It was a close game the first eight minutes. Cannon Bockhorn and Cole Phillips both hit jumpers late in the opening quarter, getting Effingham to within 9-7.

The second quarter proved to be decisive.

Sam Link hit a pair of free throws, Miles Waldhoff added a bucket and Ryan Schmidt drilled a three-pointer to spark a 7-0 St. Anthony run to start the second period.

After a three-pointer from Effingham’s Jude Traub, Will Fearday responded with a three of his own and Brock Fearday added a jumper. Maddox Wiedman then connected from long range to complete the 15-4 run and expand the Bulldogs’ advantage to double digits, 24-11.

It was still a 13-point gap at intermission, 29-16.

“I really liked the energy that both Maddox and Miles played with tonight off the bench,” Rincker noted. “They are making the most of their opportunities. We’re going to need both of those guys all year.”

The Hearts opened the second half with baskets from Phillips and Jake Niebrugge to get within nine points. Twice, after a bucket by Bockhorn and free throws from Nolan Fearday, Effingham cut it to eight, the final time being 34-26 at the 3:36 mark.

But Wiedman and Link hit a pair of free throws and Waldhoff made a shot from long range – all in the final 90 seconds -- sending the Bulldogs into the fourth quarter with a 45-30 edge.

“When we cut into their lead, we needed to find ways to get a couple stops and then get back at it offensively,” Thompson said. “We just weren’t able to do that.”

Schmidt hit a three and Keenan Griffith converted an EHS turnover into a basket to open the final eight minutes, making it a 20-point bulge. The Hearts were unable to get closer than 17 the rest of the way, while the biggest lead of the game was 57-35 after a three-pointer by Will Fearday.

“I thought we played hard and with purpose tonight,” Thompson said. “We didn’t let their press bother us, so we didn’t have as many turnovers. I liked seeing that.

“St. Anthony is a very good team,” Thompson added. “They have a lot of guys that can shoot, they’re aggressive and they take care of the ball. They don’t beat themselves.”

Bockhorn led the EHS scoring attack with nine points, while Niebrugge and Phillips both finished with seven. The Hearts shot 33 percent overall, connecting on 13-of-39 attempts. They were 3-for-11 from three-point range and 13-for-23 at the foul line.

Schmidt led all scorers with 18 points, while Brock Fearday turned in his third straight double-double to open the season, finishing with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Both players were named to the all-tournament team.

“That’s who those two need to be for us,” Rincker said. “They are going to need to score, and between the two of them, I’d like to see 20 rebounds or close to that every game. So far in this tournament, Brock has been a horse on the boards.”

The Bulldogs shot 48 percent from the floor, making 21-of-44 attempts. They were 7-for-22 from behind the arc and 10-of-12 from the foul line.

With the win, St. Anthony faced Breese Center in the third place game, while the Hearts battled Robinson in the seventh place contest. Both of those contests were played Saturday night.