Published on January 26, 2026 7:01 am
Last Updated on January 26, 2026 7:04 am
BY MILLIE LANGE
Effingham High School won the Vandalia Girls High School Basketball Tournament championship Friday with a 44-28 win over Salem.
The Hearts moved into a 13-7 opening quarter lead against Salem as Alyssa Martin connected on two baskets and two free throws for six points while Averie Wolfe hit a three.
The Hearts led 20-13 at halftime as scoring slowed down.
In the third quarter EHS had a 12-8 run. Wolfe put in a two-pointer, a three-pointer and a free throw for six and Martin added on four more points.
EHS finished with a 10-6 final period.
Martin was the lone EHS player in double digits with 13 on four field goals and five free throws.
The third place game went to Wesclin over Hillsboro, 44-32. Fifth place went to Mattoon over Vandalia, 55-37. The seventh place contest was claimed by Greenville over Mascoutah, 51-36.
Named To the all-tournament Team were Averie Wolf (Effingham), Alyssa Martin (Effingham) Jordan Kessler (Salem), Ollie Whitehead (Vandalia) and Mara Wessel (Wesclin). Wolfe was named the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament.
Vandalia Tournament
Championship
EFFINGHAM (44)
Engel 2-0 — 4, Martin 4-5 — 13, Raddatz 2-0 — 6, Wolfe 4-2 — 13, Weis 1-0 — 2, Love 3-0 — 6. TOTALS 16 FG, 7 FT.
SALEM (28)
Benjamin 0-0 — 0, Setters 0-0 — 0, Johnson 1-1 — 3, Smith 0-1 — 1, J. Kessler 7-0 — 15, Laver 1-0– 2, Delaney 0-0 — 0, Eagan 3-1 — 7. TOTALS 12 FG, 3 FT.
Effingham 13 9 12 10 — 44
Salem 7 6 8 7 — 28
3-point FG — Effingham 5 (Wolfe 3, Raddatz 2), Salem 1 (Kessler 1).