Published on January 20, 2026 7:47 am
Last Updated on January 20, 2026 7:50 am
BY MILLIE LANGE
VANDALIA — Effingham High School opened its stay at the Vandalia Girls Basketball Tournament with a 62-31 victory over Mattoon Monday evening.
The Hearts edged out to a 10-9 opening quarter lead as Drew Weis connected on two baskets.
The Hearts then kicked it into high gear with a 27-8 run to lead 37-17 at halftime. Averie Wolfe hit four baskets for eight points while Alyssa Martin put in two baskets and was four of four at the line, also for eight points. The Hearts’ Tessa Raddatz tallied on a regular basket and a three-pointer for five.
EHS then went on an 18-7 third quarter run as six players scored. Raddatz added five more points to her tally while Ryley Engel and Maci Hayes hit a three-pointer each.
The Hearts were led by Wolfe with seven baskets and three of four at the line for 17 points while Martin and Raddatz added 10 each.
In other Vandalia scores, Hillsboro defeated Mascoutah 44-31, Salem won over Vandalia 68-50 and Wesclin edged Greenville 35-26.
The tournament will continue Wednesday as Effingham (19-2) faces Hillsboro at 6 p.m. followed by Salem against Wesclin at 7:30.
Mattoon will face Mascoutah at 6 p.m. Thursday followed by Vandalia meeting Greenville at 7:30.
The finals are scheduled for Saturday.
At Vandalia
MATTOON (31)
Powers 1-0 — 2, Smith 1-0 — 2, Cole 0-0 — 0, Westra 2-0 — 6, Larsen 7-4 — 19, Veach 0-0 — 0, Elder 0-0 — 0, Perez 1-0 — 2. TOTALS 12 FG, 4 FT.
EFFINGHAM (62)
Engel 2-0 — 5, Martin 3-4 — 10, Raddatz 4-0 — 10, Wolfe 7-3 — 17, Hayes 2-0 — 5, Wendling 0-0 — 0, Weis 3-0 — 6, Love 3-0 — 6, Braun 1-0 — 2, Ohnesorge 0-0 — 0, Martin 0-1 — 1. TOTALS 25 FG, 8 FT.
Mattoon 9 8 7 7 — 31
Effingham 10 27 18 7 — 62
3-point FG — Mattoon 3 (Westra 2, Larsen 1), Effingham 4 (Raddatz 2, Engel 1, Hayes 1).
At Highland
Nashville claimed a 50-43 victory over Teutopolis in the 39th Highland Tournament Monday evening.
Nashville ran out to a 15-5 opening quarter lead on the Wooden Shoes as five players scored. T-town had only one basket, a three-pointer by Sophia Martin, and Kelsey Niemerg connected on two free throws.
The Shoes got back on the scoring track with a 15-8 second quarter to pull within 23-20 at halftime. Niemerg scored seven points on three baskets and a free throw while Allie Ruholl put in two three-pointers and a free throw, also for seven.
Nashville then had a 10-8 third quarter to lead 33-30 going into the final period then finished with a 17-15 tally.
The Shoes were led by only one player in double figures. Niemerg hit five baskets and four of six from the free throw line for 14 points. Ruholl finished with nine. Malea Helmink led in rebounds with seven.
Other scores were Highland 56, Belleville Althoff 27, Glenwood 50, Lift For Life 47 and Edwardsville won over Okawville, but no score was listed.
Highland Tournament
TEUTOPOLIS (43)
J. Gaddis 0-3 — 3, Helmink 3-0 — 6, Martin 2-0 — 6, Niemerg 5-4 — 14, An. Probst 2-0 — 5, Ruholl 3-1 — 9, Tegeler 0-0 — 0. TOTALS 15 FG, 8 FT.
NASHVILLE (50)
Brinkmann 5-2 — 12, Schmalt 1-2 — 4, Brinkmann 5-7 — 18, Stiegman 1-2 — 4, Schoenberg 0-2 — 2, K. Schoenberg 0-0 — 0, Gajeuski 3-4 — 10. TOTALS 15 FG, 19 FT.
Teutopolis 5 15 8 15 — 43
Nashville 15 8 10 17 — 50
3-point FG — Teutopolis 5 (Martin 2, A. Ruholl 2, An. Probst 1), Nashville 1 (Brinkmann 1).
At Marshall
Newton picked up a victory in the Little Illini Conference Tournament Monday evening.
The Eagles defeated Casey-Westfield, 56-36 with a big 24-8 opening quarter lead.
Newton led 33-21 at halftime.
Alani Bergbower connected on six field goals, three from beyond the arc, and a free throw to lead the Eagles with 16 points. Also in double figures were Izzy Meinhart with 13 on five field goals, three of those three-pointers and Allie Hermann with 11.
Claire Probst led in rebounds with 10 while Hermann had six. Meinhart and Grace Schumacher had four steals each. Probst led in assists with five.
Newton improves to 14-8 on the season and will be back in action Thursday, playing for the consolation championship against Lawrenceville who was a 40-30 winner over Marshall in the second game of the evening Monday.
Tonight’s games feature Paris against Robinson at 6 and Mount Carmel facing Olney at 7:30. The winners advance to the championship game Friday at 7:30 p.m. while the losers will play for third place at 6.
At Marshall
NEWTON (56)
Bergbower 6-1 — 16, Meinhart 5-0 — 13, Hermann 4-3 — 11, G. Schumacher 3-1 — 7, Probst 1-3 — 5, Brummer 2-0 — 4. TOTALS 21 FG, 8 FT.
CASEY-WESTFIELD (36)
Moore 9-0 — 21, C. Taylor 2-0 — 6, Gilbertt 2-0 — 5, G. Taylor 2-0 — 4. TOTALS 15 FG, 0 FT.
Newton 24 9 8 15 — 56
Casey-Westfield 8 13 12 3 — 36
3-point FG — Newton 6 (Bergbower 3, Meinhart 3), Casey-Westfield 6 (Moore 3, C. Taylor 2, Gilbertt 1)