Submitted by Don Rousser
Second Place High-Point Winners
The Sullivan Blue Dolphins traveled to Bourbonnais, Ill. for the Bradley Bourbonnais Swim Club Pentathlon on November 10. This was a one day five event competition. The attached picture was the second place high point winners; Front row: Deanna Clark, Back row: Brynna Sentel, Anna Wooters , Charlie Goss and not pictured: Michaela Donnel.
OV Ousted Monday
by Keith Stewart & Kirk Whitaker
keith@newsprogress.com
Okaw Valley, Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond, and Sullivan each began play in the Okaw Valley girls’ holiday tournament this past Saturday. Two teams secured wins, while one took a loss, thus entering the consolation bracket. Read More
Photo by Keith Stewart
Nick Frerichs guards Argenta-Oreana's Keegan McHood Friday night. Even with solid Sullivan defense, McHood led the night with 19 points, though it wouldn't prove enough as the Redskins won out 47-39.
Continues on with four-game win streak
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
To the Okaw Valley Conference–we will be taken seriously–sincerely, Sullivan. #RESPECT #AlliterationIsCool.
That was Friday night’s text message or tweet, or what have you, after Sullivan’s 47-39 victory over conference foe Argenta-Oreana.
“I told them, they had a great opportunity tonight to send a message to the Okaw that they better show up to play us, and I think we did that,” said Sullivan head coach Chester Reeder. “People are going to have to play us well. We’re not perfect by any means. We’re not unbeatable, but people are going to have to show up to play us.”
The Redskins combined four quarters of defense with spurts of perimeter and paint offense to send the Bombers packing Friday night. After a contested first quarter finally gave way with the Redskins leading 12-10, Sullivan pushed ahead in the second. Read More
Neuhauser comes up big with 24 pts, 11 rebounds
Photo by Keith Stewart
Emily Neuhauser battles Monticello's Hannah Smith for the ball Thursday night.
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
Don’t tell Sheri McCain that her team is 8-1, let alone undefeated in their conference.
Seriously.
It’s not that the Sullivan girls’ head coach isn’t aware of that fact. She’d just rather you not jinx things.
“It’s a good feeling for them, because when I first took over, I don’t think people thought Sullivan would be at the top of the conference or undefeated at this stage,” said McCain. “I’m happy for how hard they’ve worked these last couple years. They deserve this, this moment. But I told them, you can’t take anything for granted, and I think that’s what happened the first quarter.”
Thursday night, McCain and company travelled to Monticello, where they stood the chance of being knocked off of their 4-0 undefeated conference streak. And despite a scare from the first quarter, the Lady Red turned things around defensively and traveled the hour back with a 57-38 victory in tow.
“It was an aggressive game, but it was a good win on the road. We were tired. We had a new defense, and tonight we played in spurts. They were exhausted.”
Sullivan trailed quickly in the first despite Alyssa Marshall’s two-pointer to start the game. Monticello junior Layne Buzan responded by scoring the bucket and one, putting her team up 3-2. The Sages got out to as large as a seven-point lead before the Lady Red fought back. A Maggie Plank bucket cut the lead to five and was followed by Emily Neuhauser’s additional two after grabbing the offensive board.
The quick and nimble Neuhauser was Sullivan’s go-to girl Thursday, leading the night with a double-double in 24 points and 11 rebounds. Fellow friend and teammate Brittin Boyer also recorded a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Read More
ALAH snaps OV’s win streak
by Kirk Whitaker
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter
It was déjà vu for Okaw Valley.
Last season Arthur senior forward Karly Goodman scored 24 points en route to a Lancers blowout win, and Monday night in Arthur, the senior dropped 25 more on the Timberwolves.
With the score 13-9 in favor of the Lancers at the end of the first, Goodman started out the quarter white hot, scoring the first nine points of the quarter, giving ALAH a 22-9 lead with 3:34 left in the half when she was replaced. Read More
Will remain on as athletic director
by Kirk Whitaker
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter
Five years ago Charlie Brown left Rochester—a team who would win four consecutive state championships and produce two Division I caliber quarterbacks in Sean Robinson and Wes Lunt—to rebuild a Sullivan Okaw Valley football program that had eight wins in its previous 10 seasons. On top of the lack of winning, SOV was coming off back-to-back 0-9 seasons and two coaches in the last two seasons.
“Really, the key to my taking the job was getting to be the athletic director as well as being the head football coach,” Brown stated. “Being athletic director was something I wanted to take as my next step, and it also had to be something for me to look forward to in order to leave Rochester.” Read More
Allow 0-13 run in fourth for lackluster finish
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
It was apparent from the reaction to her team’s win Monday night over Warrensburg-Latham that Sheri McCain is all for creating an elite team, not just a winning one. For most coaches a 53-39 victory would be seen as a good night, but for McCain, it fell short of what are increasing expectations. Read More
Improve to 6-1 on the season
by Emily Scott
Bethany Reporter
It was a tough match-up of two nearly equal teams on Thursday when the Okaw Valley Lady Timberwolves faced off against Altamont.
But due to their intensity and defensive press in the second half, OV was able to nab their fifth win in a row, winning 50-42.
Altamont came out with good ball movement whereas Okaw Valley lacked in it. Nevertheless, it was a back-and-forth game from the start. Read More
Thanks be to Williams’ 11 fourth quarter points
by Kirk Whitaker
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter
In the fourth quarter of Tuesday night’s non-conference bout between St. Teresa and Arthur-Lovington, St. Teresa senior Christian Williams showed why he already has a scholarship offer to a Division I school under his belt and is garnering interest from multiple top-tier Division one schools, including the University of Illinois, after leading his team in the fourth quarter to a 51-48 comeback victory. Read More
Free throws down the stretch solidify victory
Photo by Keith Stewart
Sullivan’s Derek Stain dives for the ball Tuesday night during what was a scrappy and physical game against Arcola. Stain led the night with 29 points and was crucial down the stretch, sinking 9-of-10 free throws to help his team to a 57-47 victory.
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
It’s true that moments during Tuesday night’s game between Sullivan and Arcola resembled an amateur session of the Harlem Globetrotters, what with the two alley-oops for the Redskins as well as a Nich Frerichs’ 2-pointer from a seated position on the hardwood.
“I don’t know. Somebody was with us on that shot,” said head coach Chester Reeder. “I was trying to call timeout and luckily they didn’t give it to me.” Read More