Chloe Probst made two more jumpers that started a 12-0 scoring spree. Malea Helmink scored on a put-back, Chloe Probst knocked down another three and Helmink completed the run with a three-point play. At the 2:42 mark, the five-point halftime lead had ballooned to 37-19.

Austin snapped the 4½-minute scoring drought for Effingham, but Kelsey Niemerg had a three-point play and Allie Ruholl converted an EHS turnover into a pair of free throws to make it a 21-point margin. After outscoring Effingham 21-6, the Lady Shoes headed into the final eight minutes with the scoreboard showing a 20-point spread, 43-23.

“We played okay the first half, but then we shot sloppy again,” Effingham coach Jeff Schafer said. “They made their shots and we didn’t.

“Defensively, they do a good job and challenge you,” Schafer added. “But our intensity just wasn’t there tonight and I don’t know why. We were standing around waiting for somebody to do something good, but nobody did. We just weren’t very good.”

Alyssa Martin hit a jumper to open the fourth quarter to get the Lady Hearts within 18, but Mollie Ruholl hit a three from the corner and Chloe Probst converted a turnover into a score, giving THS its largest lead of the game, 48-25. It never got closer than 18 points the rest of the way.

The first 16 minutes was a total reversal – the type of game most people thought it would be from beginning to end. Neither team led by more than three points until the final minute of the first half.

A basket by Austin and a three-point play by Tessa Raddatz gave the Lady Hearts an 11-9 lead after the first period.

The score was then tied three times in the second quarter. A pair of free throws by Bria Beals got the Lady Hearts even at 17-17. But a shot from behind the arc by Helmink and a jumper by Mollie Ruholl sent the Lady Shoes to the locker room with a 22-17 advantage at intermission.

“I thought we played okay the first half,” Schafer said. “We were only down five. We just didn’t do much the second half. I was proud of the girls. They kept playing hard, even when we were down by 20 points. We just didn’t have it tonight.”

Thompson thought the key was their defense. But not in the first quarter.

“I didn’t think our defense was good at all that first period,” Thompson admitted. “But in the second quarter, we started to lock down. Once we did that, we also started to settle down and played much better.

“I also thought our offense was better in the second half,” Thompson continued. “We mixed some things up and the girls responded. We made good cuts, took some nice jump shots – which I always like to see – and drove to the basket.”

The Lady Hearts didn’t have a player reach double figures. Austin, Beals and Raddatz each scored eight points. Overall, Effingham shot 32 percent from the floor, connecting on 13-of-41 attempts. They were 3-for-14 from long range and 7-for-7 at the foul line. They turned the ball over 16 times.

Chloe Probst scored a game-high 19 points for the Lady Shoes, while Helmink finished with 13. T-Town made 18-of-41 shots, a 44 percent clip. They were 5-for-17 from behind the arc and 13-for-18 at the line. They also held a 24-19 rebounding advantage, with Chloe Probst pulling down a game-high eight.

“Chloe is definitely our leader,” Thompson said. “She can get to the basket, make jump shots and shoot the three. When she has all that going, she’s tough to guard.”

The Lady Hearts dipped to 20-6 for the season. They will play today (Saturday) at Mahomet-Seymour. It will be a key Apollo Conference matchup. It will also be their third game in three days and fourth in five days.

“That’s just our schedule. We can’t feel sorry for ourselves,” Schafer said. “If we can win at Mahomet, we’ve got a good chance to win the conference.

The Lady Shoes are 19-6. They will now play again today (Saturday), traveling to Breese Central to face Class 2A’s top-ranked Lady Cougars.

“We’ll have a tough one,” Thompson admitted. “But these are the teams we want to play. They help us get ready for the postseason.”