The Effingham Hearts continue to be one of the surprise teams early in the season.

The Hearts, after winning just three games all of last year, notched their third win already at home Tuesday night.

Cannon Bockhorn hit a big three-pointer to help force overtime and Jake Niebrugge then scored five points in the extra period to help Effingham post a thrilling 66-63 victory over Mattoon.

The game was close, but the Hearts trailed throughout. The Green Wave led 16-13 after the first quarter, 34-28 at intermission and 48-40 entering the final period. But Niebrugge scored five points, Cole Phillips four and Bockhorn drilled the crucial three to help EHS outscore Mattoon 19-11 and knot the game at 59-59.

In the overtime, Niebrugge connected on a shot from behind the arc and made a pair of foul shots, and Phillips added a jumper, as the Hearts outscored the Green Wave 7-4.

EHS had four players in double figures. Niebrugge, just a sophomore, led all scorers with 20 points, while Phillips had 12, and Brady McDaniel and Jude Traub both added 10.

The Hearts improved to 3-5 overall and 2-0 in the Apollo Conference. They will be back in action Friday with another home conference game. They will host Mahomet-Seymour.