Published on January 12, 2026 7:31 am
Last Updated on January 12, 2026 10:33 am
BY MILLIE LANGE
Effingham held only a two-point lead after the opening quarter against Taylorville in girls high school basketball action Friday.
But that didn’t last long as the Hearts went on a second quarter run to lead 41-19 at halftime and went on for a 72-31 Apollo Conference victory.
Coach Jeff Schafer’s crew broke loose in the second quarter with a 24-4 run and the Hearts never looked back.
Effingham’s’ Alyssa Martin connected on three baskets and two free throws in that run for eight points while Tessa Raddatz hit two three-pointers and two free throws, also for eight. Averie Wolfe nailed two three-pointers.
The Hearts had those three players finish in double digits. Martin scored 23 to lead the way with eight field goals and seven free throws. Raddatz added 17 and Wolfe 13.
Coach Jeff Schafer’s crew remains unbeaten in the conference at 5-0 and is16-2 overall.
At Effingham
TAYLORVILLE (31)
Kietzman 1-0 — 2, DeMichael 1-0 — 3, Jackson 4-0 — 8, Rodgers 3-1 — 7, Thomas 1-0 — 2, Durbin 0-0 — 0, Siemplekamp 0-1 — 1, Wayman 3-0 — 6, Suslee 0-2 — 2. TOTALS 13 FG, 4 FT.
EFFINGHAM (72)
Engel 1-0 — 2, Martin 8-7 — 23, Raddatz 6-0 — 17, Wolfe 5-0 — 13, Love 3-0 — 6, Hayes 2-0 — 5, Wendling 1-0 — 2, Weis 0-0 — 0, Braun 1-0 — 2, Thies 0-0 — 0, Martin 1-0 — 2. TOTALS 28 FG, 7 FT.
Tayloville 15 4 6 6 — 31
Effingham 17 24 20 13 — 72
(linescore adds up to 74 while 72 listed as final).
3-point FG — Taylorville 1 (DeMichael 1), Effingham 5 (Wolfe 3, Raddatz 3, Hayes 1).
At Flora
Effingham St. Anthony put together a 55-25 victory over Flora in a non-conference contest Saturday.
The Bulldogs ripped out to a 20-8 opening quarter lead as Nancy Ruholl hit three from beyond the arc, two regular basktes and a free throw for 14 points.
The lead went to 35-15 at halftime. Ruholl put in nine more points for a total of 23.
Ruholl finished out with six more points in the third quarter for a grand total of 29 for the game. She hit 12 fielld goals, eight regular baskets and was one of one at the line.
Also in double digits were Ali Kollmann and Addie Lauritzen with 10 each, both hitting five field goals. Lauritzen led in assists with six while Ruholl and Gannaway had five each. Gannaway led in steals with five.
The Bulldogs are now 11-6 on the season.
Flora was a 20-13 winner over St. Anthony in a junior varsity game that was contested in one half.
The Bulldogs were led by Avery Henning with six.
At Flora
FLORA (25)
Souder 0-2 — 6, Jones 0-0 — 0, Sharp 0-0 — 0, Bagourd 0-0 — 0, Lewis 0-4 — 4, Winchester 0-0 — 0, Moyer 1-2 — 5, Heuerman 0-0 — 0, Massle 0-0 — 0, Barton 0-0 — 0, Smith 3-4 — 10. TOTALS 6 FG, 10 FT.
ST. ANTHONY (55)
Grunloh 0-0 — 0, Gannaway 1-0 — 2, Hoke 0-0 — 0, Ruholl 12-1 — 29, Patel 0-0 — 0, Henning 0-0 — 0, Schultz 1-0 — 2, Vonderheide 1-0 — 2, Kollmann 5-0 — 10, Lauritzen 5-0 — 10, Kelley 0-0 — 0. TOTALS 25 FG, 1 FT.
Flora 8 7 1 9 — 25
St. Anthony 20 15 18 2 — 55
3-point FG — Flora 3 (Souder 2, Moyer 1), St. Anthony 4 (Ruholl 4).
Junior Varsity Game
St. Anthony 6 7 — 13
Flora 8 12 — 20
St. Anthony — Grunloh 0, Hoke 0, Patel 3, Henning 6, Schutlz 4
Flora — Upton 0, Caudle 0, Sharp 2, Mason 0, Bacouri 0, Heuerman 6, Massie 2, Smith 10
At Casey
Neoga picked up a 33-25 victory over Casey-Westfield Saturday.
The Indians edged out to a 4-2 opening quarter lead but Casey-Westfield came back to move ahead 16-14 at halftime.
Neoga still trailed going into the final quarter by a 21-20 count then went on a 13-4 run.
Malory Henderson was the lone Indians player in double figures with 11 on three field goals and four of four at the line.
Neoga improved to 6-11 and plays host to Pana Monday at Lake Land College.
At Casey
NEOGA (33)
Henderson 3-4 — 11, Hartke 0-0 — 0, Moran 0-1 — 1, M. Frankie 1-2 — 4, C.Frankie 2-1 — 6, Wiessing 1-2 — 5, McKay 1-0 — 2, Ballgner 1-2 — 4. TOTALS 9 FG. 12 FT.
