Effingham Downs Charleston in OT in Battle of Top 10 Teams

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Published on February 5 2018 11:08 pm
Last Updated on February 6 2018 6:28 am
Written by Greg Sapp

In a battle of two heavyweight teams, the Effingham Lady Hearts posted an overtime win over the Charleston Lady Trojans 71-61 Monday night in Charleston. The game was heard on KJ Country 102.3 and www.kjcountry.com

The win gives the Lady Hearts a shot at an uncontested Apollo Conference championship. A win at Lincoln on Thursday night would leave Effingham with an 11-1 conference record and the Lady Trojans and the Lady Railers with 10-2 marks. A loss would mean a three-way split of the conference title with Charleston and Lincoln.

Monday's win was over a Charleston team riding a 14-game win streak and carrying a 21-1 record. The lone loss had been delivered by Effingham early in the season. Charleston had beat Effingham for the championship of the Charleston Holiday Tournament during that win streak.

Effingham got out to a quick lead, but Charleston was back within 9-8 at the end of the first quarter. The Lady Hearts played a stellar second quarter, pushing the lead to 10 before Charleston's Regan Bollant hit a three just before halftime to pull within 23-16 at the break.

Effingham pushed the lead back up to 10 to start the second half, but Charleston then put on a furious rush, tying the game and then taking a brief lead before Effingham fought back to tie the game at 38-38 after three quarters.

Effingham looked as if they would win the game in regulation, but Charleston forced two turnovers in the final seconds and had a chance to win at the buzzer, but missed a shot and two putbacks, one of which was blocked, and the contest headed to overtime tied 57-57.

Effingham dominated the four-minute overtime, outscoring Charleston 14-4 to post the 10-point win. Clutch foul shooting helped enormously, as the Lady Hearts made 12 of 13 free throws in the extra period after hitting eight of 10 in the fourth quarter. For a team that did not shoot a free throw in the first half, the Lady Hearts finished 24 of 28 at the line, 86%.

Charleston certainly did well at the charity stripe, as well, making 12 of 15 in the game including 11 of 12 in the second half and overtime.

Effingham hit 20 of 45 shots from the field, 44%, including 7 of 18 threes. Charleston made 22 of 55 shots, 40%, including 5 of 19 threes. Charleston just outrebounded Effingham 28 to 27, but Effingham had one fewer turnover, 12 to 13.

There were heroes aplenty for Effingham as each of the eight who played contributed in some way. Carsyn Fearday led the way with 24 points after scoring just six in the first half. Miranda Fox, who was scoreless in the first half, finished with 15 points along with a team-high eight rebounds. Abby Weis, who had the game Coach Jeff Schafer said he was looking for, finished with 19 points after six at halftime. Also for Effingham: Natalie Carie five, Shelby Myers four, and Bria Barr and Skyler Schafer two apiece. Aly Armstrong didn't score, but played some great defense and rebounded well.

For Charleston, sensational freshman Shae Littleford led the way with 16 points. Hope Griffin played a great game at guard both offensively and defensively, totaling 14 points. Paige Swango, held scoreless in the first half, scored 12 points after intermission. Also for Charleston: Bernie Jackson six, Kaitlyn Coffey and Hannah Buescher four each, Regan Bollant three, and Elizabeth Buescher two.

Effingham improved to 25-2 on the season. Now, it's on to Lincoln Thursday before closing out the regular season at home Saturday.

Charleston won the JV game 45-25. Hayley Diveley scored 17 of Effingham's points.

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Effingham has learned they will travel some to play in 3A Regional action next week. The Lady Hearts will play at the Rantoul Regional next week. Effingham will play next Wednesday, February 14, at 6pm against the winner of Monday night's first game between Urbana and Tolono Unity. Paris will play in the second game Wednesday against the winner of Monday night's second game between Champaign Central and Rantoul. The Wednesday winners will play next Friday night at 7:00 for the regional championship. The winner of the regional heads...guess where...for sectional play? You guessed it...Lincoln. 

At Charleston

EFFINGHAM (71)

Fearday 6-12 -- 24, Schafer 1-0 -- 2, Carie 2-0 -- 5, Armstrong 0-0 -- 0, Fox 4-6 -- 15, Weis 5-4 -- 19, Barr 1-0 -- 2, Myers 1-2 -- 4. TOTALS 20 FG, 24 FT.

CHARLESTON (61)

Crowder 0-0 -- 0, Bollant 1-0 -- 3, Sh. Littleford 5-6 -- 16, Griffan 6-1 -- 14, Coffey 2-0 -- 4, Swango 4-1 -- 12, Buescher 1-0 -- 2, H. Buescher 1-2 -- 4, Jackson 2-2 -- 6, S. Littleford 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 22 FG, 12 FT.

Effingham           9    14    15    19    14    --    71

Charleston          8      8    22    19      4    --    61

3-point FG -- Effingham 7 (Carie 1, Fox 1, Weis 5), Charleston 5 (Swango 3, Bollant 1, Griffon 1).