Mt. Vernon Defeats Lady Hearts 55-44

The Effingham Lady Hearts fell behind by as many as 20 points but battled back to within single digits before falling to the Mt. Vernon Lady Rams, 55-44, Monday at Effingham High School. The game was heard on KJ Country 102.3 and www.kjcountry.com. 

The teams battled to a 14-14 tie at the end of the first quarter, but Mt. Vernon started the second period with an 18-2 run that put the Hearts way down. Effingham was down 15, 36-21 at halftime.

The Rams went stone cold in the third quarter, but the Hearts couldn't ignite enough offense to close the gap by much, eventually outscoring Mt. Vernon 9-5 in the period to make it 41-30. Mt. Vernon, though, opened the fourth quarter on an 8-1 roll that decided the game. Effingham came back in the last few minutes to make it a game, but still lost by 11.

Neither team shot the ball well; Effingham making 15 of 45 shots and Mt. Vernon making 21 of 60, but the edge in the number of shots was enough to earn the Rams the win. Effingham's 15 first half turnovers were a blow, and the Hearts made just eight of 15 free throws on the night. Effingham made six of 16 threes.

There were bright spots for the Lady Hearts as they cut their turnovers to just six after intermission and outboarded Mt. Vernon 33-19 for the game.

Mt. Vernon scored one fewer point at the foul line, but made six more buckets and that was the difference. Each team made six threes.

Callie Feldhake was the lone Lady Hearts player in double figures with 10 points. Also for Effingham: Ella Niebrugge 8, Hayley Diveley 8, Madison Mapes 7, Taylor Armstrong 4, Annie Frost 3, Sawyer Althoff 3, and Grace Bushur 1.

Mt. Vernon had three players in double figures with Annibelle Harrison leading the way with 13 points.

Mt. Vernon improved to 10-6 with the win, while Effingham falls to 7-8. 

The Lady Hearts are right back in action Tuesday night at Mahomet-Seymour in Apollo Conference action.

Effingham won the JV game 49-44.

At Effingham

MOUNT VERNON (55)

Hayes 4-1 -- 10, Heinzman 4-0 -- 9, Conner 1-0 -- 3, Morgan 0-0 -- 0, Dos 4-3 -- 11, Schmidt 0-3 -- 3, Dees 2-0 -- 4, Childers 1-0 -- 2, Harrison 5-0 -- 13. TOTALS 21 FG, 7 FT.

EFFINGHAM (44)

Bushur 0-1 -- 1, Frost 1-1 -- 3, Althoff 1-0 -- 3, Armstrong 2-0 -- 4, Feldhake 4-2 -- 10, Niebrugge 2-2 -- 8, Carie 0-0 -- 0, Diveley 3-1 -- 8, Sowell 0-0 -- 0, Mapes 2-1 -- 7. TOTALS 15 FG, 8 FT.

Mount Vernon              14    22    5    14    --    55

Effingham                    14      7    9    14    --    44

3-point FG -- Mount Vernon 6 (Harrison 3, Hayes 1, Heinzman 1, Conner 1), Effingham 6 (Niebrugge 2, Mapes 2, Diveley 1, Althoff 1).