The Lady Vandals had a rough start to the 16th Annual Effingham Girls Basketball Tournament going 0-2 on the first day Monday. In the first game, the Lady Vandals fell behind early to Greenville, 9-0, and would have be able to get no closer than four points as they trailed throughout most of the game. However, a fourth quarter 12-5 run including two big basketball and two made free throws from Olivia Marquardt would help the Vandals tie Greenville 39-39 right before the end of regulation to send the game into overtime. The Lady Vandals were outscored 10-5 in the extra period though as they fall to Greenville 49-44. Marquardt would lead Vandalia in scoring in the game with 14 points while Madison Klanke with 12 points and Megan Kern with 10 point also finished in double digits.
In their second game on Monday in the final tournament game of the day against Centralia, another slow first quarter had the Lady Vandals down 17-9 early and 36-19 at the half. The second half was an equally rough one as the Lady Vandals trailed 49-27 at the end of the 3rd before falling 61-38 to the Annies. Olivia Marquardt again led the Lady Vandals with 14 points while Lanee McNary finished with 7 points.
The Lady Vandals are now 0-2 in the tournament and 6-13 overall on the season. They will be back in action at the tournament on Wednesday when they take on host Effingham at 7:30.