EHS Wins Bob Kerans Girls Basketball Crown

The Hearts finished the tournament with a perfect 3-0 record. After winning earlier in the week 67-57 over Altamont and 56-18 over Flora, the Hearts then took on Newton for the championship Friday. Newton had beaten Flora 55-22 and Altamont 55-43 earlier in the week.

Effingham edged out to a 12-11 opening quarter lead as Bella Austin and Averie Wolfe knocked in a three-pointer each and Alyssa Martin had an old-fashioned three-point play with a field goal and free throw.

Newton came back with a 13-11 second period to lead 24-23 at halftime. The Eagles' Lilly Kessler hit two baskets and two free throws for six in the period and Camryn Martin added a three-pointer and regular basket for five.

EHS remained close as Sidney Doandlson scored six points.

But the Hearts rallied with a 17-13 third period run to lead 40-37.  Martin and Bria  Beals scored five points each.

In the final period, the Hearts continued on with a 16-9 final run.

Martin finished with 16 points for the winners while Donaldson added 13 and Beals 11.

Newton was led by Kessler with 16 and Martin with 11.

Altamont handled Flora to the tune of 76-34 to capture third place.

The Indians ran off to a 17-6 opening quarter lead and led 39-24 at halftime. 

Grace Nelson got the Indians off in the right direction with eight opening quarter points and tallied 11 in the second quarter.

Altamont then had a 31-8 third quarter to lead 72-32. Peyton Osteen hit three field goals that included two three-pointers for eight points in the period while six other players scored.

Nelson finished with 24 points on eight field goals, one a three-pointer, and seven of seven at the line. Brianna Grunloh added 12 points, Kaylee Lurkins 11 and P. Osteen 10.

Named to the All-Tournament Team were Effingham's Averie Wolfe, Alyssa Martin and Bella Austin, Altamont's Grace Nelson and Newton's Camryn Martin and Lilly Kessler.

Bob Kerans Tournament

Championship Game

EFFINGHAM (56)

Hodge 0-0 -- 0, Martin 6-4 -- 16, Wolfe 1-3 -- 6, Beals 3-2 -- 11, Moser 0-1 -- 1, Althoff 2-0 -- 4, Donaldson 5-2 -- 13, Austin 2-0 -- 5. TOTALS 19 FG, 12 FT.

NEWTON (46)

Barthelemy 3-0 -- 9, Schumacher 0-0 -- 0, Kessler 6-4 -- 16, K. Martin 3-2 -- 8, C. Martin 4-2 -- 11, Higgs 1-0 -- 2, Earnest 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 17 FG, 8 FT.

Effingham               12    11    17    16    --    56

Newton                   11    13    13      9    --    46

3-point FG -- Effingham 6 (Beals 3, Wolfe 1, Donaldson 1, Austin 1), Newton 4 (Barthelemy 3, C. Martin 1).

Third Place Game

ALTAMONT (76)

Pospischel 0-0 -- 0, Pearcy 2-1 -- 5, Grunloh 4-2 -- 12, Boehm 0-2 -- 2, P. Osteen 4-0 -- 10, Lurkins 4-3 -- 11, K. Osteen 3-0 -- 6, Nelson 8-7 -- 24, Sphar 0-0 -- 0, Klein 2-1 -- 6. TOTALS 23 FG, 16 FT.

FLORA (34)

Janas 6-0 -- 13, Patterson 0-0 --0, Yager 0-1 -- 1, Warren 4-0 -- 9, Stanford 0-0 --0, Lewis 1-0 -- 2, Jennings 1-4 -- 6, Cape 0-0 --0< Lewis 0-0 -0, Closson 0-0 --0, Campos 1-0 -- 3. TOTALS 13 Fg, 5 FT.

Altamont              17    22    31    6    --    76

Flora                      6    18      8    4    --    34

3-point FG -- Altamont 6 (Grunloh 2, P. Osteen 2, Nelson 1, Klein 1), Flora 3 (Janas 1, Warren 1, Campos 1).