Category Archives: Sports Section

Okaw Valley Volleyball Team Picks Up Three Wins

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Photo by R.R. Best
Sadie Zimmerman bumps the ball. (Sadie Zimmerman dished out 27 assists and had 10 digs against Bement).

•September 19, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Okaw Valley volleyball team picked up three wins and competed in the St. Anthony Tournament this past week.
The Timberwolves knocked off Bement in three sets Friday (14th), losing the first 25-21 but winning the next two 25-11 and 25-20.
Paige Coleman collected 12 kills, 16 digs, three blocks and five aces.
Kate Jeffers had eight kills, five digs, three blocks and two aces, and Madison Voegel finished with six kills and four blocks.
Sadie Zimmerman dished out 27 assists and had 10 digs, and Grace Bunfill finished with five digs and three aces.
April Decesaro added 19 digs, and Bella Benning had 15.
Zimmerman had five digs, and Benning and Zimmerman served two aces.
Against Villa Grove last Tuesday, OV again won in three sets.
OV took the first set 25-15 but lost a close second set 28-26.
The Timberwolves battled back in the third set to win 25-17.
Coleman tallied four blocks, 12 digs and 16 kills, and Sadie Zimmerman added eight digs and 31 assists. Read More

Injury Ridden Redskins Fight on Against Shelbyville

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•September 19, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

Rather than the injury bug, the Sullivan-Okaw Valley football team has dealt with the injury monster.
To enter the game against Shelbyville Friday at Victory Field, four SOV game-one starters were on the sidelines.
“We are still pretty banged up right now,” said coach Jeff Myers. “We went into the game down four starters from week one and a quarterback still less than 100 percent from a week two shoulder injury.”
The Rams scored first with just under a minute in the first quarter when Dominick Kimberlin caught a 58-yard pass for a touchdown. The Rams then passed in the extra point for an 8-0 lead
SOV answered when receiver Dominick Kimberlin caught a 58-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Luke Harlin.
The kick failed, leaving the score at 8-6.
Kimberlin finished with 137 yards on three catches.
The Rams ran in two more scores in the second half to extend the lead to 21-6 lead.
The Redskins cut the lead to 21-12 when Luke Vander Burgh returned a kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown with 4:26 left in the quarter. Read More

Sullivan Boys Golf Team: State Playoff Bound

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Caden Ellis earned medalist honors with a score of 68 at the Windsor Invitational Saturday.

•September 19, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Sullivan boys’ golf team is on the road to its final destination this year.
The state playoffs.
The Redskins have won two regionals out of the last three years and three Central Illinois Conference championships in the last four years.
This year, the boys’ team has dominated the season to a 15-0 start.
“Our school has an enrollment of 328,” head coach Ben Richter said last Thursday. “Our golf team has 18 boys which is enough for three teams. Our varsity team is 15-0 with our sights on the state playoff.”
The top six Sullivan golfers are averaging scores less than 90.
Caden Ellis is averaging an area leading 71.57 and has won medalist in nearly every meet this season. Read More

Cardinal Puppy

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Photo by Jason Brown
Cardinal Puppy
Laila Sanchez holds Yadi, a two month old puppy named after the Cardinals’ baseball player, during the halftime of the ALAH football game Friday night.

Cold Second Quarter Costly for ALAH Knights

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Photo by Jason Brown:
Knight Billy Fifer (#32) runs the ball in the second quarter against Arcola Friday night.

•September 19, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond football team could not overcome a stilted second quarter against Arcola Friday night in Arthur.
With a 14-point lead to end the first quarter, the Purple Riders took advantage of ALAH miscues to pull away for a 27-0 halftime lead.
“We played three quarters strong, but the 12 minutes in that second quarter were definitely a struggle,” said ALAH head coach Ryan Jefferson. “Couldn’t move the ball on offense, had a snap go over the punter’s head, and gave up another 13 unanswered points in a hurry.”
At that point, after playing such a strong first quarter, Jefferson knew his team just needed to get out of the first half without error so they could keep the score the same until he could make adjustments for the second half.
In the second half, the Knights shutout the Riders and scored within the 5:04 left in the third quarter when Adam Day scored a rushing touchdown, and Aaron Likens kicked the extra point. Read More

Sullivan Volleyball Competes in Tournament

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•September 19, 2018•

The Sullivan volleyball team dropped two matches and competed in the St. Anthony Tournament this past week.
The Redskins lost to Monticello last Tuesday and Shelbyville Thursday.
Against the Sages, Sullivan lost 25-14, 25-19.
Gwen Diepholz and Zoe Ray had three each. Read More

ALAH Volleyball Team Takes Martinsville

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•September 12, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond volleyball team split a pair of matches this past week.
The Knights knocked off Martinsville but lost to Monticello.
“Our team keeps going back to the quote, ‘The man on top of the mountain didn’t land there,’” said coach Emily Crossman. “With graduating so many key players and having girls play next to each other that never have before, we keep taking one day at a time, trying to learn from each opportunity and improve each day. We are all about putting in the work to get to where we want to be in October.”
Last Tuesday against Martinsville, ALAH won in straight sets, 25-16, 25-18. Read More

ALAH Knights Pick Up First Win Over Martinsville

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•September 12, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

Ryan Jefferson picked up his first win as Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond’s head football coach on the road against Martinsville Friday night.
In the wet, sloppy conditions, Jefferson expected most teams in the area would have to rely on a ground game.
“We knew going in we would be running the ball most of the night,” said Jefferson. “They did have a hard time slowing our run game. We gained almost 300 yards of offense again but also probably left another 50 to 100 yards and a couple more scores on the field because of a few fumbles.”
Despite that, the Knights’ offense still racked up 33 points, and the defense dominated for its first shutout of the year.
“I’m happy with our offensive production once again, but it’s been the story the last two games,” Jefferson said. “We cannot continue to turn the ball over, especially in our own territory which we have had a bad habit of doing.”
On a fourth down and 10, ALAH scored its first touchdown with 7:49 left in the first period when Brady Borntreger completed a 15-yard touchdown run. Read More