Mattoon Edges Effingham In Boys Basketball

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Published on February 3 2023 8:18 am
Last Updated on February 3 2023 8:19 am
Written by Millie Lange

MATTOON -- Effingham High School had chances but ended up by suffering a 44-43 loss to Mattoon in Apollo Conference boys basketball play Thursday. The game was heard on KJ Country 102.3.

The Hearts held a 14-10 opening quarter lead as Logan Heil nailed three baskets and two free throws for eight points and Andrew Donaldson knocked in a three-pointer.

Effingham had an 8-7 second quarter to lead 22-17 at halftime. Andrew Splechter hit a basket and a three-pointer for five in the period.

The Hearts and Green Wave played to a 12-12 third quarter and EHS still led by five. Garrett Wolfe kept the Hearts ahead with eight points in the quarter.

In the final period, the Green Wave started coming back. Taerick Grace scored three baskets and two free throws for eight points in the quarter while Christian Larson added four points and two other players nailed free throws.

The Hearts kept in the contest with three baskets and a free throw from Splechter for seven of the team's nine points.

Mattoon moved ahead and the Hearts were down by one with 6.9 seconds remaining. The Hearts had the ball at halfcourt but threw it out of bounds. On the inbound play by Mattoon, Effingham fouled and Mattoon's Jackson Helms hit both free throws and the Hearts were down by three with 4.9 seconds.

On the inbound play, EHS pushed the ball up the sideline but drove in and made a layup and the buzzer sounded with the Hearts falling, 44-43.

Wolfe led the way for the Hearts with 17 points on eight field goals, one a three-pointer. He also led in rebounds with seven.

Heil finished with 12 points and pulled down five rebounds.

EHS dropped to 10-16 on the season while Mattoon improved to 7-19.

At Mattoon

EFFINGHAM (43)

Donaldson 1-0 -- 3, Wolfe 8-0 -- 17, Splechter 4-1 -- 9, Fox 0-1 -- 1, Heil 4-4 -- 12, Brown 0-0 -- 0, Jones 0-1 -- 1. TOTALS 17 FG, 7 FT.

MATTOON (44)

Powers 1-1 -- 4, Helms 1-2 -- 5, Gardner 1-0 -- 2, Wetzel 2-0 -- 6, Larson 5-4 -- 14, Grace 3-2 -- 8, Smith 2-1 -- 5, Rice 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 15 FG, 10 FT.

Effingham                  14    8    12      9    --    43

Mattoon                     10    7    12    15    --    44

3-point FG -- Effingham 2 (Donaldson 1, Wolfe 1), Mattoon 4 (Wetzel 2, Helms 1, Powers 1).