The Taylorville Tornados scored the final nine points of the game Thursday night to come away with a 67-57 overtime win at Effingham.

Effingham’s Jude Traub made a last-second 35-footer to tie the game, 56-56, and force the extra session.

But in the OT, it was all Taylorville. Drake Howard scored in the opening seconds to put the Tornados on top to stay. Cannon Bockhorn hit a free throw to get the Hearts within 58-57, but they were unable to make any shots and didn’t score again.

The Hearts looked to be in control midway through the fourth quarter. Two baskets by Nolan Fearday and another by Jake Niebrugge had EHS on top, 53-45.

But Howard then connected on a three-pointer and three straight turnovers by the Hearts resulted in scores for Taylorville. After Baron Odom converted the final one into a bucket, the Tornados were on top, 54-53, with 1:07 to play. A free throw by Malique Pearse made it a three-point spread, 56-53, with only 2.6 seconds to go.

But the Hearts set up a play that got Traub a look from at least 35 feet away. His shot swished through the net as the buzzer sounded, sending the game into overtime.

It was a close game all the way. Effingham had leads of 9-8 after the first quarter and 24-20 at intermission. An 8-0 run at the end of the third period – five points from Niebrugge, including a three-point play, and a shot from behind the arc by Traub, expanded the Hearts lead to 44-35. But a three – again at the buzzer – by Howard got the Tornados within 44-38 heading into the final eight minutes.

“We battled and gave good effort, but it’s disappointing when you feel like you gave the game away,” EHS coach Mack Thompson said. “Our execution just has to be better. We were too careless with the basketball. You just can’t turn the ball over 18 times and expect to win. We simply gave up too many easy transition baskets.”

Howard finished with a game-high 21 points for the Tornadoes, who improved to 9-8 overall and 4-2 in the Apollo Conference. They also avenged an earlier 50-46 loss to Effingham.

Effingham dipped to 6-12 overall and 2-3 in the league. They will return to action Saturday, playing again at home, against Mt. Zion.