Basketball

By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

Yes, every coach draws up X’s and O’s and expects their players to run those specific plays and either score at one end or prevent a score at the other.

But more often than not, it’s the intangibles they talk about when the game is over. Things like hustle, energy and effort.

Such was the case Thursday night.

Effingham Coach Jeff Schafer did mention specific plays he ran for Annie Frost, Meredith Schaefer and Taylor Armstrong at the offensive end that resulted in key baskets for the Lady Hearts. And he noted how changing to a 2-3 zone seemed to get Mahomet-Seymour out of rhythm.

But he mostly wanted to talk about his team’s intensity.

He believed that was the key to the Lady Hearts’ 48-42 Apollo Conference victory at home – a game almost nobody expected them to win.

He also believes that a lack of intensity was the key to his team’s 51-48 loss just three nights earlier to Taylorville – a game almost nobody expected them to lose.

Taylorville tried slowing the game way down Tuesday night, but not even that tactic could prevent the Effingham Flaming Hearts from notching their 10th victory and remaining undefeated.

Despite the slowdown, especially in the first half, the Hearts still led throughout, finishing with a 56-43 victory at home.

“They tried to play keep-away a little bit,” EHS coach Obie Farmer said. “They ran two or three minutes off the clock each possession and tried to hold the ball for the last shot a lot. It worked out in our favor, though, because they either ended up taking a bad shot or they turned the ball over and we got layups. It didn’t help them score at all.”

The Tornados were extremely patient in the first half, but Effingham still had a 22-11 advantage at intermission. The pace picked up in the second half, but the Hearts were never seriously threatened.

“It doesn’t matter if we win by 20, 13, 100 or 1. A win is a win,” Farmer said. “Our kids kept their heads in the game and played the way they needed to be successful. They executed well and took care of the ball.”

By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

Just too much firepower.

That’s what St. Anthony coach Cody Rincker said Saturday night following the Bulldogs clash with crosstown rival Effingham.

“I feel like this was a game of runs,” Rincker noted. “They would get up by double digits and then we’d close in. But they just have more firepower than we do. We could never crawl back and get even.”

Rincker’s description of the game was spot-on.

The Hearts led for all but one 60-second stretch early in the opening period. That lead ballooned to double digits on multiple occasions, only to see the Bulldogs fight back.

But in the end, it was the Hearts who captured bragging rights for this year after posting a 75-54 decision at The Enlow Center.

“Anytime we play St. Anthony, it doesn’t matter who is favored or who has been playing well,” EHS coach Obie Farmer said. “This crosstown rivalry is always the equalizer. The kids know each other and they bring a lot of energy. I’m just happy to get out of here with a win.”

But despite leading virtually the entire way, that win was not secured until the fourth quarter.

Haylee Sagle pumped in 20 second half points Monday night, helping the Taylorville Lady Tornados rally and post a 51-48 victory at Effingham.

The Lady Hearts held a double-digit lead in the first half, but Sagle, who had a game-high 27 points, helped Taylorville stage a comeback in the final two quarters to get the Apollo Conference victory.

The first half, however, was a different story. The Lady Hearts got a pair of three-pointers from Meredith Schaefer and built an 18-8 lead after the opening eight minutes and still led 26-17 at intermission.

Taylor Armstrong scored eight points in the third quarter, but the Lady Hearts only had 10 total and Taylorville was able to close to within 36-32. Sagle then tallied 12 points in the final period to help the Lady Tornados complete the comeback.

Armstrong finished with 14 points and Schaefer added 12 for EHS.

The Lady Hearts dropped to 3-6 overall and 3-5 in league play. They are scheduled to play two more home games this week -- Thursday against Mahomet-Seymour and Saturday against Mt. Zion.

By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

The last time the Effingham Hearts traveled to Mt. Zion, they came home very disappointed.

It was just about 13 months ago -- January 31, 2020 -- and a game the Hearts were supposed to win. Instead, they relied too heavily on the three-point shot, went 0-for-15 from that range in the second half, and dropped a 50-44 decision.

The Hearts had a chance to avenge that loss Friday night and let’s just say the ride home was much more enjoyable this time.

Effingham got the ball inside repeatedly, built an early lead and rolled to a 69-46 win that kept them unbeaten on the season.

“Last year’s game was a motivator for us,” EHS coach Obie Farmer said. “The kids played poorly, lost a game they should have won and took it personally.

“But that loss actually made us better,” Farmer added. “That’s when we started to evolve, especially on offense. They realized we had to have more options on offense than just shooting the three. Since that game, we have gotten better as players, as coaches and as a team.”