Mattoon Downs Effingham, 71-46

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Published on December 6 2023 8:38 am
Last Updated on December 6 2023 8:38 am
Written by Millie Lange

MATTOON -- Effingham High School ran into a tough squad in Apollo Conference boys basketball action Tuesday and fell to the Masttoon Green Wave, 71-46 in a game heard on 979 XFM.

Mattoon dominated at the start, stepping out to a 21-11 opening quarter lead. The Green Wave's Jack Gardner and Bryce Jean scored with six points each in leading the way.

The Hearts were led by Rylan Pals with five points on a three-pointer and two free throws.

EHS came back to tie the score at 29-29 in the second period and trailed by only 32-29 at halftime. In that run, Hayden Wendling knocked down two three-pointers and a regular basket for eight points while Pals added to his total with another three-pointer.

Mattoon then had an 18-14 third period to lead 50-43 going into the final quarter. Jean connected on three more baskets while Madden Johnson and Andrew Wetzel added a three-pointer each. The Hearts had pulled within four but Mattoon knocked in a three-pointer at the end of the period.

Mattoon then put the contest in the victory category with a 21-3 final quarter. The Hearts couldn't stop Wetzel who nailed two three-pointers and three regular baskets for 12 points. He finished as the leading scorer with 19 points while Jean added 17.

Effingham was led by Kellams with 12 points on five field goals, two of those from three-point range. The Hearts connected on seven three-pointers in the game.

The Green Wave hit 48.4 percent from the field for the game and 40 percent at the line. The Hearts were 34.6 percent from the field and 60 percent at the line.

Mattoon improved to 1-1 in the conference, 3-4 overall.

Effingham dropped to 1-1 in the conference, 2-6 overall. The Hearts are back in action Friday at Mahomet-Seymour. 

At Mattoon

EFFINGHAM (46)

Bushur 0-0 -- 0, Bockhorn 3-1 -- 8, Kellams 5-0 -- 12, Jones 2-0 -- 4, Pals 2-2 -- 8, Fearday 1-0 -- 2, McDaniel 0-0 -- 0, Wendling 4-0 -- 10, Flack 0-0 -- 0, Moser 0-0 -- 0, Phillips 1-0 -- 2. TOTALS 18 FG, 3 FT.

MATTOON (71)

Gardner 4-0 -- 8, Johnson 1-0 -- 3, Jean 7-2 -- 17, Wetzel 8-0 -- 19, Smith 4-0 -- 8, Rice 4-1 -- 9, Fuentes 0-0 -- 0, Larson 1-0 -- 2, Kimbro 2-0 -- 4, Egejuru 0-1 -- 1. TOTALS 31 FG, 4 FT.

Effingham              11    18    14      3    --    46

Mattoon                 21    11    18    21    --    71

3-point FG -- Effingham 7 (Kellams 2, Wendling 2, Pals 2, Bockhorn 1), Mattoon 5 (Wetzel 3, Johnson 1, Jean 1)