Published on February 2, 2026 11:06 am
Last Updated on February 2, 2026 12:06 pm
BY MILLIE LANGE
Effingham High School picked up two victories over the weekend in boys basketball action.
The Hearts won Friday over Charleston, 53-46. EHS edged out to an 11-10 opening quarter lead as Jenner Pals scored five points and three other players hit a basket each.
EHS pushed that lead to 26-17 at halftime. Cannon Bockhorn connected on a regular basket, two three-pointers and a free throw for nine of his team’s points.
Charleston came back with a 14-12 third quarter edge to pull within 38-31 going into the final quarter then had a 15-14 edge but couldn’t get over the Hearts first half run.
Three players finished in double figures for the Hearts. Bockhorn hit five field goals, two from three-point range and three of four at the line for 15 while Pals hit five baskets, one from three-point range and was four of four from the free throw line, also for 15. Jake Niebrugge added 11.
In junior varsity play, Effingham won 56-37. Maxwell Love led EHS with 18 points while Jude Traub added 11.
In Saturday play, the Hearts downed Shelbyville, 60-44.
EHS edged out to a 16-12 opeing quarter lead as Jake Niebrugge hit six points. The Hearts then had an 18-8 second period run to lead 34-20 at halftime.
Jenner Pals put in two three-pointers while Cannon Bockhorn and Dagg Thompson had a three each.
In the third period, Pals went on a run, hitting three baskets, one from beyond the arc, and was four of four at the line for 11 points and the Hearts led 51-31 going into the final quarter.
EHS had two players in double figures. Pals led the way with 21 points on seven field goals, three from beyond the arc, and two free throws. Jake Niebrugge added 10.
The Hearts also claimed the junior varsity contest, 78-58. Joel Flack led with 16 points while Maxwell Love added 14 and Jude Traub 11.
At Effingham
Friday Game
CHARLESTON (46)
Taylor 1-1 — 3, Hyder 1-0 — 3, Hanner 2-0 — 5, Meister 0-2 — 2, Matheny 0-0 — 0, Walters 1-0 — 3, Applegate 2-2 — 6, Oakley 8-2 — 24. TOTALS 15 FG, 7 FT.
EFFINGHAM (53)
Kinkelaar 0-0 — 0, Fearday 0-0 — 0, Niebrugge 4-3 — 11, Bockhorn 5-3 — 15, Pals 5-4 — 15, Thompson 0-0 — 0, Buzzard 1-0 — 2, Phillips 2-0 — 4, Love 2-2 — 6. TOTALS 19 FG, 12 FT.
Charleston 10 7 14 15 — 46
Effingham 11 15 12 14 — 53
3-point FG — Charleston 8 (Oakley 3, Applegate 2, Walters 1, Hanner 1, Hyder 1), Effingham 3 (Bockhorn 2, Pals 1).
Junior Varsity Game
Charleston 4 6 13 14 — 37
Effingham 17 15 16 8 — 56
Charleston — Plummer 3, Hyder 2, Taggart 6, Steward 4, Wilson 4, Swenson 17, Hayes 1
Effingham — Rohr 2, Kinkelaar 2, Moon 2, Loew 3, Richmond 2, Carson 2, Dagg 2, Traub 11, Flack 8, Wendt 0, Love 18, Harner 4
Saturday Game
SHELBYVILLE (44)
McConnell 0-0 — 0, Beyers 2-1 — 6, Hardey 5-0 — 11, Burns 2-0 — 5, Fisher 1-0 — 2, Brinkoeiter 1-0 — 3, Clark 2-0 — 4, Georges 5-3 — 13, Greenwood 0-0 — 0. TOTALS 18 FG, 4 FT.
