Back-to-back turnovers by Effingham were converted into baskets by Mason Redfern and Tyler Oakley to open the final eight minutes. After a bucket by Jude Traub had the Hearts within 33-28, Charleston scored the next seven points, capped by a bucket by Oakley after grabbing an offensive rebound. That gave the Trojans a 40-28 advantage with 3:27 remaining.

“After we tied it, we had a wide open three and then a layup that could have put us ahead,” Thompson noted. “You have to hit big shots and we just didn’t do it. After that, things kind of snowballed on us.”

Traub, Jake Niebrugge and Brady McDaniel each scored to get Effingham within 40-34 with 1:26 to play, but Oakley made 7-of-8 free throws in the final 60 seconds to help the Trojans expand their lead and secure the win.

The Hearts never led in the game. A three-pointer by Ian Kinkelaar had them within 8-7 after the opening eight minutes.

Charleston stretched the margin to 16-9 two minutes into the second quarter, but another shot from the behind the arc by Kinkelaar, a free throw by Traub and a bucket by Max Buzzard helped EHS tie the game 19-19. The Trojans scored the final five points, however, to take a 24-19 advantage to the locker room at halftime.

“These kids are extremely hard-working and very coachable,” Thompson said. “But we have to change the mentality here. They have to hate losing even more than they like winning. You have to have that mentality to compete at the 3A level. We’re not there yet.”

The Trojans, who improved to 12-20 and beat Effingham for the fourth time in five games this year, got a game-high 26 points from Oakley and 11 from Bonstetter. They shot 16-for-38 overall, a 42 percent clip. They were 4-for-14 from three-point range and 13-for-19 at the foul line.

Charleston will now face Centralia, the regional’s top seed, at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Effingham High School.

Kinkelaar and Niebrugge paced EHS with six points each, while Jones and Traub both scored five. The Hearts shot 43 percent overall, making 16-of-37 attempts. They were 3-for-11 from long range and 1-for-4 at the line.

The Hearts, who finished the season 7-25, will say goodbye to five seniors – KJ Kellams, Ethan Jones, Sam Spicer, Adam Flack and Rylan Pals.

“Final games are what always stinks about this time of year,” Thompson said. “These seniors have played for so many years. They came to practice, worked hard and never complained. They’re good kids and I love them to death. It’s tough being the last time to be with these guys. That’s never a good feeling.”

Now Thompson looks to the future of this program.

“We played a lot of young guys and played a lot of different combinations this season,” he noted. “I believe there is potential next year to cause damage. But we need to get stronger and more athletic. I think that can happen, especially if the kids are willing to work hard.”