Hearts Win Rugged Game at Mattoon

The Effingham Hearts led by 15 points, trailed by three points, then won by 11 points. In a rugged game Friday night, Effingham won in Apollo Conference action at Mattoon, 69-58. The game was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

The Hearts exploded out of the gate and led 24-13 after one quarter. Parker Wolfe scored 11 points before being injured when landing on his tailbone on a shot attempt. Drew Thompson added eight points and the Hearts had the 11-point lead.

The second quarter was a different story. With Wolfe sidelined, Mattoon went on a roll, and outscored Effingham 13-7 in the period to pull within 31-26 at halftime.

Effingham responded in the third quarter, but Mattoon did, too, outscoring the Hearts 22-18 in the period to move within 49-48 at the end of the quarter. Wolfe returned to hit three threes, Tate Niebrugge hit a three, Jacob Stoneburner put in two shots and Nate Thompson got a bucket.

Mattoon eventually went ahead by three before Effingham righted the ship and outscored the Green Wave 20-10 in the fourth quarter to win by 11. Nate Thompson scored six points in the final quarter, Max Woelfer hit two big threes, Wolfe scored four more points, Stoneburner three, and Drew Thompson hit a foul shot to account for the Hearts' final quarter scoring.

Effingham shot 51% from the field, 25 of 49, but that pales to their three-point shooting, where the Hearts made 13 of 25 shots, 52%. The Hearts made half of their foul shots, six of 12, turned the ball over 10 times but zero times in the fourth quarter, and grabbed 26 rebounds.

Mattoon made 45% of its shots, 21 of 47, including 9 of 22 threes. The Wave made 7 of 12 foul shots, committed 12 turnovers, and pulled down 21 rebounds.

Parker Wolfe had a sensational shooting night, scoring 24 points while missing the second quarter due to the tailbone injury. Wolfe went 8 for 10 from the field, hitting from all over the halfcourt, including seven threes. Nate Thompson had another double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Max Woelfer came off the bench due to the injuries and scored 10 points, hitting three threes. Drew Thompson scored nine points, Jacob Stoneburner scored seven points with six rebounds, Tate Niebrugge hit a three, and Dylan Ritz got a bucket for his two points.

Dalton Compton led Mattoon with 18 points, 12 in the third quarter.Cam'Ron Thomas added 12 points.

The Hearts improved to 17-12 on the season, while Mattoon slipped to 11-16.

Effingham lost the JV game 71-69 in overtime. Max Woelfer scored 26 points for the JV Hearts, Brayden Pals 19 and Jett Volpi 13.