Hearts Advance to Title Game of Lincoln Girls Sectional

LINCOLN -- What did the game come down to as Effingham squared off against Rochester in the Class 3A Lincoln Sectional Tuesday evening?

Well, the Hearts took better care of the basketball and hit from the free throw line to pull out a 42-38 victory and advance to the championship game Friday.

The two teams squared off in the opening quarter and worked to an 8-8 tie. Carsyn Fearday knocked in five of those points while Natalie Carie sunk a three-pointer. But the Hearts connected on only three of 10 shots.

EHS then started to feel it's way towards the basket much better, hitting 50 percent and outscoring Rochester 17-11 to lead 25-19 at halftime. Five players got in the mix as Abby Weis tallied five to lead the way and Shelby Myers four.

Rochester came back in the third period with a slight 11-10 edge but still trailed EHS 35-30 going into the final quarter.

The Hearts then went to the free throw line, connecting on five of eight and Fearday nailed the lone basket in the quarter. Rochester had an 8-7 run but couldn't get over the hump.

Fearday finished with 16 points as the lone EHS player in double figures. She hit six of 12 from the field including three of three from the free throw line.

Rochester finished with 13 turnovers while the Hearts had only nine. EHS sunk eight of 11 from the gratis stripe while Rochester shot only four and hit all four. Rochester finishes the season at 20-13.

The Hearts advance with a 30-2 record to face well-known Apollo Conference foe Charleston at 7 p.m. Thursday for the sectional title.

Charleston downed Springfield Lanphier, 71-59 in the opening game of the evening Tuesday. The Trojans are now 25-2. Shae Littleford scored 30 points while Hope Griffin tallied 20 and Paige Swango 10. Lanphier ended the season with a 16-14 mark.

Class 3A Lincoln Sectional

EFFINGHAM (42)

Fearday 6-12 3-3 16, Carie 2-5 0-0 5, Armstrong 1-3 0-0 3, Fox 1-6 1-2 3, Myers 3-7 0-0 6, Schafer 0-1 0-0 0, Weis 2-6 4-6 9. TOTALS 15-40 FG (37.5) 8-11 FT (72.7)

ROCHESTER (38)

Dulin 4-12 0-0 8, Sapetti 0-5 2-2 2, Handlin 1-3 0-0 3, Boudouris 3-6 0-0 9, Kauffman 7-7 0-0 14, Walton 0-2 0-0 0, Tinder 0-0 2-2 2, DuRocher 0-0 0-0 0, Gillespie 0-0 0-0 0. TOTALS 15-36 FG (41.6) 4-4 FT (100.0)

Effingham           8    17    10    7    --    42

Rochester           8    11    11    8    --    38

3-point FG -- Effingham 4 (Fearday 1, Carie 1, Armstrong 1, Weis 1), Rochester 4 (Boudouris 3, Handlin 1).