Lady Hearts, Lady Shoes Register Postseason Wins

The Effingham Lady Hearts posted their 22nd straight victory Tuesday night and avenged one of their three losses this season with a convincing 57-24 win over the Olney Lady Tigers.  The Centralia 3A Regional semifinal game was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

Meanwhile, the Teutopolis Lady Shoes edged the Marshall Lady Lions 37-33 in semifinal action at the Newton 2A Sectional.  The game was heard on KJ Country 102.3 and www.kjcountry.com. 

Effingham 57, Olney 24

Effingham had a good offensive night, but a stellar defensive night.  The Lady Hearts held Olney to 9-for-49 shooting from the field including zero-for-11 from three-point range.  Olney didn't have an offensive rebound until the second half.

The Lady Hearts led the contest 15-6 after the first quarter and 27-15 at halftime before outscoring the Lady Tigers 30-10 in the second half.

Effingham hit 22 of 54 shots for 41% including nine of 24 three-pointers while making all four of their foul shots, committing 16 turnovers and grabbing 37 rebounds.  The Lady Hearts outboarded Olney 37-22 on the night.

Caitlin Kaufman led Effingham with 17 points and three assists, while Josie Zerrusen scored 13 points, all in the first half, and grabbed seven rebounds with two assists.  Kelli Utz scored 11 points, nine in the second half, pulled down seven rebounds, had three assists and blocked a shot.  Stephanie Robb scored six points with five rebounds, Lauren Stephenson scored five points with three rebounds, Felicia Totten had three points, three rebounds and an assist, Jantzen Michael scored two points with four rebounds and five assists, and Maddy Field grabbed three rebounds and had two assists.

Kelsey Shipman led Olney with nine points.

Olney closes their campaign with a 21-8 mark.  The Lady Tigers are the last club to beat the Lady Hearts this season.

Effingham is now 26-3 on the season and will take on Breese Mater Dei Thursday at 7:30pm for the regional championship.

Class 3A Centralia Regional

EFFINGHAM (57)

Utz 5-0 -- 11, Michael 1-0 -- 2, Beals 0-0 -- 0, Totten 1-0 -- 3, Stephenson 2-0 -- 5, Kaufman 6-2 -- 17, Robb 2-0 -- 6, Zerrusen 5-0 -- 13, Field 0-0 -- 0, Weiser 0-0 --0, Willis 0-0 -- 0, Wilson 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 22 FG, 2 FT.

OLNEY (24)

Shipman 4-1 -- 9, Gassman 1-2 -- 4, Wisner 1-1 -- 3, Sechrest 1-0 -- 2, Anderson 1-0 -- 2, Kauble 0-0 -- 0, Harrison 0-2 -- 2, Spillman 1-0 -- 2. TOTALS 9 FG, 6 FT.

Effingham          15    12    12    18    --    57

Olney                  6      8      5      5    --    24

3-point FG -- Effingham 9 (Utz 1, Stephenson 1, Kaufjman 3, Zerrusen 3, Totten 1); Olney 0.

Teutopolis 37, Marshall 33

This game was close throughout.  The teams were tied 8-8 after one quarter before T-Town outscored Marshall 8-2 to take a 16-10 halftime lead.  Marshall outpointed the Lady Shoes 11-8 in the third quarter to pull within 24-21, but T-Town edged Marshall 13-12 in the final stanza to claim the four-point win.

Teutopolis shot 41%, making nine of 22 attempts, but made 15 of 23 from the foul line.  The Lady Shoes committed 14 turnovers and pulled down 21 rebounds while missing three three-point shots.  Marshall made 12 of 27 shots for 44%.

Teutopolis featured balanced scoring with Chelsey Hardiek leading the way with nine points, while Danielle Repking scored eight, Madeline Hartke seven, Cierra Thompson six, Jessica Schumacher five and Haley Giles two points.

Teutopolis improved to 24-7 on the season while Marshall suffered just their second loss against 25 wins.

The Lady Shoes will take on the Mt. Carmel Lady Aces Thursday night at 7:30pm for the sectional championship.  We'll have the game on KJ Country 102.3 and www.kjcountry.com.

Teutopolis Ticket Info: Tickets, all $5 general admission, will be sold today in the Teutopolis High School office. During the second hour, tickets will be sold to tournament players, managers, other girl basketball players, cheerleaders, pomerettes and boy basketball players. During the lunch hour, student tickets will be sold. Students will be allowed to buy one ticket for themselves. From 1-3:30 p.m., tickets for the public and staff will be available during this time. Remaining tickets will be sold in the Teutopolis High School office Thursday, February 14 until 2 p.m.

Newton High School will have general admission tickets for sale for the championship game between T-town and Mount Carmel starting Thursday in the high school office from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. An individual may buy two tickets for $5 each. There also will be tickets at the door  Thursday night. Gates will open at 5:55 p.m. for the Three-Point Showdown.

Class 2A Newton Sectional

TEUTOPOLIS (37)

Schumacher 1-3 -- 5, Hardiek 2-5 -- 9, Repking 3-2 -- 8, Giles 1-0 -- 2, Thopmson 1-4 -- 6, M. Hartke 3-1 -- 7, Smith 0-0 -- 0, Bueker 0-0 -- 0, Ruholl 0-0 -- 0, Flach 0-0 -- 0, A.Hartke 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 11 FG, 15 FT

MARSHALL (33)

Switzer 3-0 -- 6, Bishop 3-1 -- 7, Keim 0-2 -- 2, Thompson 3-2 -- 9, Grooms 2-0 -- 4, Kuhn 2-1 -- 5, Boyer 0-0 -- 0, Kile 0-0 -- 0, Bender 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 13 FG, 6 FT.

Teutopolis          8    8      8    13     --    37

Marshall             8    2    11    12    --    33

3-point FG -- Teutopolis 0, Marshall 1 (Thompson 1)

In other 2A Sectionals:

At Dupo

Nashville 45, Breese Central 33

Red Bud 43, Carterville 40

At Lisle

Melrose Park Walther Lutheran 60, Chicago St. Benedict 29

Des Plaines Willows ACademy 52, Chicago Noble Street Charter/Golder 26

At Orion

Sherrard 44, Knoxville 25

El Paso-Gridley 45, Carthage Illini West 41

At White Hall North Greene

Litchfield 48, Virden North Mac 35