EFFINGHAM (60)
Kinkelaar 0-0 — 0, Fearday 1-0 — 2, McDaniel 0-0 — 0, Niebrugge 4-2 — 10, Bockhorn 3-0 — 8, Pals 7-2 — 21, Gonzalez 0-0 — 0, Thompson 1-0 — 3, Buzzard 0-0 — 0, Traub 0-2 — 2, Phillips 1-1 — 3, Love 2-1 — 5, Warner 3-0 — 6. TOTALS 22 FG, 10 FT.
Shelbyville 12 8 11 13 — 44
Effingham 16 18 17 9 — 60
3-point FG — Shelbyville 4 (Beyers 1, Hardey 1, Burns 1, Brinkoetter 1), Effingham 6 (Pals 3, Bockhorn 2, thompson 1).
Junior Varsity Game
Shelbyville 15 15 16 12 — 58
Effingham 21 20 22 15 — 78
Shelbyville — Montgomery 4, Wood 12, McDonnell 36, Litton 0, Hudson 3, Murphy 3, Douglas 0, Theis 0
Effingham — Rohr 7, Kinkelaar 8, Cameron 2, Loew 0, Richmond 0, Jones 3, Thompson 4, Westjohn 2, Traub 11, Flack 16, Wendt 6, Love 14, Warner 5
At Breese
Teutopolis led 33-16 at halftime and went on for a 64-50 victory over Breese Mater Dei in a Friday contest.
Jason Kreke hit three baskets for six points while Isaac McWhorter put in a regular basket and a three for five in the opening quarter 14-10 lead. Landyn Buening also connected on a three-pointer.
T-town had a 14-6 second quarter as Landyn Thoele hit two baskets and two free throw for six points while Jake Probst and Davin Worman hit a three each.
Mater Dei came back with a 34-31 second half but T-town held on for the 14-point win.
McWhorter put in four baskets, three from beyond the arc, and three of four at the line for 14 points while Kreke added 13 and Gavin Addis 12.
T-town also claimed the junior vasrity game, 63-36.
Andy Lustig scored 14 for the Shoes while Kendal Mette added 13.
At Breese
TEUTPOLIS (64)
McWhorter 4-3 — 14, Jo. Probst 2-0 — 5, Kreke 5-3 — 13, Ja. Probst 1-0 — 3, L. Buening 2-0 — 6, G. Buening 0-1 — 1, Addis 4-3 — 12, Thoele 2-3 — 7, Worman 1-0 — 3. TOTALS 21 FG, 13 FT.
BREESE MATER DEI (50)
Zambrencia 3-0 — 9, Parkin 0-0 — 0, Poettker 0-0 — 0, Peppenhorst 4-3 — 13, Pingsterhaus 0-2 — 2, Wade 6-0 — 17, Raynolds 3-1 — 7, Mars 0-0 — 0, Luebbers 1-0 — 2. TOTALS 17 FG, 7 FT.
Teutopolis 19 14 14 17 — 64
Breese Mater Dei 10 6 22 12 — 50
3-point FG — Teutopolis 9 (McWhorter 3, L. Buening 2, Jo. Probst 1, Ja. Probst 1, Addis 1, Worman 1), Breese Mater Dei 8 (Wade 5, Peppenhorst 2, Zambrencia1).
Junior Varsity Game
Breese Mater Dei 10 10 9 7 — 36
Teutopolis 20 15 12 16 — 61
Breese Mater Dei — Parkin 6, VonBokel 0, Littiken 0, Roker 6, Moss 6, Hemker 3, Zurliene 0, Luebbers 14, Souder 1
Teutopolis — Niebrugge 3, Pals 7, Lustig 14, Niebrugge 2, Probst 6, Niemerg 0, Weber 2, Horn 0, S. Probst 3, Bushur 2, Niebrugge 0, Mette 13, Weidner 2, Kocher 8
At Robinson
Lawrenceville captured the championship of the Little Illini Conference Tournament.
Lawrenceville won over Casey-Westfield, 42-31.
In the third place game, Marshall downed Mount Carmel, 55-48.
The fifth place contest went to Robinson over Richland County, 60-45.