The Mt. Zion Braves are the real deal.
And they show it Friday night.
The Braves used a 25-7 scoring advantage in the second period to gain control, en route to a 69-27 victory at home over Effingham.
Mt. Zion is now 16-0 overall and 4-0 in Apollo Conference play.
Three-pointers by Cannon Bockhorn, KJ Kellams and Ryan Pals in the opening quarter helped the Hearts stay within 17-9. But Mt. Zion’s Lyncoln Koester knocked down a trio of shots from behind the arc and scored 13 of his game-high 18 points in the second period, as the Braves increased their advantage to 42-16 at intermission.
Heading into the final eight minutes, the hosts were on top, 57-19.
Pals led Effingham with nine points.
The Hearts are now 2-15 overall and 1-4 in the Apollo. They will be back in action tonight (Saturday) with a game at Robinson.
By Steve Raymond
ET Sports Report
The Olney (East Richland) Tigers are considered one of the top teams in the area and they showed why Tuesday night.
They knocked down four three-pointers in the opening period, built an early double-digit lead and were never threatened, finishing with a 52-26 victory at Effingham.
Ian Winkler connected on three of those shots from behind the arc and scored 13 points in the first eight minutes.
Olney held a slim 7-5 lead midway through that first quarter. But a three by Colby Redman sparked a scoring run. Winkler added two threes, including one in the final seconds, giving the Tigers a 20-7 advantage.
“Olney presents a big challenge because they have so many weapons,” said EHS coach Obie Farmer. “They have shooters and slashers, plus the big kid in the middle. They move the ball well and have a great knack for the game.
“They’re like a whack-a-mole,” Farmer added. “You take away one scorer and another one pops up.”
A jumper by Ethan Jones to open the second period got the Hearts within 11 points, but they never got any closer the rest of the way. Another three by Redman gave the Tigers a 17-point cushion, 30-13. It was a 16-point spread, 32-16, at intermission.
Belvidere jumped out to a double-digit lead Saturday morning and went on to defeat Effingham, 59-46, in the tournament finale for both teams.
Belvidere finished 1-3, while the Hearts were 0-4 during the three days of the Effingham-Teutopolis Christmas Classic.
The Bucs built a 20-7 lead after the opening eight minutes. It was 30-16 at halftime and 46-26 heading into the fourth quarter.
Jason Dean led Belvidere with 13 points, while Demetrious Taborn added 11.
Effingham’s Nolan Fearday had game-high scoring honors with 14 points and Hayden Wendling chipped in with 12.
The Hearts are now 2-14 on the season. They will return to action on January 2 with a home game against Olney.
The Effingham Lady Hearts used a 29-12 scoring surge in the middle two quarters Tuesday night to pull away for a 51-26 win at Newton.
EHS held a 12-6 lead after the opening period, but then built leads of 22-9 at halftime and 41-18 at the end of the third quarter.
Averie Wolfe connected on four shots from behind the arc and scored 14 points to lead the Lady Hearts in scoring. Olivia Moser was also in double figures with 10 points.
Effingham improved to 15-3 on the season. The Lady Hearts will return to action Saturday at home. They will host Mt. Zion in an Apollo Conference contest.
By Steve Raymond
ET Sports Report
The Effingham Lady Hearts saved their best for last.
After what coach Jeff Schafer described as three “so-so” performances, the Lady Hearts turned in a near-flawless first half performance Friday night, built a sizeable lead and rolled to a 59-34 victory over Mattoon in the championship game of the Coles County Holiday Tournament.
Within three minutes to the opening tip, EHS was in control of the game.
Sidney Donaldson sparked the 22-5 run with a three-pointer from the wing. She added a free and another shot from long range, plus Averie Wolfe, after being fouled on a three-point attempt, made all three free throws, giving Effingham a 14-6 lead midway through the first period.
After a Mattoon free throw, Alyssa Martin hit back-to-back jumpers Olivia Moser grabbed an offensive rebound and scored and Bria Beals knocked down a three to make it 23-7.
Bella Masse and Kameron Lathrop both scored for the Lady Green Wave, but Beals drilled a three at the buzzer, giving the Lady Hearts a 26-11 advantage after the first eight minutes.
“We got off to a great start,” Schafer admitted. “I think we were focused and ready to compete. During our pre-game talk, we discussed competing. Mattoon plays with a little chip and likes to compete. I didn’t think we competed very well the first time we played them this year (a 63-52 loss early in December).
“We moved the ball, got everybody involved, got good shots and knocked them down,” Schafer added. “And we had different people making those shots. We were patient, made good decisions and made the right plays.”
The Lady Hearts didn’t let up in the second quarter. Baskets by Bella Austin and Donaldson made it a 20-point spread, 33-13. Saige Althoff and Beals scored on back-to-back possessions to make it a 21-point lead before Mattoon’s Ava Larson scored in the final seconds to make it a 39-20 score at halftime.
“That’s one of the best halves of basketball we’ve played this year,” Schafer said.
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