Published on January 16, 2026 7:29 am
Last Updated on January 16, 2026 7:30 am
BY MILLIE LANGE
Effingham High School played host to Paris as two Class 2A ranked teams met and sent the Tigers home with a 57-45 loss in girls basketball action Thursday evening in a game heard on KJ Country 102.3.
The No. 4 ranked Hearts and No. 6 ranked Tigers were tied at 12-12 after the opening quarter. Tessa Raddatz sank a three-pointer and a regular basket for five while Averie Wolf connected on two baskets for four to start the game.
But Paris moved into a 25-22 halftime lead. Macy Bicknell hit four baskets and a free throw for nine points.
McKenzie Love connected on two baskets and a free throw for five and Wolfe added three for the Hearts.
Paris was outhitting the Hearts in the first half, with 47.8 percent from the field and 75 percent at the line. EHS hit 30 percent from the field and 42.8 percent at the line.
EHS then got unscrambled and had a 16-9 third quarter as Raddatz hit two three-pointers and a regular basket in four attempts for eight points and Love hit two more baskets.
The Hearts moved into a 38-34 lead and finished strong from the free throw line, connecting on 13 of 18 for 66.7 percent for the game.
Martin hit six of eight while Wolfe was four of four and Raddatz three of four in the quarter.
Four players connected on double figures for the Hearts. Raddatz led the way with 16 points on five field goals and three free throws. She put in three from beyond the arc. Martin and Wolfe added 13 points each while McKenzie Love put in 11.
Paris had only one player in double digits. Macy Bicknell hit eight field goals and two free throws for 18 points.
The Hearts finished with 34.6 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from the free throw line with a total of 18 free throws out of 27.
Paris hit 41.8 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from the free throw line with eight of 12.
EHS is now 17-2 on the season while Paris dropped to 15-3. The Hearts will be back in action today playing host to Mattoon in a boys and girls doubleheader. EHS will play at 5:30 p.m. with the boys team to follow.
At Effingham
PARIS (45)
Camp 0-1 — 1, Keys 2-5 — 9, Young 2-0 — 4, Bicknell 8-2 — 18, Coombes 4-0 — 8, Edwards 1-0 — 3, Landsaw 0-0 — 0, Young 1-0 — 2. TOTALS 18 FG, 8 FT.
EFFINGHAM (57)
Engel 0-0 — 0, Martin 2-9 — 13, Raddatz 5-3 — 16, Wolfe 4-5 — 13, Love 5-1 — 11, Hayes 2-0 — 4, Wendling 0-0 — 0, Weis 0-0 — 0. TOTALS 18 FG, 18 FT.
Paris 12 13 9 11 — 45
Effingham 12 10 16 19 — 57
3-point FG — Paris 1 (Edwards 1), Effingham 3 (Raddatz 3).
At Mattoon
Effingham St. Anthony claimed a 59-22 win over Neoga as two National Trail Conference teams met Thursday evening at Lake Land College.
The Bulldogs took charge early with a 13-4 opening quarter run. Addie Lauritzen connected on four baskets for eight points and Nancy Ruholl hit a three-pointer.
St. Anthony then went on a 17-6 run in the second quarter. Ruholl cut loose with a three then hit four more baskets for 11 points. The Bulldogs led 30-10 at halftime.
That lead went to 55-16 in the third quarter as Lauritzen put in four baskets and two free throws for 10 points and Ruholl added another six.
Ruholl finished with 20 points on eight field goals, two from three-point range, and two of three at the line.
Lauritzen had a big all-around game. She put in 18 points on eight field goals and two of two at the line, led in rebounds with 13 and assists with seven. Gannaway also had seven assists.
The Bulldogs improved to 5-0 in the National Trail Conference and 13-6 overall. They won’t be back in action until Tuesday in the National Trail Conference Tournament.
Neoga was led by Molly Moran with eight points on four field goals. Keeli McKay chipped in with six points.
In junior varsity action, St. Anthony won 22-14. Julia Schultz scored 13 for the Bulldogs while Khushi Patel added nine.
Neoga was led by Keely McKay with four.
At Mattoon
ST. ANTHONY (59)
Grunloh 0-0 — 0, Gannaway 2-0 — 4, Hoke 0-0 — 0, Vineyard 0-0 — 0, Ruholl 8-2 — 20, Patel 0-0 — 0, Henning 0-0 — 0, Schultz 0-0 — 0, Vonderheide 4-1 — 9, Kollmann 4-0 — 8, Lauritzen 8-2 — 18, Kelley 0-0 — 0. TOTALS 26 FG, 5 FT.
NEOGA (22)
E. Frankie 0-2 — 2, Hartke 0-1 — 1, Moran 4-0 — 8, C. Frankie 1-1 — 3, Wiessing 0-0 — 0, McKay 3-0 — 6, Ballinger 1-0 — 2, Coy 0-0 — 0. TOTALS 9 FG, 4 FT.
St. Anthony 13 17 25 4 — 59
Neoga 4 6 6 6 — 22
3-point FG — St. Anthony 2 (Ruholl 2), Neoga 0.
Junior Varsity Game
St. Anthony 5 17 — 22
Neoga 7 7 — 14
St. Anthony — Grunloh 0, Hoke 0, Patel 9, Henning 0, Schultz 13, Kelley 0, Vineyard 0
Neoga — Moran 1, R. Coy 0, C. Frankie 1, Titus 0, Hartke 3, M. Coy 3, Westendorf 0, A. Ballinger 0, Wiessing 0, McKay 4, N. Ballinger 2, A. Frankie 0