Two Big Wins Saturday Give Hearts Salem Consolation Championship

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Published on January 23 2016 10:51 pm
Last Updated on January 25 2016 7:53 am
Written by Greg Sapp

The Effingham Hearts put together two great performances on Saturday to capture the consolation championship of the 65th Annual Salem Invitational Tournament.

Effingham defeated Andrews Osborne Academy Saturday afternoon 63-31 and then clobbered Mattoon Saturday night 74-33. Both games were heard on KJ Country 102.3 and www.kjcountry.com

The Hearts displayed a combination of potent offense and stingy defense in both games.

In the afternoon contest, Effingham was up 19-12 after one quarter before outscoring the Phoenix 22-10 in the second quarter to lead at the break 41-22. A 12-4 third quarter edge put the Hearts up 53-26 and Effingham outscored Andrews Osborne Academy 10-5 in the fourth quarter to win the game by 32 points.

Effingham shot 48% from the field on 25 of 52 shooting including 6 of 20 threes. The Hearts made six of nine foul shots, turned the ball over 10 times and pulled down 31 rebounds.

Andrews Osborne Academy was held to 28% shooting from the field and turned the ball over 24 times. Everyone on the roster played for Effingham. Here's the scoring breakdown: Jacob Donaldson 10, Brent Beals 10, Grant Wolfe 9, Sean Zerrusen 8, Jared Minor 8, Brady Jackson 8, Landon Wolfe 7, Michael Woltman 2, and Brady Scott 1.

Arturo Sanchez led the Phoenix with 14 points.

In the evening contest, Effingham led Mattoon 16-13 after the first quarter, then put on a clinic in the middle two quarters, outscoring the Green Wave 40-8. The Hearts outscored the Wave 18-12 in the final quarter to post the 41-point win.

Effingham made 28 of 57 shots, 49% including six of 16 threes. The Hearts made 12 of 16 foul shots, turned the ball over 10 times, and outrebounded Mattoon 30-17. Mattoon was held to 29% shooting from the field, 13 of 45.

Once again, everyone on the roster played for Effingham. Grant Wolfe led the Hearts with 23 points in about three quarters of action. Brady Jackson and Brent Beals came off the bench to score in double figures, Jackson with 13, Beals with 11. Also for the Hearts: Jacob Donaldson 8 including two dunks, Landon Wolfe 6, Sean Zerrusen 4, Reed Schafer 2, Jared Minor 2, Michael Woltman 2, Ryan Sandifer 2, and Ryan Huelsbusch 1.

The two wins pushed the Hearts' record to 12-6. The afternoon victory was Hearts Coach Ron Reed's 450th career coaching win.

Also Saturday at the Salem Tournament, Salem won the 7th place game, defeating Andrews Osborne Academy 73-55, Mt. Vernon won the third place game 80-63 over Thornton Fractional North, and Centralia went overtime to defeat Edwardsville for the tournament championship, 57-52.

In a consolation bracket semifinal game Saturday afternoon, Mattoon defeated Salem 68-60.

Two Effingham players were named to the All-Tournament teams. Grant Wolfe was named to the First TEam while Jacob Donaldson took Second Team honors.