Hearts Edge Mattoon; Bulldogs Fall to Breese Central at St. A. Tourney

All Tournament Team members are, front row, left to right, Jacob Schuette (St. Anthony) and Aaron Siler (Robinson). Back row, left to right, Derrick Nicholas (Robinson), Kevin Renner (Belleville Althoff Catholic), Hunter Keith (Effingham), Colton Calhoun (Mount Zion) and Grant Pyatt (Mount Zion). Not pictured were Leighton Lark (Effingham), Ethan Miller (Charleston) and Zach Steidl (Charleston).

The Effingham Hearts held off the Mattoon Green Wave 48-47 to capture fifth place honors at the St. Anthony Thanksgiving Tournament Saturday.  The St. Anthony Bulldogs lost to Breese Central 60-37 in the seventh place game.

Both games were heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com.

Effingham led all but two trips during the game, but it was never a certainty the Hearts would win and a nailbiting finish underscored that point.

Effingham led 14-11 after one quarter and extended the advantage to 30-23 at halftime, pushing the lead to 10 at one point in the second quarter.  Mattoon pulled to within 40-35 after three quarters and then came back to take a one-point lead before the Hearts regained the advantage by one on a three-pointer.  The Hearts were ahead with 1.2 seconds remaining when they threw the ball out of bounds, giving the Green Wave one last chance.  With 0.8 seconds remaining, Mattoon threw the ball cross-court and Ryan Hutchinson got away a shot that just missed to the left of the basket, allowing the Hearts to exhale and enjoy the victory.

Effingham made 61% of its shots from the field, 19 of 31, and made six of eight foul shots.  After nine turnovers in the first three quarters, though, the Hearts gave up the ball eight times in the final stanza.  Effingham grabbed 19 rebounds and made four of six three-point tries.

Mattoon made 18 of 47 shots for 38%, made all eight of their foul shots, committed just nine turnovers and pulled down 17 rebounds while making three of 11 three-point shots.

Clark Williamson finished with 12 points to lead the Hearts in scoring on five of eight shooting.  Hunter Keith also was five of eight from the field and finished with 11 points.  Alex Carie had nine points on three three-point baskets, Leighton Lark scored six points, Tim Gardewine and Trenton Frey four points each, and Isaac Foreman two points.

Grant Speer with 13 points and Ryan Hutchinson with 11 points led the Green Wave in scoring.

Effingham finished the tournament with a 3-1 mark, while Mattoon finished 1-3.

    --

In the Bulldogs loss, St. Anthony hung tough for the first half, trailing 19-11 after one quarter but down just 28-24 at halftime.  Breese Central outscored St. Anthony 32-13 in the second half, though, to put the game away.

John Goeckner scored 12 points to pace the Bulldogs' attack while grabbing nine rebounds.  Jacob Schuette finished with 10 points.  Also for the Bulldogs: Neil Williams 7, Andrew Gardewine 6, and Zach Gardewine 2.

Kyler Scheer finished with 18 points and 15 rebounds to pace Breese Central.  Greg Meyer scored 15 points, and Justin Becker had 11 points.

St. Anthony made just 16 of 49 shots or just under 33%, made all three of its foul shots, turned the ball over 16 times, pulled down 27 rebounds and made two of seven three-point tries.

Breese Central shot 37%, making 19 of 52 shots, making 15 of 22 free throws, committing 10 turnovers and grabbing 32 rebounds while making seven of 18 three-point shots.

St. Anthony finished 0-4 in the tourney while Breese Central went 2-2 for the week.

Robinson won the tournament championship, going 4-0 after defeating Belleville Althoff 62-39.  Charleston won the third place game, defeating Mt. Zion 59-51. 

Robinson finished 4-0 for the week, Charleston and Effingham were each 3-1, Belleville Althoff and Breese Central each finished 2-2, Mt. Zion and Mattoon each went 1-3, and St. Anthony finished 0-4.