Hearts Come From Behind to Defeat Charleston

The Effingham Hearts, playing at home for the first time in a month, were having a tough time in the first half making it a happy homecoming Friday night.  The Hearts turned it around in the second half, though, and won over the Charleston Trojans for the third time this season 49-45.

Effingham trailed 17-12 after one quarter and were still behind 25-18 at halftime.  The Hearts turned it around it in the third quarter, though, finally having some success against the Trojans' zone defense.  Clark Williamson scored eight points, Hunter Keith six and Alex Carie five points in the period as the Hearts fought back to tie the contest after three, 37-37.  Effingham outscored Charleston 12-8 in the final period, including seven points from Carie, to post the four-point win.

Keith and Williamson led Effingham with 13 points apiece while Carie scored 12.  Also for Effingham: Leighton Lark and Jake Stombaugh four points each, Josh Stombaugh two and Tim Gardewine one point. 

Zach Steidl scored 14 points, Jordan Hellman 13 and Truston Winnett 10 to pace Charleston, now 12-7 on the season.

Effingham improved to 13-5 on the season.  The Hearts are now 6-0 in Apollo Conference action.

The Hearts JV squad smashed Charleston Friday 81-39.  Isaac Foreman led the way with 21 points.  Also for the Hearts' JV: Michael Carie nine, Marcus Robinson and Kevin Daugherty eight points each, Matt Wohltman and Phil Knight seven each, Andrew Knight six, Kyle Niebrugge five, Brayden Bone four, and Carter Hayes, Kennan Mahaffey, and Billy Arndt two each.