hull added 10 points for the JV Hearts.

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Here are the other scores from Friday night:

Dieterich 79, Clay City 20 (Dieterich was up 24-3 after the first quarter, 47-6 at halftime, and 65-11 after three quarters; Lance Niemerg led Dieterich with 16 points, Thad Howell scored 11 points, Wyatt Abbott scored 10 points, and Travis Niemerg scored nine points and blocked nine shots in the first half; also for Dieterich: Callaway Campton 7, Nick Feldhake 6, Ryan Radloff 4, Tyler Higgs 4, Devin Flach 3, Bryce McClain 3, Trenton Poe 2, Charlie Thoele 2, Noah Heuerman 2; Fehrenbacher scored 10 to lead Clay City; Dieterich is now 20-6 on the season)

Windsor/Stew-Stras 69, Beecher City/Cowden-Herrick 53 (Tristan Warner's 40 points led WSS to the win; also for WSS: Isaac Kramer 10, Josh Overbeck 9, Nic Hutchison 8, Chandler Ballinger 2; for BCCH: Daniel Harder 17, Konner Blackerby 9, Kyle Black 8, Lance Arnold 6, Westin Giles 5, Jake Wills 4, Andrew Moeller 4)

South Central 59, Mulberry Grove 48 (on a night when South Central honored retiring coach, athletic director and teacher Rick Simmons, the Cougars reached double figures in victories for the season; South Central led 16-8 after one quarter and 35-14 at halftime; Mulberry Grove pulled to within 43-31 after three quarters; Brett Harmeier scored 20 points to pace the South Central attack, while Drevonte Hill scored 15 points, Trevor Markley 11, Jon Arnold 8, Ean Fox 2, Caleb Harpster 2, and Ryan Matheny 1; South Central is now 10-15 on the season)

Newton 46, Olney 44 (OT) (Newton outscored Olney 6-4 in the extra period to post the win on Pack the Place Night at Newton; Nicholas Cohorst led Newton with 16 points, while Brock Mammoser added 12 points; also for the Eagles: Tim Weber 7, Joe Stone 6, Mitch Jansen 5)

Altamont 68, St. Elmo/Brownstown 46 (SEB led 13-12 after one quarter, but Altamont posted a 25-14 second quarter to lead 37-27 at halftime; a 15-4 Altamont third quarter made it 52-31, and Altamont outscored SEB 16-15 in the final stanza to win by 22; Ryan Armstrong led Altamont with 17 points, Branden Hosick scored 15 points, and Klaiton Wolff added 10 points for Altamont; also for the Indians: Sam Childerson 9, Evan Cornett 6, Adam Mayhaus 5, Mitchell Stevenson 3, Eric Wolff 1, Logan Deadmond 1, Cameron Jackman 1; for SEB: Landon Feezel 12, Kyle Hardimon 12, Lewis Brown 9, Klayton Kroll 6, Trey Pasley 3, Dylan Brooks 2, Cody Brooks 1, Isaac Maxey 1)

Marshall 80, Edwards County 63

Mattoon 39, Salem 30

Robinson 59, Red Hill 51

Flora 63, Paris 49

Taylorville 53, Charleston 39

Decatur St. Teresa 64, Shelbyville 58

Lawrenceville 101, Casey-Westfield 49

Vandalia 67, Piasa Southwestern 43

Georgetown LaSalette 66, Cumberland 64 (for the Pirates: Brandon Shaon 17, Gunnar McMechan 13, Sam Bauguss 11, Tyson Magee 9, Trevor Beard 8, Mike Wolke 6)

GIRLS BASKETBALL

At the Centralia Christ Our Rock Lutheran 1A Regional--CORL 31, Okawville 27

At the Hume Shiloh 1A Regional--Chrisman 52, Okaw Valley 43 (Chrisman will take on St. Anthony Monday at 6pm at the Nokomis 1A Sectional)