Hearts Lose Regional Championship Game to End Season

After playing some of their best basketball of the season in recent games, the Effingham Hearts ran into a buzzsaw Friday night, falling to Champaign Central 76-45 in the championship game of the Paris Class 3A Regional Tournament. The loss marks the end of the Hearts' season. The game was heard on KJ Country 102.3 and www.kjcountry.com. 

Champaign Central led throughout the contest, up 19-10 after one quarter, 32-19 at halftime, and 50-32 after three quarters before outscoring Effingham 26-13 in the fourth quarter to decide the final margin.

Champaign Central shot 56% from the field, including 8 of 21 threes. The Hearts made 17 of 48 shots for 35% shooting including 4 of 20 threes.

The Hearts made six of seven foul shots, to 4 of 12 for Champaign Central. Central outrebounded the Hearts, though, 32 to 23, and Effingham committed 15 turnovers to just five for Central.

Season-long scoring leader Landon Wolfe led Effingham with 28 points on 10 of 22 shooting. Wolfe was the only Hearts player to go to the line in the contest. Also for the Hearts: Mason Hull 8, Ryan Sandifer 4, Lucas Vasquez 3, and Parker Wolfe 2.                                   

Effingham closes its inaugural season under Coach Rem Woodruff with a final record of 14-16.

The Hearts say goodbye to seniors Mason Hull, Ryan Sandifer, Matthew Robinson, Logan Smith, Blake Lohman and Lucas Vasquez.