Hearts Post Win at Mt. Zion

The Effingham Hearts pulled within one game of the .500 mark Friday night, defeating the Mt. Zion Braves 67-46. The game at Mt. Zion was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

The Hearts burst out of the gate, hitting 8 of 13 shots including 4 of 7 threes to take a 20-10 lead at the end of one quarter. An 18-14 second quarter edge left Effingham on top 38-22 at halftime. 

(LANDON WOLFE)

Effingham limped out of halftime, being held scoreless for the first half of the third quarter and being outscored 14-9 in the period, but were still in front 47-36 at the end of the period. The Braves cut the lead to single digits before the Hearts reignited to outscore the Braves by the same 20-10 margin they posted in the first quarter, making 6 of 7 shots and 9 of 11 free throws in the period to win by 21 points.

The Hearts made 26 of 45 shots for 58%, including 7 of 16 threes. Effingham made 10 of 16 free throws, committed just seven turnovers and grabbed 19 rebounds.

Mt. Zion made 16 of 40 shots, 40%, including 1 of 7 threes. The Braves made 13 of 19 foul shots, turned the ball over 15 times and pulled down 21 rebounds.

Landon Wolfe had a big game for Effingham, scoring 31 points, 21 in the first half. Wolfe made 12 of 18 shots and 4 of 5 foul shots while also grabbing a team-leading six rebounds. In the process, Landon passed his older brother, Grant, for third place all-time among EHS boys basketball scorers with 1,691 points. That's just nine points shy of tying Pat Fitzsimmons for second place on the all-time list. Fitzsimmons scored 1,700 points. Mitch Arnold is the all-time EHS scoring leader.

Drew Thompson scored 14 points for the Hearts on 5 of 8 shooting, while Parker Wolfe scored 11 points. Also for Effingham: Nate Thompson 5, and Cole Marxman, Jacob Stoneburner and Ben Donsbach 2 each. 

The Hearts improved to 7-8 on the season with a game at 11:30am Saturday at the Highland Optimist Shootout against Nashville.

Effingham won the JV game 38-34. Jacob Briggerman led the JV Hearts with 16 points. Also for the JV Hearts: Tristin Duncan 9, Cameron Kalber 7, Jacob Stoneburner 4, and Ben Donsbach 2.

At Mount Zion

EFFINGHAM (67)

Niebrugge 0-0 -- 0, P. Wolfe 4-1 -- 11, L. Wolfe 12-4 -- 31, D. Thompson 5-3 -- 14, Ritz 0-0 -- 0, Kalber 0-0 -- 0, N. Thompson 2-0 -- 5, Duncan 0-0 -- 0, Donsbach 1-0 -- 2, Stoneburner 0-2 -- 2, Briggerman 0-0 -- 0, Marxman 1-0 -- 2, Jones 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 25 FG, 10 FT.

MOUNT ZION (46)

Hamrich 1-0 -- 2, Gray 2-0 -- 4, Barr 0-0 -- 0, High 0-0 -- 0, Adams 1-5 -- 7, Price 0-0 -- 0, Highley 4-2 -- 11, Landon 2-5 -- 9, Bauerle 0-0 -- 0, Mose 6-1 -- 13. TOTALS 16 FG, 13 FT.

Effingham        20    18      9    20    --    67

Mount  Zion      8    14    14    10    --    46

3-point FG -- Effingham 7 (L. Wolfe 3, P. Wolfe 2, D. Thompson 1, N. Thompson 1), Mount Zion 1 (Highley 1).