•May 12, 2021•
Baseball
The Okaw Valley baseball team dropped three games this past week.
The Timberwolves lost to Charleston 10-0 Friday, May 7.
The Trojans put up crooked numbers each of the first three innings to pull away.
Aiden Williams recorded OV’s lone hit in the game.
Thursday, May 6, OV lost to Neoga in a close 5-4 game.
After a 1-1 tie, each team scored three runs in the third inning. Read More
Category Archives: Sports Section
OV Baseball Posts Wins Over Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg and North Clay
•April 28, 2021•
by Jason Brown
NP Sports
For the past several years, Okaw Valley baseball playoff hopes loomed large. This year is a bit different.
With no Illinois High School Playoffs scheduled, Okaw Valley coach Andrew Hagerman and other coaches in the area have to focus on winning each and every game of the season.
The Okaw Valley team started this season 2-1 with wins against Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg and North Clay and a loss to St. Anthony.
For its second win of the season, Okaw Valley defeated North Clay with a last-inning comeback.
The Timberwolves scored two runs in the seventh inning to overtake North Clay 5-4.
Okaw Valley had taken the lead in the third inning 3-1, but North Clay tied the game in the fourth inning and took the lead in the fifth inning. Read More
Sullivan Sport Briefs
•April 28, 2021•
SOV Football
The Sullivan/Okaw Valley football team finished its third straight season without a win with a loss to Warrensburg-Latham in Warrensburg Friday night.
Though the Redskins scored one of their highest offensive performances of the season, the Cardinals outscored Sullivan 41-27 for the Central Illinois Conference win.
With 2:06 left in the first quarter, Sullivan scored on a 52-yard screen pass from Luke Vander Burgh to Ian Plank to cut the lead to 8-6.
With 9:33 left in the first quarter, the Cardinals scored on a run play to take a 14-6 lead. Read More
County Sports Briefs
Photo by R.R. Best
SOV Senior Night Football
It was Senior Night for the SOV Redskins. The Maroons attempt to take down senior running back Cooper Browne.
•April 21, 2021•
Sullivan Football
The Sullivan-Okaw Valley football dropped its fifth straight game of the season with a 26-6 loss to the Maroons of Clinton Friday at Victory Field.
Clinton scored first on a one-run yard quarterback keeper. The snap of the point-after kick was mishandled, leaving the score 6-0.
On the kickoff return, Ian Plank returned the ball into Maroon territory.
After a first down, Luke Vander Burgh hit Terence McRill on a seem route for a 27-yard touchdown. The point-after pass attempt failed, leaving the score 6-6.
The scored stayed 6-6 until about eight minutes left with the second quarter when Clinton scored on a fly route down the sideline.
The Maroons scored the next 14 points for the 26-6 win. Read More
ALAH Sports Briefs
•April 21, 2021•
Volleyball
The Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond team dropped two Lincoln Prairie Conference matches this past week.
The Knights lost to Tri-County Tuesday, April 13, and to Decatur Lutheran Monday, April 12.
Against Tri-County, the Titans won in straight sets, 25-21, 25-19.
For the Knights, Mackenzi Bowles contributed nine kills and two digs, and Alisha Frederick finished with eight assists, three digs, two kills and one ace.
