Alyssa Martin started the surge with a short jumper and a free throw to tie the game. Averie Wolfe then converted an MSHS turnover into a three-pointer putting EHS on top to stay. Sydney Donaldson scored on back-to-back possessions, Tessa Raddatz connected on a shot from behind the arc and Martin scored again following another Lady Bulldog turnover.

With 1:33 to go in the period, the Lady Hearts now owned a 39-27 lead. It was still a 12-point bulge, 41-29, heading into the final eight minutes.

A bucket by Donaldson and a free throw by Wolfe increased the lead to 15 just 34 seconds into the fourth quarter. A little later, Wolfe made three more foul shots and Saige Althoff turned another Mahomet-Seymour miscue into a basket. With 4:16 to play in the game, Effingham had its largest lead of the game, 51-34.

But the Lady Bulldogs weren’t ready to stop playing. After making just 1-of-20 shots from three-point range in the first three periods, they suddenly started connecting.

Courtney Fonte and Gallier hit back-to-back threes. Hannah Creel added a shot from behind the arc and Gallier drilled two more from long range, including one in the final seconds, that accounted for the six-point margin.

“Our defensive focus was their three-point shooting,” Schafer noted. “I was a little disappointed we went for their shot fakes as often as we did, but overall, we did a good job switching on defense. We kept forcing them out further and further.

“We did get a little lax there at the end,” Schafer added. “Thankfully, we were up enough to withstand that.”

Neither team shot the ball well, especially in the first half. The Lady Hearts made just 9-of-27 shots, a cool 33 percent. Mahomet-Seymour shot even worse, connecting on only 9-of-31 attempts, an even cooler 29 percent clip.

For some reason, Effingham has had trouble making shots during the early part of the season.

“That has surprised me. I didn’t expect that from this group,” Schafer admitted. “I’ve told them to keep shooting, but take good shots.”

He used Raddatz as an example. The sophomore came in off the bench and made 3-of-5 shots, including 2-of-3 from long range.

“Tessa didn’t force any shots,” Schafer explained. “Her shots came in the flow of the offense. Amazing how that happens.”

A steal and basket by Bria Beals at the end of the opening quarter gave the Lady Hearts a 12-11 edge. A three by Wolfe and a short jumper by Martin made it a six-point lead, 17-11. The gap grew to seven, 22-15, but Gallier and Waldinger hit shots in the final minute to close the margin to 22-19 at intermission.

Gallier finished with a game-high 21 points for the Lady Bulldogs, who dipped to 6-4 overall and 2-1 in league play. Waldinger added 16.

For the game, Mahomet-Seymour shot 34 percent, connecting on 19-of-55 total shots. They were 7-for-32 from three-point range and 9-for-10 from the foul line.

The Lady Hearts had three players in double figures. Martin led the way with 16 points, while Wolfe scored 13 and Donaldson added 10.

Effingham shot 54 percent in the second half to finish at 43 percent overall. They made 22-of-51 attempts, including 4-of-17 from behind the arc. They struggled at the free throw line, too. They shot just 50 percent, converting only 12-of-24 foul shots.

The Lady Hearts improved to 9-2 overall and 3-0 in the Apollo. They will play two more games at home next week. They will host Charleston on Monday in another conference game and then welcome St. Anthony on Thursday.