Parker Wolfe and Nate Thompson combined for 40 points, with Wolfe finishing with 22 and Thompson adding 18. The pair poured in 25 of those in the second half. Thompson scored 10 points in the third period and Wolfe scored 10 in the final eight minutes.

The Hearts, ranked 10th in the Class 3A poll, made 24-of-51 shots overall, a 47 percent clip. They were 6-for-20 from long range and only 2-for-8 from the foul line. Effingham held a 24-21 rebounding advantage and turned the ball over nine times.

“All in all, it was a solid game for us,” Farmer noted. “If the game was played at our typical pace, or if we would have shot better, especially from the free throw line, it wouldn’t have been as close.

The Hearts improved to 10-0 overall and 7-0 in the Apollo Conference. They will play a key conference game at home Friday night against Mahomet-Seymour; and then face Mt. Zion, also at home, on Saturday.

“I’m anxious to get back in practice,” Farmer explained. “We need to get a little better and be ready for a very tough game Friday night. Mahomet is playing very well right now. They are a tough team to beat once, much less twice.”

The Hearts beat the Bulldogs