The Apollo Conference has released the names of the girls selected to the 2019-2020 all-conference team.
The Effingham Lady Hearts were represented by freshman Annie Frost, who was named to the second team.
Conference champion Mattoon had two girls on the first team. The Lady Green Wave finished with a perfect 12-0 league record. Mt. Zion was runner-up at 10-2, followed by Lincoln at 6-6, Mahomet-Seymour 5-7, Effingham 4-8, Charleston 3-9 and Taylorville 2-10.
Here are the girls selected:
First Team – Mallory Ramage (Mattoon), Shae Littleford (Charleston), Lanie Wolter (Mt. Zion), Leah Schneider (Taylorville) and Delainey Bryant (Mattoon).
Second Team – Annie Frost (Effingham), Haylee Sagle (Taylorville), Emma Ewing (Mt. Zion), Nichole Taylor (Mahomet-Seymour) and Madelyn Koehler (Lincoln).
Despite playing without leading scorer Parker Wolfe, the Effingham Flaming Hearts gave Marion all it could handle Tuesday night.
But the Wildcats got 44 points from Jackson Connor and were able to rally for a 74-69 win at home.
The Hearts, led by Drew Thompson’s 16 points, had a 32-27 lead at intermission.
But Connor then exploded for 16 points in the third quarter, helping Marion go on a 26-16 spurt and take a 53-48 edge into the final eight minutes.
Drew Thompson tallied 16 points in the fourth period, but Connor scored 11 more, helping the Wildcats secure the win and improve to 20-9 on the season.
Drew Thompson made six 3-pointers and finished with a season-high 36 points. Brayden Pals scored nine and Nate Thompson added eight. Wolfe missed the game due to illness.
The Hearts, now 17-12, will conclude their regular season at home Friday night against Taylorville. Effingham will then host a Class 3A Regional and play Wednesday at 7 p.m. against Centralia.
It was an unusual game in Mattoon Friday night.
The Effingham Hearts led by 15 points, then trailed and ultimately came back to win the game.
A seldom-used junior came through with some big points.
And if EHS Coach Obie Farmer handed out a game ball, it just might have gone to a local doctor.
By the way, the Hearts posted a 69-58 Apollo Conference victory.
Effingham got off to a terrific start. Parker Wolfe knocked down a trio of 3-pointer and scored 11 points, while Drew Thompson hit a pair from long range and netted eight points. As a result, the Hearts led by as many as 15 points in the opening period.
Late in the quarter, Wolfe was injured after a drive to the basket and a hard fall on his tailbone. He didn’t return until the third period.
The Hearts led 24-13 after eight minutes, but the Green Wave started their comeback after that. They outscored EHS 13-7 in the second quarter and 22-18 in the third period to get within 49-48.
Effingham will be one of the sites for a Class 3A regional next week.
Carbondale, Olney and Centralia will join the Hearts in the four-team tourney.
Games are scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.
Carbondale is seeded second in the regional complex, while Centralia is third, Effingham fifth and Olney sixth.
The winner of the Effingham Regional will advance to the Mt. Vernon Sectional. They will be joined by the regional winners from Troy Triad, Marion and Taylorville.
Here is the Effingham Regional schedule:
Tuesday, March 3
7 p.m. – Carbondale vs. Olney
Wednesday, March 4
7 p.m. – Centralia vs. Effingham
Friday, March 7
7 p.m. – Regional Championship
The Effingham Hearts made a strong comeback Tuesday night, but it fell short, as Mt. Vernon hung on to post a 69-63 victory at home.
“We started off slow,” EHS coach Obie Farmer said. “We took a lot of perimeter shots that didn’t fall and Mt. Vernon shot well. They capitalized on our quick possessions and missed attempts.”
As a result, the Hearts found themselves trailing 16-3 after the opening eight minutes. But they didn’t quit playing.
Drew Thompson knocked down a trio of 3-pointers in the second period and EHS trimmed the margin to 10 points, 33-23, by intermission. Parker Wolfe then poured in 12 third-quarter points and the Hearts were within 52-43 heading to the fourth period.
With Wolfe and Drew Thompson both scoring nine more in the final quarter, the Hearts managed to tie the game in the final minute.
“But we made a few mistakes down the stretch that gave them the lead back,” Farmer noted.
Wolfe and Drew Thompson combined to score 51 of the team’s points, with Wolfe finishing with 28 and Thompson adding 23 more. Jackson Creel led the Rams with 19 points.
“We were down 17 on multiple occasions in the game and our guys never quit,” Farmer said. “Even when we have some adversity, we just keep playing, and many times, that tenacity works out in our favor.”
The Hearts, now 16-11, will return home Friday to face Mattoon in an Apollo Conference matchup.
Mt. Vernon also won the junior varsity game, 68-63 in overtime. The Hearts outscored the Rams 23-16 in the fourth quarter to force the extra period. Max Woelfer led EHS with 20 points, while Jeff Volpi scored 19 and Max Hardiek added 10.
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