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Waldburg, Goldwire lead ECHS boys past South
Jordan Goldwire
Effingham County's Jordan Goldwire (4) uses his size advantage to shoot over South Effingham's Hayden Lloyd (2) last Friday night. Goldwire had 16 points in the Rebels' 70-54 victory. (Mark Lastinger for the Effingham Herald.)

By Donald Heath

Special for the Effingham Herald

 

SPRINGFIELD – “Big” was the operative word for last Friday night’s Effingham County-South Effingham boys basketball game.

A big crowd converged at the ECHS gym for the first of two regular-season basketball games between the neighborhood rivals.

The Rebel big men dominated and the northside’s sizable winning streak in the series grew another notch after the 70-54 victory.

“It’s always good to open with a win in region and keep our positive energy going into the upcoming week,” ECHS first-year coach Tramaine Aaron said. “We need all the confidence building we can get.”

The Rebels (6-6, 1-0 Region 2-6A) have won three games in a row to get back to .500. Their winning streak against South is almost an unexplainable 33 in a row dating back to Jan. 6, 2007.

While a near capacity crowd squeezed to stand along the railings at the top of the gym, ECHS comfortably built an early lead with forwards Christian Waldburg and Jordan Goldwire scoring the team’s first 11 points.

Waldburg, a senior who didn’t see much action on varsity last season, finished with a game-high 20 points.

Goldwire added 16 points. The duo combined for five dunks.

“It was good to see those guys finish,” Aaron said. “I know the fans only see them Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, but we see them every day and to see them taking advantage of their opportunities and growing and thriving, that’s been nice.”

ECHS displayed other offensive weapons. Hayden Eason sank three 3-pointers in the first half. Lamar Roberts had nine points off the bench. Jameaz Cope and Jeremiah “Paco” Lee added seven points apiece.

Nate Hayes
Effingham County's Nate Hayes (3) drives the baseline and attempts a reverse layup during the first half against South Effingham last Friday night. The Rebels won 70-54. (Mark Lastinger for the Effingham Herald.)
The Rebels led 19-8 after the first quarter and expanded their advantage to 22 (39-17) after Roberts’ 3-point shot staved off a potential shot-clock violation in the final minute of the half.

SEHS (0-10, 0-1 Region 2-6A) showed flashes of life. The Mustangs trimmed the 22-point deficit to 12, 41-29, after Chase Seyler’s layup midway through the third quarter.

But Goldwire quelled the uprising with six points (including two thunderous dunks) during a 15-2 ECHS run to end the quarter.

The Rebels’ biggest lead was 26, 59-33, after Goldwire’s layup during the opening minutes of the fourth quarter.

“To me, that was the tale of the tape – stopping the bigs. We were there, they just shot over us,” South coach Rico Campbell said. “We have to get better with our interior defense and take away second chances.”

The outcome of the game never seemed in doubt after the first quarter, but the Mustangs displayed resiliency with mini runs to start the final three quarters.

South scored five straight points to begin the second quarter, had a 10-2 run to start the third quarter and a 10-3 spurt to begin the fourth quarter.

South won the fourth quarter, 23-14.

Will Harlin led the Mustangs with 14 points, Aidan Harris had 12 and Corbin McGuire added 10.

“It was a rivalry game, a big crowd. We knew Effingham would bring their ‘A’ game. We brought our ‘A’ game for segments and I thought we showed some fight,” Campbell said. “After the game, they didn’t make any excuses. They didn’t feel like they played their best game so it shows they’re taking ownership.”

The two teams will meet again on Jan. 19 at South Effingham.