Hearts Get First Conference Girls Win by Defeating the Conference Champ; Other Thursday Scores

It's been an interesting season for the Effingham Lady Hearts. Thursday night's 45-38 win over the Salem Lady Wildcats was the first Apollo Conference win of the season for the Lady Hearts, and they got it against the conference leader.

Strange, too, that the Lady Hearts posted their 14th win of the season, but just their first in the always-tough Apollo.

Effingham led most of the game, but it was never anything other than a nail-biter. The Lady Hearts fell behind early, but then regrouped to lead 11-10 after one quarter. They were up 24-23 at halftime and were ahead 32-30 after three quarters. Effingham held off Salem with a 13-8 advantage in the final quarter to post the seven-point win.

The Hearts made 16 of 40 shots, 40%, and made 11 of 18 foul shots for 61%. Effingham turned the ball over 13 times, but grabbed 35 rebounds and made two of 10 three-point shots.

Salem made just 25% of its shots, 13 of 52, including one of 15 three-point tries. The Wildcats made 11 of 16 foul shots, turned the ball over just six times, and pulled down 28 rebounds.

Jantzen Michael struggled from the field, but still led Effingham with 12 points and had a double-double with 10 rebounds. Freshman Shelby Myers had a big game with 10 points and eight rebounds. Combine Myers' totals with those of Maddy Field who had seven points and four rebounds and Effingham finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds by their two bigs. That offset the game by Salem junior Dearria Watson, who finished with 17 points and nine rebounds.

Also for Effingham: Aly Armstrong had eight points including some key baskets, Marranda Steffen six, and Shelby Nunamaker two.

Effingham moved back over the .500 mark with the win to 14-13 on the season with one more conference game remaining against Taylorville.

Salem slipped to 19-7 with the loss.

Salem won the JV game 47-35. For Effingham, Taylor Conkling had 10 points and Taylor Crowell had seven.

At Effingham

SALEM (38)

Sh. Holst 1-0 -- 3, Geurin 0-0 -- 0, Hood 2-0 -- 4, Sy. Holst 0-0 -- 0, Baer 2-3 -- 7, Beer 2-2 -- 6, Watson 6-5 -- 17, Sager 0-1 -- 1. TOTALS 13 FG, 11 FT.

EFFINGHAM (45)

Michael 3-6 -- 12, Beals 0-0 -- 0, Armstrong 3-0 -- 8, Steffen 1-4 -- 6, Webster 0-0 -- 0, Nunamaker 1-0 -- 2, Crowell 0-0 -- 0, Field 3-1 -- 7, Barr 0-0 -- 0, Myers 5-0 -- 10. TOTALS 16 FG, 11 FT.

Salem                  10    13    7       8    --    38

Effingham           11    13    8    13    --    45

3-point FG -- Salem 1 (Sh. Holst 1), Effingham 2 (Armstrong 2).

Here's a look at the Thursday night scores:

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL

Effingham 45, Salem 38

Neoga 71, Dieterich 43

Newton 65, Casey-Westfield 45

Taylorville 69, Mattoon 56

Pana 54, Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City 31

St. Anthony 41, Brownstown/St. Elmo 35

Christ Our Rock Lutheran 63, Altamont 29

Wayne City 35, South Central 23

Marshall 59, Robinson 26

Martinsville 32, Cumberland 24

Charleston 66, Mount Zion 62

Carlinville 50, Vandalia 37

Flora 65, Red HIll (Bridgeport) 37

Tuscola 39, Meridian 34

Villa Grove/Heritage 38, Oblong 37

Central A&M 92, Shelbyville 27

Sullivan 61, Clinton 41

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL

Class 8-1A Palestine Regional Championship

Sigel St. Michael 35, Hutsonville 27

Class 8-2A St. Elmo/Brownstown Regional Championship

St. Anthony 49, St. Elmo/Brownstown 31

Class 8-2A Raymond Lincolnwood Regional Championship

Nokomis 48, Cowden-Herrick 29

Class 8-3A Robinson Nuttall Regional Championship

Red Hill (Bridgeport) 50, Robinson Nuttall 35

Class 8-3A Shelbyville Moulton Regional Championship

Teutopolis 38, Shelbyville Moulton 25