The day before, ALAH fell to Decatur Lutheran in three sets. Read More
Guyot Honored As IHSA 2020-21 Official Of The Year
•April 21, 2021•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports
On your marks! Set… Fans of track and field know exactly what sound follows those words. For 38 years Ben Guyot of Sullivan was the official who pulled the trigger on the starter’s gun. Last July Guyot was honored as the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) 2020-21 Official of the Year in Girls’ Track & Field. IHSA Officials of the Year are traditionally honored at a banquet during the IHSA Officials’ Conference each July. This year’s conference was moved to a virtual format. To be considered for this honor, an official must first be nominated by an Officials’ Association recognized by the IHSA. IHSA staff members then vote on the winners based on factors such as character, skill as an official, and levels worked in the IHSA State Series. Guyot admitted he was a terrible athlete in junior high and high school so the path to this honor was as expected. Guyot attended Murray State University which had a prominent track program in the early 1960s. “Over four years, I watched a bunch of great athletes in meets at MSU, since Big Ten teams showed up two-three times during the early spring for the ‘warm weather’ on the ‘Southern Circuit,’” Guyot said. “I watched and learned and began to become a good observer of processes and techniques of track and field.” When Guyot began teaching chemistry in Noble in 1966-67, he was drafted as a non-IHSA baseball umpire, a basketball timer during the winter and a “picker” in track. Read More
ALAH Football Posts Win Against Sangamon Valley
•April 21, 2021•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports
The Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond football team improved its record to 3-2 on the season with a win against the Storm. The Knights performed well on both sides of the ball for a 34-0 Lincoln Prairie Conference win. ALAH’s defense shutout Sangamon Valley, and the Knights’ offense scored enough early to rotate several substitutes into the game in the second half. “Offensively, we were able to move the ball well on the ground,” said ALAH coach Ryan Jefferson, “but we still aren’t where I’d like us to be in the passing game and we also had some mistakes that led to a punt and some turnovers on downs.” Finn Davison and Billy Fifer combined for more than 200 yards. Davison ran the ball 17 times for 126 yards and a touchdown, and Fifer ran the ball ten times for 86 yards and two touchdowns. Jamison Rocke rushed for 60 yards on six carries and scored a touchdown, and Max Allen rushed for 50 yards and six carries and scored a touchdown. “It was nice to see some kids step up though,” said Jefferson. Read More
LLC Women’s Bball Team Seeded No. 2 in National Tournament
Submitted Photo
Members of the Lake Land College Women’s Basketball Team: Olivia Niemerg, Shania Schoonover, Tresoir Newson, Kamaria Gant, Josie Orris, Harley Barry, Avery Still, Abigayle Weis, Joanna Schultz, Mikayla Sirjord, Jaelynn Riggleman, Karrington Krabel and Elizabeth Buescher.
•April 21, 2021•
The Lake Land College Women’s Basketball Team earned the No. 2 seed at the 2021 NJCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Championship. The Lady Lakers will begin the tournament facing off against the No. 15 seeded Lackawanna College Falcons.
“I’m excited and I’m sure the team is,” sophomore player Tresoir Newson said. “We’ve been working hard all year.”
Ranked third in the nation behind Johnson County and Kirkwood, the Lady Lakers’ record is 21-2 with a 12-game win streak leading up to the national championship.
Head Coach Dave Johnson said the team has consistently played at a high level, having won against six nationally ranked teams this year.
“I think it’s a reflection of the hard work our players have put in this year,” Johnson said. “We’re just super excited, and I’m really proud of how these young ladies have played this year.” Read More
ALAH Volleyball Wins Two, Drops One
•April 14, 2021•
by Jason Brown
NP Sports
The Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond volleyball team competed in three matches this past week. The Knights won two matches and lost one. ALAH defeated Cerro Gordo/Bement Thursday, April 8, and Villa Grove Monday, April 5, but lost to Shelbyville Saturday. Against the Rams Saturday, the Knights lost in straight sets, 25-12, 25-22, in the nonconference matchup. For the Knights, Charley Condill recorded eight kills, and Cheyenne Chupp added six kills. Alisha Frederick dished out nine assists, and Michaela Powell finished with seven digs. In a Lincoln Prairie Conference match Thursday, ALAH swept Cerro Gordo/Bement in straight sets. The Knights took the first set 25-15 and the second set 25-13 for the win. For ALAH, Cheyenne Chupp and Charley Condill each contributed five kills. Condill also served five aces. Mackenzi Bowles contributed four kills, and Sarah Rafferty dished out eight assists. Michaela Powell finished with eight digs. Read More
Area Sports Briefs
•April 14, 2021•
All-Area Teams
The News Gazette announced its all-area girls’ basketball teams this past week, including several local players.
Senior Redskin guard Emily White earned first team honors.
Senior forward Jerra Goad and senior forward Taylor Orris each earned special mention honors.
Senior Zoe Walton earned honorable mention honors.
Junior Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond guard Alexa Miller earned first-team honors.
Knights senior Makenzie Brown and freshman Claire Seal each earned special mention honors.
Knights senior Mackenzi Bowles, sophomore Charley Condill and sophomore Kailee Otto each earned honorable mention honors.
All-LPC Teams
The Lincoln Prairie Conference announced its girls’ basketball all-conference team this past week. Read More