Hearts Boys Start Postseason With Win

The Effingham Hearts boys basketball team started their postseason on a winning note, claiming their third straight victory 63-33 over the Paris Tigers at the Paris 3A Regional Tournament. The game was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

The Hearts stormed out of the gate, leading 11-2 after the first quarter and up 26-14 at halftime. A 19-9 third quarter had the Hearts up 45-23 heading to the final period. An 18-10 fourth quarter margin gave the Hearts the 30-point win.

Effingham was 26 of 55 from the field, just shy of 50%, including 5 of 18 threes. Paris made just 14 of 48 shots. The Hearts won big despite a 6 for 16 night from the foul line. Effingham posted a 36 to 26 rebound edge.

Season-long scoring leader Landon Wolfe paced Effingham with 26 points, while Ryan Sandifer scored 12 points. Mason Hull and Cole Marxman each scored six points, Matt Robinson and Parker Wolfe each scored four points, Logan Smith and Tate Niebrugge each scored two points, and Lucas Vasquez scored one point.

Zach Burger led Paris with 10 points.

Effingham won its third straight game to improve to 13-15, while Paris sees its season end at 8-18. The Hearts advance to semifinal action Wednesday at 7pm at Paris against Tolono Unity.

Class 3A Paris Regional

PARIS (33)

Fessant 1-0 -- 2, Eslinger 1-0 -- 2, Htuchings 0-0 -- 0, King 1-0 -- 3, Spencer 3-0 -- 7, Mulleney 0-2 -- 2, Landrum 0-0 -- 0, Sullivan 0-0 -- 0, Hopper 0-0 -- 0, White 0-0 -- 0, Burger 6-0 -- 13, Brouwer 2-0 -- 4,  Brinkerhoff 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 14 FG, 2 FT.

EFFINGHAM (63)

Niebrugge 1-0 -- 2, Sandifer 4-2 -- 12, Kalber 0-0 -- 0, Hagler 0-0 -- 0, L. Wolfe 11-3 -- 26, Hull 3-0 -- 8, Lohman 0-0 -- 0, Vasquez 0-1 -- 1, Smith 0-0 -- 0, Marxman 3-0 -- 6, Robinson 2-0 -- 4, P. Wolfe 2-0 -- 4. TOTALS 26 FG, 6 FT.

Paris                      2    12      9    10    --    33

Effingham           11    15    19    18    --    63

3-point FG -- Paris 3 (King 1, Spencer 1, Burger 1), Effingham 5 (Sandifer 2, Hull 2, L. Wolfe 1).