For the second game in a row, the Effingham Hearts didn’t handle pressure well and gave up a big lead.

On Saturday afternoon, the Hearts saw a 17-point lead evaporate, but was rescued when Logan Heil hit a bucket with 11 seconds to play to give them a one-point win over Salem.

Later that same day, Effingham owned a seemingly comfortable 18-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. But, again, pressure defense resulted in numerous turnovers and allowed Champaign Central to snatch a victory from the jaws of defeat.

The Maroons held the Hearts scoreless in the final eight minutes. They went on an 18-0 scoring surge to tie the game and then finished the comeback by outscoring EHS 13-9 in overtime to post a 59-55 victory in the consolation championship of the Salem Invitational Basketball Tournament.

Until the fourth quarter, Effingham had led throughout.

Garrett Wolfe scored 11 first-quarter points, helping the Hearts go on top, 16-12. Wolfe knocked down two threes and netted eight more points in the second period. Andrew Donaldson and Andrew Splechter also connected on three-point shots and both scored five points, as EHS went on a 20-6 scoring run to open a 36-18 bulge at halftime.

It was still an 18-point spread, 46-28, heading into the final eight minutes. Champaign Central knocked down three shots from behind the arc to spark the 18-0 scoring spree in the fourth quarter to send the game to the overtime period.

In the extra session, the Maroons went 9-for-12 from the free throw line and got seven points from Landon Robinson. Wolfe had four points and Donaldson had another three, but it wasn’t enough.

Chris Bush scored 28 points for Champaign Central, who improved to 7-14 on the season.

Wolfe finished with 27 for the Hearts, while Donaldson added 10.

Effingham dipped to 9-15 for the year. The Hearts will travel to Hutsonville on Tuesday night.