Effingham Advances To Sectional Girls Basketball Championship

That was the sound Effingham High School fans heard as the Hearts shot 63 percent from the field and 84 percent at the line in downing Mount Vernon in the Class 3A Effingham Girls Basketball Sectional Tuesday evening.

Coach Jeff Schafer's squad edged out to a 12-11 opening quarter lead and then kicked its scoring game into high gear with a 25-8 second period to lead 37-19 at halftime.

In that opening 12-11 quarter, Hearts fans could see what was coming as four three-pointers were knocked into the hoop. Bella Austin connected for two while Bria Beals and Averie Wolfe put in one each.

Then, here came five more three-pointers in the second quarter. Beals and Wolfe nailed two more and Sidney Donaldson hit one. Beals scored eight in the quarter while Donaldson had seven and Wolfe six. The Hearts were hitting 56 percent from the field at halftime.

The Rams' Kamaree Pollard scored seven of her team's eight points in the quarter.

The scoring slowed down in the second half for the Hearts as Mount Vernon had a slight 17-16 third period edge. But Beals and Austin continued to swish the three-pointers. Beals connected twice and Austin once. Alyssa Martin put in three of four free throws and Wolfe and Saige Althoff a basket each,.

Once again the Rams outscored the Hearts in the final period, but once again by only a point, 23-22.

Martin stepped to the line three times, connecting on all five free throws and put in three baskets for 11 of the Hearts points. Wolfe scored five and Beals and Austin put in a . . . you guessed it . . . another three-pointer each.

Four Hearts finished in double digits. Beals led the way with 20 points on seven field goals, six of nine from three-point range. Martin added 18 on five of five two-pointers and eight of nine at the line. Wolfe finished with 16 on two of three from two-point range, three of five from trifecta land and three of four at the line. Austin hit four of seven from beyond the arc for 12 points.

The Hearts finished with a whopping 14 three-pointers.

Pollard led the Rams with 20 points while Melaina Zedalis added 17. Mount Vernon ends the season with a 26-7 record.

In the second contest, Highland was a 42-26 winner over Herrin.

Highland took a 10-6 opening quarter lead and led 18-10 at halftime. The Bulldogs had an 11-10 third quarter edge to lead 29-20 going into the final period and finished out with a 13-6 tally.

Jordan Bircher led the way for the winners with 14 points while Abby Schultz and Sophia Fleming added nine each.

The Hearts will now face Highland at 7 p.m. Thursday for the sectional championship in game that can be heard on 979XFM.

At the Decatur MacArthur Sectional, Quincy Notre Dame downed  Mahomet-Seymour, 63-46 while Chatham Glenwood won over Mount Zion, 51-34. Quincy Notre Dame and Chatham Glenwood meet at 6 p.m. Thursday for that sectional championship.

If the Hearts win Thursday evening, they will face either Quincy Notre Dame or Chatham Glenwood Monday at the Highland Super-Sectional at 7 p.m.

Class 3A Effingham Sectional

EFFINGHAM (75)

Martin 5-8 -- 18, Wolfe 5-3 -- 16, Beals 7-0 -- 20, Althoff 1-0 -- 2, Donaldson 3-0 -- 7, Moser 0-0 -- 0, Armstrong 0-0 -- 0, Austin 4-0 -- 12, Thompson 0-0 -- 0, Harvey 0-0 -- 0, Raddatz 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 25 FG, 11 FT.

MOUNT VERNON (59)

Pollard 6-8 -- 20, Wilkie 1-0 -- 2, Zedalis 6-4 -- 17, Rudd 1-0 -- 2, Tisley 0-0 -- , Shirley 2-0 -- 5, Allen 2-1 -- 7, Powers 0-0 -- 0, Johnson 3-0 -- 6, Poole 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 21 FG, 13 FT.

Effingham                      12    25    16    22    --    75

Mount Vernon                11      8    17    23    --    59

3-point FG -- Effingham 14 (Beals 6, Austin 4, Wolfe 3, Donaldson 1), Mount Vernon 4 (Allen 2, Shirley 1, Zedalis 1).