Lady Hearts Lose at Super-Sectional for Second Straight Season

The Effingham Lady Hearts saw their season come to an end Monday night, losing 56-40 to Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin in the Springfield 3A Super-Sectional. The contest was heard on KJ Country 102.3 and www.kjcountry.com. 

Effingham never led in the game and were never tied after a 7-7 score in the first quarter. The Lady Hearts were down 14-9 after the first quarter, 26-17 at halftime, and 40-32 after three quarters, before being outscored 16-8 in the fourth quarter when gambling on defense in an attempt to get the ball back led to more opportunities for the Cyclones.

Effingham had a tough shooting night against a good defensive ballclub, hitting on just 15 of 57 shots, 26%, including 6 of 31 threes. The percentage was hurt by a 2 for 18 fourth quarter. The Lady Hearts only shot five foul shots, making four. They totaled 23 rebounds and turned the ball over just seven times.

Sacred Heart-Griffin made 20 of 42 shots, just under 50%, including 5 of 11 threes. The Cyclones made 11 of 16 at the line, pulled down 27 rebounds and committed 10 turnovers.

Natalie Carie led Effingham in scoring with 12 points, on 5 of 15 shooting while grabbing eight rebounds. Carsyn Fearday, who Coach Jeff Schafer was pretty much beat on throughout the game, scored nine points on 3 of 11 shooting with five boards. Abby Weis scored seven points, Skyler Schafer and Miranda Fox each scored five points, and Madison Buscher scored two points.

Payton Vorreyrer led Sacred Heart-Griffin and all scorers with 21 points on 7 of 10 shooting, as well as 7 of 9 from the line. Sophie Lowis scored 15 points on 5 of 8 shooting, and Victoria Ziegler was also in double figures with 10 points.

Effingham closes its season wth a 28-7 record, while Sacred Heart-Griffin improved to 29-6 and will play in the Final Four this Friday at 1pm at Redbird Arena at Illinois State University.

The Lady Hearts have to say goodbye to nine seniors, including all five starters, most of whom have played together since third grade. The nine are Carsyn Fearday, Skyler Schafer, Natalie Carie, Miranda Fox, Abby Weis, Kiyah Kuhlman, Madison Buscher, Payton Koester, and Jessie Herboth.

Class 3A Springfield Super-Sectional

SPRINGFIELD SHG (56)

Vorreyrer 7-10 7-9 21, Gilmore 1-4 0-0 2, Lowis 5-8 0-0 15, Manker 0-1 0-0 0, Zeigler 3-8 4-5 10, Butler 1-2 0-0 2, Hulcher 1-2 0-1 2, Scarlette 1-3 0-0 2, Brenneisen 1-4 0-1 2, Kerr 0-0 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 20-42 FG, 11-16 FT.

EFFINGHAM (40)

Fearday 3-11 2-3 9, Schafer 2-11 0-0 5, N. Carie 5-15 0-0 12, Fox 2-5 0-0 5, Weis 2-13 2-2 7, Buscher 1-2 0-0 2, Kuhlman 0-0 0-0 0, Herboth 0-0 0-0 0, Koester 0-0 0-0 0. TOTALS 15-57 FG, 4-5 FT.

Springfield SHG              14    12    14    16    --    56

Effingham                         9      8    15      8    --    40

3-point FG -- Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin 5 (Lowis 5), Effingham 6 (N. Carie 2, Fearday 1, Schafer 1, Fox 1, Weis 1).