CASEY-WESTFIELD (25)
Eckerty 5-1 — 11, Gray 1-0 — 2, Moore 5-0 — 10, Gilbert 1-0 — 2. TOTALS 12 FG, 1 FT.
Neoga 4 10 6 13 — 33
Casey-Westfield 2 14 5 4 — 25
3-point FG — Neoga 3 (Henderson 1, C. Frankie 1, Wiessing 1), Casey-Westfield 0.
At Breese
Teutopolis competed in the Breese Central Paws Shootout Saturday and fell to Pleasant Plains 51-37.
Pleasant Plains took a 13-7 opening quarter lead and led 29-19 at halftime.
Pleasant Plains had a 22-18 second half.
T-town was led by Malea Helmink and Kelsey Niemerg with nine points each. Helmink hit one basket and was seven of 12 at the line. Niemerg hit three baskets, two from three-point range, and was one of one at the line.
The Shoes were led by Anna Probst and Allie Ruholl in rebounds with four each. Helmink, Sophia Martin, Niemerg, Ruholl and Gabby Tegeler had one steal each.
At Breese
TEUTOPOLIS (37)
Bloemer 0-0 — 0, J. Gaddis 0-0 — 0, K. Gaddis 0-0 — 0, Helmink 1-7 — 9, Martin 1-1 — 3, Mette 0-0 — 0, Niemerg 3-1 — 9, An. Probst 4-0 — 8, Ruholl 0-8 — 8, Tegeler 0-0 — 0. TOTALS 9 FG, 17 FT.
PLEASANT PLAINS (51)
Fraase 0-0 — 0, Crawford 3-0 — 9, Leach 4-3 — 2, Burke 4-1 — 9, Weber 8-5 — 19, Sabatka 1-0 — 2. TOTALS 20 FG, 7 FT.
Teutopolis 7 12 13 5 — 37
Pleasant Plans 13 16 12 10 — 51
3-point FG — Teutopolis 2 (Niemerg 2), Pleasant PLains 2 (Crawford 1, Leach 1).
At Altamont
Altamont fell to Woodlawn 50-35 in a Saturday contest.
Altamont held an 11–8 opening quarter lead but Woodlawn came roaring back with a 16-9 second period to move into a 24-20 halftime lead.
Woodlawn then had a 26-15 second half run.
Altamont was led by Justyce Higgs with 14 points on four field goals, two from three-point range, and four of six at the line. Ella Nelson chipped in with 13.
Altamont won the junior varsity contest 41-10.
The Indians are 9-7 on the season and return to action tonight with a junior vasrity game against Teutopolis and a varsity game against Cumberland.
At Altamont
WOODLAWN (50)
Kibler 1-3 — 6, Roth 3-0 — 6, Lamacchiq 0-0 — 0, Williams 0-0 — 0, Griffin 1-0 — 2, Sprehe 0-0 — 0, Owens 4-5 — 13, Wangler 2-0 — 6, Hockett 4-6 — 17. TOTALS 15 FG, 14 FT.
ALTAMONT (35)
Kuenstler 0-1 — 1, Nelson 4-2 — 13, Ruholl 1-1 — 3, Niermann 0-0 — 0, Schnarre 0-0 — 0, Long 0-1 — 1, Aldrich 0-0 — 0, Higgs 4-4 — 14, Schultz 0-3 — 3. TOTALS 9 FG, 12 FT.
Woodlawn 8 16 13 13 — 50
Altamont 11 9 11 4 — 35
3-point FG — Woodlawn 5 (Hockett 3, Wangler 2, Kibler 1), Altamont 5 (Nelson 3, Higgs 2).
At Toledo
Cumberland put together a 45-37 victory over Nokomis in Saturday action.
The Pirates ran out to a 21-6 opening quarter lead as Jude Miller put in three baskets, two of those three-pointers, and was two of three at the line for 10 points while Raegan Jones nailed three from beyond the arc for nine.
The scoring calmed down for the Pirates but Nokomis started to roll as C. Bertolino hit five baskets for 10 points and her team pulled within 28-22 at halftime.
Cumberland then had a slight 17-15 second half lead for the win.
Miller led the way with five field goals, two of those three-pointers and was six of 11 at the line for 18. Alysa Dittamore chipped in with 11 points on four field goals and three of six at the line.
At Toledo
NOKOMIS (37)
Jackson 1-0 — 3, Engleman 3-0 — 8, Bertolino 5-0 — 10, Tarter 0-0 — 0, Marley 0-0 — 0, Stolte 1-0 — 2, Cook 2-2 — 6, Sabol 3-2 — 8. TOTALS 15 FG, 4 FT.
CUMBERLAND (45)
Miller 5-6 — 18, Tolen 1-0 — 2, Carr 2-0 — 5, Jones 3-0 — 9, Dittamore 4-3 — 11. TOTALS 15 FG, 9 FT.
Nokomis 6 16 9 6 — 37
Cumberland 21 7 9 8 — 45
3-point FG — Nokomis 3 (Engleman 2, Jackson 1), Cumberland 6 (Jones 3, Miller 2, Carr 1).