Hearts Go Double OT Before Falling to Taylorville

Print

Published on December 21 2021 10:19 pm
Last Updated on December 21 2021 10:19 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

The Effingham Hearts were down by nine after the first quarter Tuesday night. The Hearts came back to force a second overtime before falling to the Taylorville Tornadoes 53-46 in a contest heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

It was a wild one. Taylorville led 14-5 after one quarter, but the Hearts posted a 13-7 second quarter edge to head to the halftime locker room trailing by just 21-18. Taylorville was up 31-26 after three quarters, but Effingham battled by to outscore the Tornadoes 14-9 in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime tied 40-40. Each team scored just three points in the first extra frame to make it 43-43. Taylorville's three points came on a hook shot from the corner by Will Bitschenauer, all five eight of him. He was fouled on the shot, but missed the free throw and the game went another four minutes.

Taylorville got on a roll in the second extra frame, outscoring the Hearts 10-3 to win the contest.

Taylorville shot 42% from the field, 21 of 50 including 4 of 16 threes. The Hearts made just 12 of 41 shots, 29%, but made 8 of 25 threes. 

Taylorville went 8 for 12 from the foul line, while the Hearts made 14 of 22 free throws. 

Effingham outrebounded Taylorville 33 to 28, but the Hearts committed 23 turnovers to 17 for Taylorville.

Ethan Ritz led Effingham with 15 points, including four three pointers. Dalton Fox was also in double figures for the Hearts with 12 points, 10 in the second half. Also for Effingham: Jett Volpi 8, Armando Estrada 6, and Garrett Wolfe 5. Brayden Pals didn't score, but had four blocked shots and seven rebounds.

Effingham is now 2-7 on the season, 0-4 in the Apollo Conference. Taylorville is 3-6, 1-3 in the Apollo. 

Effingham is off for a week before playing next Tuesday at 7:30pm in the Effingham/Teutopolis Christmas Classic.

Effingham won the JV game 44-27.

Taylorville senior Bryce Friedrich led all scorers with 22 points and also grabbed 11 rebounds. Luke Markwell was also in double figures for Taylorville with 10 points.