Centralia Nips Effingham, 49-47 at Salem, Friday Scores

The Centralia Orphans nipped the Effingham Hearts 49-47 Friday night to advance to the championship game of the Salem Invitational Tournament. The contest was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com.

The end of the game was marred by a brutal no-call by the officiating crew that would have given the Hearts a chance to tie the game. Effingham had a one-point lead when Centralia's Dawson Berry hit a wing three to put Centralia in front by the final score. Effingham still had 5.5 seconds left to get the ball the length of the floor and get away a shot. However, Brent Beals was unable to get a good shot away because of the heavy contact and no call was forthcoming from the officials, deciding the game.

Effingham had the early advantage in the contest, leading 13-6 after the first quarter, and extended the lead to nine to begin the second period. Centralia started chipping away at the lead and closed to within 24-19 at halftime.

The second half saw a complete reversal of Centralia's success with three-point shots. After hitting just one of nine threes in the first half, the Orphans hit all eight of their three-point tries in the second half. The Hearts still clung to a 36-35 lead after three quarters, but Centralia pulled ahead in the fourth period. Effingham held tough with two point buckets and some success at the foul line, but the Orphans were ahead at the end.

Effingham made 45% of its shots 19 of 42, including 3 of 12 threes. Centralia finished 18 of 43 from the field for 42%, including nine of 17 threes. 

Effingham made six of 10 foul shots, while Centralia made all four foul shots they tried. 

The two teams combined for 10 turnovers in the game, four for Effingham. Effingham outrebounded Centralia, 24 to 23.

Grant Wolfe led Effingham with 18 points, 15 over the last three quarters. Landon Wolfe scored 14 points, Jacob Donaldson seven points with nine rebounds, Beals six points and Mason Hull two points. For Centralia, Berry led with 17 points, Jordan Maines 15, Javon Williams, Jr. 12 and Johnathon Keeler five points.

Effingham slips to 14-3 on the season, while Centralia improved to 13-4. Centralia is #8 in this week's Boys 3A rankings, while Effingham is #9.

The win moves Centralia into the championship game Saturday at 8pm against Edwardsville, who won the opener Friday night over Troy Triad 39-23. Effingham will play in the third place game at 5pm Saturday against Triad. We'll have the Hearts game on KJ Country 102.3 and www.kjcountry.com.

Salem Tournament

CENTRALIA (49)

Meskil 0-0 -- 0, Long 0-0 -- 0, Keeler 2-0 -- 5, Maines 5-2 -- 15, Berry 6-2 -- 17, Williams 5-0 -- 12. TOTALS 18 FG, 4 FT.

EFFINGHAM (47)

L. Wolfe 6-2 -- 14, Kreke 0-0 -- 0, Hull 1-0 -- 2, G. Wolfe 6-4 -- 18, Beals 3-0 -- 6, Donaldson 3-0 -- 7. TOTALS 19 FG, 6 FT.

Centralia                   6    13    16    14   --    49

Effingham               13    11    12    11    --    47

3-point FG -- Centralia 9 (Keeler 1, Maines 2, Berry 2), Effingham 3 (G. Wolfe 2, Donaldson 1).

BOYS BASKETBALL

Salem Invitational Tournament

Edwardsville 39, Troy Triad 23

Centralia 49, Effingham 47

Little Illini Conference Tournament

Paris 55, Flora 44

Nashville Invitational

Breese Mater Dei 54, Mascoutah 36

Teutopolis 71, Nashville 39 (Mitch Hardiek had 20 points to lead the Shoes, now 18-1 on the season; Teutopolis and Breese Central play tonight at 8pm for what will be the championship, since both teams are 3-0 in the round robin tournament)

Other

St. Anthony 55, Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg 32 (The Bulldogs led the game 15-4 after the first quarter; Drew Gibson scored 16 points to lead St. Anthony, while Jack Nuxoll scored 10 points; also for St. Anthony: Alex Beesley 9, Cade Walsh 8, Adam Levitt 5, Alex Deters 4, Luke Ludwig 2, Jaccob Dust 1; for Windsor/Stew-Stras: Chase Thies 14, Christian Kessler 11, Isaac Kramer 5, Josh Overbeck 2; St. Anthony now 18-1 on the season, 6-0 in the NTC; St. Anthony won the JV game 71-48)

Neoga 61, Ramsey 45

Edwards County 70, North Clay 39

St. Elmo/Brownstown 76, Mulberry Grove 69 (2OT) (Landon Feezel led SEB with 32 points, and also set a school record for career rebounds with 849; Connor Beasley held the previous record with 845 rebounds)

Crab Orchard 56, Vandalia 49

Shelbyville 59, Meridian 55

Mt. Zion 65, Nokomis 52

Civic Memorial 62, Taylorville 58

 Patoka 75, Altamont 65 (Ryan Armstrong with 28 points for Altamont)

CHBC 69, South Central 66 (Konner Blackerby with 30 points, Aaron Nohren with 23 for CHBC; Trent Geiler with 24, Trevor Markley with 16 for South Central)

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Highland Tournament

Belleville West 64, Teutopolis 54

Mater Dei 40, Althoff 34

Central 40, Okawville 36

8TH GRADE NATIONAL TRAIL CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT AT BROWNSTOWN

CONSOLATION CHAMPIONSHIP

Dieterich 36, Sacred Heart 26

3RD PLACE GAME

Neoga 43, St. Elmo/Brownstown 41

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Sigel St. Michael 40, Altamont 31

JAMES BURKE MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT AT GREENVILLE

(CHAMPIONSHIP GAME) Effingham 41, St. Anthony 40