The Effingham Lady Hearts are in hopes of adding their first regional championship since winning three straight in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

A year ago, the Lady Hearts reached the championship game of the Class 3A Mattoon Regional, but were defeated by the Lady Green Wave in a close game.

This year, EHS will enter as the No. 2 seed in the Salem Regional and play its opening game on Monday, Feb. 12. The Lady Hearts will face either Salem or Troy Triad at 6 p.m.

The regional championship is set for 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15.

The winner will advance to the Effingham Sectional. Regional winners from Charleston, Carbondale and Waterloo will also advance to the Effingham Sectional, which will begin on Tuesday, Feb. 20.

Here is the complete schedule for the Salem Regional.

Saturday, Feb. 10

Game 1 –1 p.m. – No. 7 Salem at No. 6 Troy Triad

Monday, Feb. 12

Game 2 – 6 p.m. – No. 2 Effingham vs. Winner Game 1

Game 3 – 7:30 p.m. – No. 3 Bethalto Civic Memorial vs. No. 5 Centralia

Friday, Feb. 17

Game 4 – 7 p.m. – Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3 (championship)

The Mattoon Green Wave jumped out to an early lead and went on to post a 73-51 victory Thursday night at Effingham.

Mattoon led 19-6 after the first period, increased its lead to 33-16 at intermission and took a 54-33 advantage into the final eight minutes.

Effingham had two players in double figures. Cannon Bockhorn scored 12 points and KJ Kellams added 11.

The Hearts dipped to 3-23 overall and 1-6 in the Apollo Conference. They will play at home again Saturday, hosting Mahomet-Seymour in another league contest.

For 16 minutes, the Effingham Hearts played right with Mahomet-Seymour.

But it was a different story in the second half.

The visiting Bulldogs knocked down six three-pointers in the third quarter to take control of the game. They outscored the Hearts 36-12 in that period, en route to a 79-46 victory.

Rylan Pals connected on a pair of shots from behind the arc and the Hearts made 8-of-10 free throws in the first eight minutes and were tied 16-16. KJ Kellams hit another three and Ethan Jones scored five points in the second quarter, and EHS trailed by just three, 29-26, at intermission.

But Mahomet-Seymour caught on fire in the third period. Jackson Bohn hit a three and scored 11 points and teammate Miles Woosley hit a pair of shots from long range and added 10 points, helping the Bulldogs go on the 36-12 run and build a 65-38 lead heading into the final quarter.

Bohn finished with 20 points and Woosley scored 14. Kellams and Hayden Wendling led Effingham with nine points each.

The Hearts dipped to 3-24 overall and 1-7 in the Apollo Conference. They will play Tuesday at Charleston.

The Effingham Lady Hearts jumped out to a quick lead and then rolled to a 52-22 victory at home Tuesday night over Charleston.

It was Senior Night at EHS. Rylea Hodge and Olivia Moser, the two seniors on the squad, were recognized.

Averie Wolfe knocked down a three-pointer and scored seven points in the opening period, helping the Lady Hearts build a 16-7 lead. It was a 24-16 halftime advantage.

Effingham broke the game open in the third quarter. Bella Austin connected on a pair of shots from behind the arc and Sidney Donaldson also scored six points, as the Lady Hearts went on a 17-3 run to expand the gap to 41-19 heading in to the final eight minutes.

EHS had three players in double figures. Alyssa Martin and Wolfe both scored 11 points and Austin added 10.

The Lady Hearts improved to 24-4 overall and 6-3 in the Apollo. They will be back in action next Wednesday, Feb. 7, playing at home against Olney.