It’s hard to win basketball games when you don’t score points.

But it’s hard to score points when the ball isn’t going through the hoop.

And when a team shoots just 32 percent, the ball isn’t going through the hoop often enough.

The Effingham Lady Hearts experienced that Tuesday night.

The Lady Hearts made just 13-of-40 shots, en route to a disappointing 52-37 setback at Highland.

Effingham did hold a 10-7 lead after the first eight minutes, but the host Lady Bulldogs outscored the Lady Hearts 30-18 over the middle two quarters to take a 37-30 lead into the final period. EHS then managed to score just nine points and Highland was able to extend the lead and finish with the 15-point victory.

On a team loaded with scorers, only Bria Beals was in double figures with 14 points. Alyssa Martin scored nine, but nobody else had more than five.

The Lady Hearts are now 7-2 after dropping their second straight game. They will play an Apollo Conference game Thursday at Mattoon.

Cannon Bockhorn and Cole Phillips combined to score 21 points in the second half Thursday night, helping the Effingham Hearts come from behind and earn a 50-46 victory at Taylorville in the Apollo Conference opener for both teams.

The Hearts trailed 21-12 at halftime. But Bockhorn knocked down three shots from behind the arc and Phillips added five points, as Effingham went on a 20-14 run in the third quarter to close to within 35-32.

In the final eight minutes, KJ Kellams scored five points, Phillips added four and Brady McDaniel hit a big three, as the Hearts completed the comeback, outscoring the host Tornadoes 18-11.

Phillips finished with a game-high 13 points, while Bockhorn scored 12 and Kellams added 10.

The Hearts improved to 2-4 overall and 1-0 in the conference. They will now compete in the Marion Shootout on Saturday. They are scheduled to face Carbondale at 3 p.m.

After experiencing their first loss of the season, the Effingham Lady Hearts responded in a big way.

The Lady Hearts built an early double-digit lead and were never challenged, cruising to a 62-21 victory at home Saturday over North Clay.

Alyssa Martin scored 10 points in the first quarter, helping Effingham take a 21-9 lead. It was Averie Wolfe’s turn in the second quarter. The junior point guard knocked down a three-pointer and scored nine points, helping EHS outscore North Clay 15-3 and take a 36-12 lead to the locker room at halftime.

Wolfe finished with a game-high 15 points and Martin added 14.

The Lady Hearts, the top-ranked team in Class 3A, are now 7-1. They will play Tuesday at Highland.

The Effingham Lady Hearts battled back from a double-digit deficit and even led in the fourth period, but suffered their first loss of the season, dropping a 53-50 decision at home Thursday night to a talented Mt. Vernon team.

Unfortunately, the loss came on the same day Effingham found out it was ranked No. 1 in the first AP Class 3A poll of the season.

Effingham trailed by as many as 13 points in the second half, and were behind 42-31 entering the fourth quarter. But with Alyssa Martin scoring 13 points, the Lady Hearts came roaring back and even led on two occasions. But the Lady Rams were able to make enough plays down the stretch to pull out the win.

Josie Shirley knocked down three shots from long range in the first quarter, helping Mt. Vernon grab a 17-11 lead. The Lady Hearts, who struggled with their three-point shooting the entire game, got within 26-21 at halftime. The Lady Rams outscored EHS 16-10 in the third period to build the double-digit gap.

Kamaree Pollard scored a game-high 21 points for Mt. Vernon, who improved to 5-1 on the season. Melaina Zedalis added 14 and Shirley finished with 10.

Sydney Donaldson had a strong game for Effingham, finishing with 20 points. Martin added 16. The team made just 3-of-17 shots from three-point range.

The Lady Hearts, now 6-1, will host North Clay on Saturday.