EHS Finishes AC Season Unbeaten By Downing Tornadoes

Effingham High School celebrated Senior Night in high fashion by beating a pesky Taylorville squad 83-77 to finish the Apollo Conference season with a perfect 10-0 record in boys basketball Friday night.

The game was chock full of high-flying acrobatics, high scoring and lots of twists and turns.

The Hearts ripped out to a 13-5 opening lead but Taylorville battled back within four in the opening quarter before the Hearts went on a roll, scoring the last six points for a 23-16 lead.

Jacob Donaldson nailed two three-pointers in the opening quarter and came right back with two in the second period. Grant Wolfe and Brent Beals tallied six each in that opening quarter before Wolfe scored eight in the second period. The lead got knocked down to three at the start of the quarter as Jordan Moats hit a free throw and then banged home a three-pointer.

The Hearts came back and led by 11 at the 5:57 mark but once again, here came those Tornadoes. Moats couldn't be stopped, hitting two three-pointers, a regular basket and three free throws for 11 points and pulled the Hearts lead down to four. Donaldson then pushed home a three and the Hearts, just like the opening quarter, went on a run to lead by eight at halftime, 45-37.

EHS took the lead to 15 in the third quarter as Donaldson nailed his fifth three-pointer of the contest and Beals put in a trifecta. The Hearts hit nine of 14 shots in the quarter and coughed up the ball only one time. EHS led by 10 going into the final period.

But Taylorville just wouldn't go away. Logan Clayton knocked in a three-pointer and Taylorville pushed within four at the 5:32 mark. But once again Donaldson's three-pointer was the catalyst that got the Hearts back on a roll. Mason Hull contributed a basket and the Hearts lead was at 10 with around four minutes left.

Late in the final quarter, Taylorville pulled the lead down to seven, but the Hearts remained in control with eight of 12 free throws. Grant Wolfe tallied eight points in the period.

Four of the five starters finished in double figures for Effingham. G. Wolfe tallied 24 while Donaldson scored 21, Beals 19 and Landon Wolfe 11. Grant Wolfe had a double-double with the 24 points and 13 boards while his brother Landon also finished with a double-double with 10 rebounds along with the 11 points.

The Hearts improve to 24-4 on the season and will be back in action Tuesday in regional play at Mattoon against the winner of the opening game Monday, either Charleston or Olney, at 7 p.m.

Clayton led the Tornadoes with 34 points while Moats added 24. The Tornadoes finish regular season play with a 15-14 record.

At Effingham

TAYLORVILLE (77)

N. Livington 0-0 0-0 0, Moats 7-16 7-11 24, Clayton 10-20 6-6 34, J. Livingston 3-7 0-0 8, Curtin 1-2 0-0 2, Odam 1-2 0-0 3, Roethemeyer 2-9 2-2 6, Durbin 0-0 0-0 0. TOTALS 24-56 FG, (42.8%) 15-19 FT (78.9%)

EFFINGHAM (83)

G. Wolfe 9-16 5-7 24, Beals 7-12 3-5 19, L. Wolfe 4-12 3-4 11, Donaldson 7-14 1-2 21, Hull 2-3 0-0 4, Huelsbusch 0-0 0-0 0, Kreke 2-4 0-0 4. TOTALS 31-61  FG (50.8%) 12-18 FT (66.6%)

Taylorville           16    21    19    21    --    77

Effingham           23    22    21    17    --    53

3-point FG -- Taylorville 14-30 (46.6%) (Moats 3-7, Clatton 8-13, J. Livingston 2-5, Odam 1-2), Effingham 9-19 (47.3%) (G. Wolfe 1-5, Beals 2-2, Donaldson 6-9). Rebounds -- Taylorville 25 (Odam 8, Roethemeyer 6, Moats 6), Effingham 40 (G. Wolfe 13, L. Wolfe 10). Turnovers -- Taylorville 16, Effingham 11.