EHS, St. Anthony Celebrate Girls Basketball Victories

Effingham High School former players, managers and coaches came back for Alumni Night Thursday.

Effingham High School had a big celebration Thursday night as the Hearts played host to Paris and picked up a 46-39 non-conference victory.

The Hearts were hosting an Alumni Night for all former players, managers and coaches along with celebrating Coach Jeff Schafer who became the all-time leading coach in school history for basketball coaching wins. A reception followed the ballgame.

But first the Hearts had business to take care of in the form of the Paris Tigers.

Paris edged out to a 9-7 opening quarter lead as both teams were having some trouble connecting with the basket. The Tigers hit four of 13 shots while EHS was three of 10.

The Tigers shot better in the second quarter to lead 20-17 at halftime. The Hearts were still struggling with four of 17 baskets.

But after the halftime session, EHS started to roll. The Hearts' Saige Althoff went on a seven point run while Bria Beals added a three-pointer and a regular basket and the Hearts outscored Paris 15-8 to move ahead 32-28.

EHS kept the momentum in the final period, connecting on three baskets and hitting seven of 10 free throws for a 14-11 run and the 46-39 victory.

Three players hit double digits for the Hearts. Ella NIebrugge and Althoff scored 11 points each while Beals added 10. 

The Hearts improved to 14-6 on the season while Paris suffered only its second loss and drops to 19-2.

At Effingham

PARIS (39)

Tingley 1-0 -- 2, Coombes 4-1 -- 9, Young 4-2 -- 10, Hawkins 1-6 -- 8, Moon 0-0 -- 0, Johnson 0-0 -- 0, Clark 0-0 -- 0, Smith 1-0 -- 2, Watson 3-0 -- 8. TOTALS 14 FG, 9  FT.

EFFINGHAM (46)

Mapes 2-3 -- 8, Niebrugge 3-3 -- 11, Beals 3-2 -- 10, Althoff 5-1 -- 11, Alile 1-0 -- 2, Wolfe 0-0 -- 0, Donaldson 2-0 -- 4, Moser 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 16 FG, 9 FT.

Paris                      9    11      8    11    --    39

Effingham             7    10    15    14    --    46

3-point FG -- Paris 2 (Watson 2), Effingham 5 (Niebrugge 2, Beals 2, Mapes 1).

At St. Anthony

Two teams ranked in the Associated Press Class 1A state poll went head-to-head Thursday evening with Effingham St. Anthony coming out a 77-36 winner over Neoga.

The Bulldogs didn't let Neoga even get started as they whipped out to a 24-10 opening quarter lead. Anna Faber and Nancy Ruholl went on an eight point run each while Stacie Vonderheide added six points.

The lone highlight for the Indians were two three-pointers by Sydney Richards.

The Bulldogs slowed down but still had an 18-14 second quarter to lead 42-24 at halftime. This time a fourth player got on a run as Lucy Fearday connected on four baskets and four free throws for 12 of the 18 points.

S. Richards was trying to stop the Bulldogs flow by scoring eight points in the second period while Brynn Richards chipped in with five.

In the third quarter, it was the Stacie Vonderheide Show as she hit seven baskets without a miss for 14 points and the Bulldogs had a 30-6 third quarter run to lead 72-30 going into the final period.

Vonderheide finished with 24 points to lead the Bulldogs while Fearday tallied 22 points, giving her the all-time St. Anthony girls basketball scoring leader title with 1,456 points, passing Jaclyn Jansen, who scored 1,453 points. Also in double figures were Faber with 14 and Ruholl with 10. The Bulldogs hit 34 of 52 from the field for 65.3 percent.

St. Anthony, ranked No. 8 in the Class 1A state poll, is now 5-0 in the National Trail Conference, 17-4 overall.

Neoga was led by S. Richards with 18 as the lone player in double figures. The Indians were 13 of 43 from the field for 30.2 percent.

The Indians suffered their first National Trail Conference loss and drop to 5-1 and stand at 19-3 overall. Neoga was ranked No. 6 in the latest Class 1A state poll.

At St. Anthony

NEOGA (37)

B. Richards 1-4 -- 6, Worman 1-0 -- 2, Hakman 0-0 -- 0, S. Richards 6-4 -- 18, Campbell 1-0 -- 2, Sampson 2-0 -- 5, Osborn 1-0 -- 2, Eaton 0-0 -- 0, O'Dell 1-0 -- 2. TOTALS 13 FG, 8 FT.

ST. ANTHONY (77)

Ruholl 4-0 -- 10, An. Faber 7-0 -- 14, Vonderheide 12-0 -- 24, Fearday 8-4 -- 22, Rios 2-0 -- 5, Nuxoll 1-0 -- 2, Gannaway 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 34 FG, 4 FT.

Neoga                       10    14      6    7    --    37

St. Anthony              24    18    30    5    --    77

3-point FG -- Neoga 3 (S. Richards 2, Sampson 1), St. Anthony 5 (Ruholl 2, Fearday 2, Rios 1).