Rams Hand Hearts Loss In Class 3A Girls Basketball Sectional

The Rams handed the Hearts a loss by a 53-50 count back on December 5 and then downed Effingham 47-38 Tuesday evening, in a game heard on KJ Country 102.3, to end the Hearts season at the Class 3A Bethalto Civic Memorial Sectional.

There probably were some nerves going on in the opening quarter as Mount Vernon edged out to a 7-6 lead. Neither team hit well. The Hearts were three of nine from the field and 0 of 2 at the line while Mount Vernon was two of 11 from the field and one of two at the line.

The Hearts' frustrations continued from the field in the second quarter as only Bria Beals connected on a basket. EHS went one of 10 and trailed 13-8.

Mount Vernon, meanwhile, also was still off, scoring on two of 12 for four points and connecting on two free throws.

The Rams then had a 12-10 edge in the third quarter as Melaina Zedalis put in a three-pointer and a regular basket and Laniyeh Shelby hit a three.

Bella Austin connected on the first three for EHS while Averie Wolfe, Bria Beals and Sidney Donaldson scored a basket each and Alyssa Martin hit a free throw.

The Hearts never got the offense going, connecting on eight of 18 field goals in that final quarter. Wolfe added five to her total while Austin led with seven. Mya Harvey got on the scoreboard with two baskets.

Effinghan hit 34.4 percent from the field and 16.6 percent from three point range.

Meanwhile, Mount Vernon hit 44.4 percent from the field and were 28 percent from beyond the arc.

EHS shot only four free throws and hit one while Mount Vernon shot 15 free throws, scoring on 11 for 73.3 percent.

The lone player in double figures for the Hearts was Austin with four field goals, two of those three-pointers, for 10. Wolfe finished with nine.

The Hearts ended the season with a 25-8 record.

Mount Vernon was led by Kamaree Pollard with 16 points and Zedalis with 10. The Rams advance to the championship game with a 28-3 record and will now face Marion, a 59-56 winner over Bethalto Civic Memorial, at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Class 3A Bethalto Civic Memorial Sectional

EFFINGHAM (38)

Martin 2-1 -- 5, Raddatz 0-0 -- 0, Wolfe 4-0 -- 9, Beals 2-0 -- 4, Donaldson 3-0 -- 6, Austin 4-0 -- 10, Harvey 2-0 -- 4, Engel 0-0 -- 0, Weis 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 17 FG, 1 FT.

MOUNT VERNON (47)

Pollard 6-3 -- 16, Wilkey 1-0 -- 3, Zedalis 2-5 -- 10, Rudd 2-2 -- 6, Shirley 2-0 -- 6, Shelby 22-0 -- 6. TOTALS 15 FG, 10 FT.

Effingham                      6    2    10    20    --    38

Mount Vernon               7    6    12    22    --    47

3-point FG -- Effingham 3 (Austin 2, Wolfe 1), Mount Vernon 7 (Shelby 2, Shirley 2, Zedalis 1, Wilkey 1, Pollard 1).