Effingham Earns Hard-Fought Victory Over Newton Girls

The Effingham Hearts earned a hard-fought 51-45 victory over Newton in girls high school basketball Monday night in a contest heard on KJ Country 102.3 and www.kjcountry.com. 

Effingham got out of the gate in fine fashion, taking an 11-2 lead before the Eagles scored the final seven points of the period to pull within 11-9. Newton continued its run to start the second quarter and took the lead before Effingham went on another run and ended up outscoring the Eagles 10-4 in the quarter to lead 21-13 at halftime. Newton came back midway through the second quarter and outscored Effingham 17-13 in the period to pull within 34-30 after three periods. The Hearts saw a 12-point lead dwindle to three before regrouping and outpointed Newton 17-15 in the final period to win by six.

Effingham shot just 38% from the field, hitting 18 of 48 shots including four of 13 threes. Effingham made 11 of 17 foul shots, turned the ball over 12 times and grabbed 32 rebounds.

Newton shot 36% from the field, 18 of 50, including two of 12 threes. The Eagles hit all seven of its foul shots, turned the ball over just nine times and pulled down 23 rebounds.

Carsyn Fearday led Effingham with 14 points, making just five of 16 shots but making all four of her foul shots and grabbing six rebounds. Miranda Fox scored 10 points, eight in the fourth quarter, and grabbed seven rebounds. Aly Armstrong hit three of Effingham's four threes for her nine points, and Shelby Myers scored eight points and led Effingham with eight rebounds. Natalie Carie scored four points and pulled down six rebounds, Bria Barr scored four points and Skyler Schafer two points.

Ariel Richards led Newton and all scorers with 17 points, nine in the fourth quarter. Also for Newton: Grace Hartrich 9, Abby Frohning 8, Olivia Shipman 7, and Mariah Earnest 4.

Effingham improved to 15-1, while Newton slips to 13-5. 

Newton won the JV game 36-32. Kiyah Kuhlman scored 10 points to lead the junior varsity Hearts.

At Effingham

NEWTON (45)

Harris 0-0 -- 0, Shipman 3-0 -- 7, Frohning 4-0 -- 8, Earnest 2-0 -- 4, Richards 7-2 -- 17, Cohorst 0-0 -- 0, Hartrich 2-5 -- 9. TOTALS 18 FG, 7 FT.

EFFINGHAM (51)

Fearday 5-4 -- 14, Schafer 0-2 -- 2, Carie 2-0 -- 4, Armstrong 3-0 -- 9, Fox 2-5 -- 10, Webster 0-0 -- 0, Barr 2-0 -- 4, Myers 4-0 -- 8. TOTALS 18 FG, 11 FT.

Newton                 9       4    17    15    --    45

Effingham           11    10    13    17    --   51

3-point FG -- Newton 2 (Shipman 1, Richards 1), Effingham 4 (Armstrong 3, Fox 1).