Hearts Cruise to Win at Own Round Robin; Highland, LIC Tourneys

The Effingham Lady Hearts improved to 17-1 on the season in cruising to a 62-16 win over Centralia in opening night action at the Effingham Round Robin Tournament. The contest was heard on KJ Country 102.3 and www.kjcountry.com. 

The game stood at 2-2 before the Lady Hearts scored the last 16 points of the quarter to lead 18-2. It was 33-10 at halftime and 57-16 after three quarters before the Lady Hearts outscored the Annies 5-0 in a continuous clock fourth quarter.

Effingham shot 48% of its shots including 7 of 17 threes. Overall, the Hearts made 23 of 48 shots, hit 7 of 12 free throws, turned the ball over just six times and pulled down 31 rebounds.

Centralia made just 7 of 35 shots, 20% and missed all 13 of the threes they tried. The Annie made both of the foul shots they attempted, pulled down 18 rebounds and committed 18 turnovers, 13 in the first half.

Carsyn Fearday and Natalie Carie shared scoring honors, each putting in 14 points. Also for Effingham: Miranda Fox 8, Shelby Myers 6, Skyler Schafer 6, Aly Armstrong 5, Bria Barr 4, Abby Weis 3, and Payton Koester 2. Allie Fults scored 8 first half points to lead Centralia.

In the opener, Pana downed Centralia 62-39. Greenville beat  Vandalia 46-28 in the second contest. In the final game of the evening, Greenville beat Pana 57-37.

The tournament takes a break Tuesday, but will have doubleheaders Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Effingham plays in the 7:30pm game each night.

Effingham Round Robin

Game Three

EFFINGHAM (62)

Fearday 5-4 -- 14, Schafer 2-0 -- 6, Carie 6-0 -- 14, Armstrong 2-0 -- 5, Fox 3-0 -- 8, Weis 1-1 -- 3, Barr 2-0 -- 4, Myers 2-2 -- 6, Buscher 0-0 -- 0, Herboth 0-0 -- 0, Koester 1-0 -- 2. TOTALS 24 FG, 7 FT.

CENTRALIA (16)

Knolhoff 0-0 -- 0, Hirsch 2-0 -- 4, Smith 0-0 -- 0, Myers 0-0 -- 0, Curry 0-0 -- 0, Edson 0-0 -- 0, Panega 0-0 -- 0, Fults 3-2 -- 8, Hutton 1-0 -- 2, Wrobel 1-0 -- 2. TOTALS 7 FG. 2 FT.

Effingham             18    15    24     5    --    62

Centralia                 2      8      6    0    --     16

3-point FG -- Effingham 7 (Carie 2, Fox 2, Schafer 2, Armstrong 1), Centralia 0.

Highland Tournament

Four games were contested Monday evening at the 32nd Annual Scott Credit Union Highland Girls Basketball Tournament.

In consolation bracket action, Salem downed Trenton Wesclin 49-38 while Carlyle beat Triad 45-42. In winner bracket play, Bethalto Civic Memorial won over Nashville 49-34 and Breese Central beat Okawville 51-26.

Tonight's games feature Hillsboro against Taylorville at 4 and Belleville West facing Belleville Althoff at 5:30 in consolation play. In winner bracket action, O'Fallon faces Breese Mater Dei at 7 and Teutopolis takes on Hgihland at 8:30.

Little Illini Conference Tournament

There was only one game on the agenda Monday featuring Newton against Red Hill (Bridgeport) and that game was postponed.

It has been moved to tonight at 5 followed by Olney against Flora at 6:30 and Paris against Marshall at 8.