Meredith Schaefer sparked the second half scoring after being held to just a single free throw in the first 16 minutes. She knocked down a pair from behind the arc and added a basket after grabbing an offensive rebound, and Ella Niebrugge added another from long range, helping EHS go on an 11-4 run and open a double-digit lead, 24-13.

It was a nine-point game, 26-17, heading into the final period.

Schaefer hit another three, plus two more jumpers, and Madison Mapes added a bucket, helping the Lady Hearts open their largest lead of the game, 36-21.

“We weathered the storm,” Schafer said. “That’s a credit to our defense. I was definitely disappointed with the number of turnovers we had and the fact we didn’t take care of the basketball. But I’m proud of the girls for continuing to play hard on defense. That was the difference in the game.”

Schaefer led the team with 18 points, scoring 17 of those in the second half. Niebrugge finished with seven. The Lady Hearts, after shooting an ice cold 17 percent in the first two quarters, finished at 33 percent, making 14-of-43 attempts overall. They were 5-for-18 from three-point range and 5-of-9 from the foul line. Allie pulled down a game-high seven rebounds, helping EHS to a 22-13 edge on the boards.

Effingham, which improved to 15-6 on the season, will now play Mascoutah for the championship of the five-team round robin event. Both teams are now 3-0 in the tourney. That game will be played at 6 p.m. Friday.