Heartbreaking End to Effingham's Season

It truly was a heartbreaking end to Effingham's boys basketball season Friday night, as Urbana edged the Hearts 57-56 in the championship game of the Olney 3A Regional Tournament. The contest was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

Effingham led for most of the first half of the game, up 17-13 after one quarter and ahead 33-28 at halftime. The Hearts hit on 50% of their shots in the first half, 12 of 24, and made six of eight foul shots, while committing just four turnovers.

It was a different story in the third quarter, though, as Urbana outscored the Hearts 17-9 to take a 45-42 lead. The fourth quarter was back and forth until Urbana hit a three-pointer to pull ahead by one. The Hearts got the ball across mid-court, but missed a shot from the volleyball line as time ran out to end the season.

The Hearts lost despite shooting 51% from the field, 20 of 39, including 3 of 11 threes. Effingham was 13 of 20 from the line, missing the front end of three one-and-ones in the second half. After just four turnovers in the first half, none in the second quarter, Effingham turned the ball over eight times after intermission for 12 on the night. Effingham grabbed 28 rebounds.

Urbana shot 42% from the field, 21 of 50, but made 11 of 18 threes, made four of just six foul shots, turned the ball over nine times and pulled down 24 rebounds.

Landon Wolfe, playing his final game for Effingham and the school's all-time leading boys basketball scorer, led the way with 21 points on 8 of 17 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds. Cole Marxman, the Hearts' other senior, scored four points and grabbed seven rebounds in his first game back from a suspension and in his final game for Effingham.

Parker Wolfe scored 18 points and Drew Thompson was also in double figures with 10 points. Nate Thompson hit an early three for his points in the contest.

Payton Sheen led Urbana with 17 points, while Jermale Young scored 14 points.

Urbana improved to 18-14 on the season and will play Wednesday at the Springfield Southeast 3A Sectional.

Effingham ends its season with a 19-13 record, including a 17-6 record under Obie Farmer as varsity coach.

Class 3A Olney Regional

Championship

EFFINGHAM (56)

P. wolfe 6-11 5-7 18, L. Wolfe 8-17 5-7 21, D. Thompson 3-7 3-6 10, N. Thompson 1-2 0-0 3, Stoneburner 0-0 0-0 0, Niebrugge 0-0 0-0 0, Marxman 2-2 0-0 4. TOTALS 20-39 FG, 13-20 FT.

URBANA (57)

Young 6-13 0-1 14, Cross 3-10 0-0 8, Sheen 5-14 4-5 17, VonPreston 1-1 0-0 3, Tatume 4-7 0-0 10, McWilliams 0-2 0-0 0, Calhoun 2-3 0-0 5. TOTALS 21-50 FG, 4-6 FT.

Effingham              17    16      9    14    --    56

Urbana                   13    15    17    12    --    57

3-point FG -- Effingham 3  (P. Wolfe 1, D. Thompson 1, N. Thompson 1), Urbana 10 (Young 2, Cross 2, Sheen 3, Tatum 2, Miller 1).