Hearts Edge Mahomet-Seymour in Apollo Action Saturday

The Effingham Hearts posted a 68-63 win over the Mahomet-Seymour Bulldogs Saturday afternoon in Apollo Conference action at EHS Gym. The contest was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com.

The Hearts quickly fell behind 6-0 on a pair of Grant Coleman three-point plays, but outscored the Bulldogs 16-6 from that point to lead 16-12 after one quarter. Effingham outpointed Mahomet-Seymour 21-18 in a wild second quarter where the Hearts pulled ahead by 12, saw that lead slip to six, went back up by nine and saw the Bulldogs score at the buzzer to leave Effingham with a 37-30 halftime lead.

The third quarter was dominated by Mahomet-Seymour, as they outscored the Hearts 24-14 to go from down seven to up three over Effingham 54-51 at the end of the period.

The Hearts regrouped in the fourth quarter, holding Mahomet-Seymour to nine points while pouring 17 of their own including big late plays by Parker Wolfe and four key foul shots at the end by Drew Thompson to post the five-point win.

Effingham shot 49% from the field, 24 of 49 including 6 of 13 threes. The Hearts were 14 of 21 at the line for 67%, turned the ball over just eight times, and grabbed 24 rebounds.

Mahomet-Seymour shot 46% from the field, 25 of 55 including 8 of 15 threes. The Bulldogs made five of just six foul shots, committed 11 turnovers and pulled down 19 rebounds.

Landon Wolfe led Effingham with 26 points, 18 in the first half, on 10 of 22 shooting. Wolfe had an uncharacteristic off day at the line, 4 of 10, but had eight rebounds, five offensive, and three assists. 

Parker Wolfe had a 24-point day, eight in the fourth quarter, on 9 of 13 shooting with four boards and four assists. Drew Thompson, Cole Marxman and Nate Thompson each scored six points, with Marxman contributing a thunderous dunk and three blocked shots along with seven rebounds. Tate Niebrugge also saw time for the Hearts down the stretch.

Coleman finished with 22 points for Mahomet-Seymour on 9 of 16 shooting and had three blocked shots.

The win gets the Hearts back to .500 at 11-11, while Mahomet-Seymour is now 9-13.

Mahomet-Seymour won the JV game 64-48. Tate Niebrugge and Tristin Duncan each scored 14 for the JV Hearts.