Centralia Downs Hearts at Salem

The Centralia Orphans showed why they're state-ranked as they defeated the Effingham Hearts 51-36 at the Salem Invitational Tournament Friday night.  The game was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com.  

The Orphans shot the ball well, kept their turnovers in the single digit category and won the rebound battle.  All-in-all, a good performance.

Still, the Hearts had their chances.  Centralia held a narrow 8-5 lead after one quarter, were up 19-13 at halftime and still led by just 10, 37-27 after three quarters.  Those leads are misleading, though, as Effingham repeatedly would close to within five points or less, but could never get over the hump. The Hearts were also hit with two technical fouls, which gave the Orphans some extra opportunities at the foul line.

Centralia made 15 of 29 shots from the field for 52% including five of 10 on three-point tries and added 16 of 25 from the line for 64%.  The Orphans turned the ball over just nine times and grabbed 19 rebounds.

Effingham made 11 of 27 shots from the field for 41%, including five of 10 three-point tries, hit on nine of 12 from the line, turned the ball over 14 times and pulled down 14 rebounds.

Kennan Mahaffey and Kevin Daugherty each scored eight points to lead Effingham, Leighton Lark scored seven points, Marcus Robinson six points on a pair of three-pointers, and Isaac Foreman four points and Matt Wohltman three points.

Ryan Obermeier and Jerod Simmons Young each scored 12 points to lead Centralia, which is now 15-1 on the season.

Centralia will play Edwardsville for the tournament championship Saturday at 8pm.  Edwardsville won over Mt. Vernon in the other championship semifinal game Friday night.

Effingham, now 10-4 on the season, will take on Mt. Vernon for third place at 5pm.  We'll have the game on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com.  

The third place game contestants won't be known until the consolation bracket semifinal games are played earlier Saturday.  Those will feature Mattoon vs. Marion at 11:30am and Lovejoy vs. Salem at 1pm.  The winners will play for third place at 6:30pm.