•January 29, 2020•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor
The Okaw Valley boys’ basketball team is coming together at the right time.
The Timberwolves have won seven straight games to improve their overall record to 13-6
OV picked up a regular-season Lincoln Prairie Conference win against Decatur Lutheran last Tuesday, then four days later played Decatur Lutheran again in the first round of the LPC Tournament. Read More
Photo furnished
Picture of Dolphins in 9-10 and 11-12 age divisions who qualified for finals.
Front row: Johnathan Iacobazzi, Aidan Melvin, Logan Booker, Cadence Schmohe, Emily Crosier Back row: Logan Booker, Kaiden Smith, Kennedy Fultz, Libby Henry, Alivia Melvin
Blue Dolphins Break Team Records at Champaign Winter Heat
The Blue Dolphins Swim Team competed at the Champaign Winter Heat 2020.
Ethan Schmohe broke four team records at the meet in the 13-14 age division. 50 freestyle new record 22.76, 100 freestyle 50.27, 100 backstroke 55.67, 100 butterfly 54.81.
The 13-14 boys relay team of Miles Kersten, Isaac Chambers, Matthew Wesselman and Ethan Schmohe broke the 200 Medley Relay with a new time of 1:52.05 and the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:40.98.
•January 29, 2020•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor
The Sullivan girls’ basketball team improved its Central Illinois Conference record to 5-0 against Central A&M last Thursday, then entered the CIC Tournament Saturday with a win against Meridian.
Against the Hawks in Macon, the Redskins won its first game of the CIC Tournament 61-37.
Sullivan wasted no time taking a lead with a 23-7 first-quarter run and never looked back.
“The ladies started off really well tonight,” said Sullivan coach Sheri McCain. “I think we relaxed a little bit in the third quarter when Lilly went out with an injury. They did a nice job pushing the ball up the floor in transition and causing turnovers on defense.”
Emily White exploded for 27 points, including three 3-pointers, nine rebounds and six steals. Read More
•January 29, 2020•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor
The Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond girls’ basketball team defeated Cerro Gordo/Bement twice but lost to Villa Grove/Heritage this past week.
Monday night, the Knights took down the Broncos for the second time in two days
In a regular-season LPC game, ALAH defeated CGB in Arthur.
After taking an 18-6 first quarter lead, the Knights held on for the 44-29 win.
Mackenzi Bowles scored a team-high 14 points and 11 rebounds to go with three assists. Read More
Photo by R.R. Best
Sullivan junior Colin Chappel wrestles for the ball against Clinton at home Friday night. Chappel contributed four rebounds, two assists and five points in the game.
•January 29, 2020•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor
The Sullivan boys’ basketball team dropped three Central Illinois Conference games last week.
The Redskins lost to Warrensburg-Latham Monday and Clinton Friday in heartbreakingly close games; then again to Meridian last Tuesday.
Monday night at home against the Cardinals, Sullivan fell behind 12-2 to start the game.
W-L took a 26-12 halftime lead but Sullivan battled back in the second half.
With 6:14 left in the fourth quarter, Plank hit a corner three to cut the lead to 44-36.
After a defensive stop, Plank missed a corner three from the same spot but an Elder rebound-put-back basket cut the lead to 44-38.
With 3:49 left, Colin Chappel hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to 45-41. Read More
Photo by R.R. Best
What Would Wolfie Do?
During a break in the action at an Okaw Valley High School home basketball game cheerleaders Madalyne McPheeters, Marissa Bell and Autumn Burns plan their next fan boosting move with school mascot Emileah Drake, Wolfie.
•January 29, 2020•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor
The Okaw Valley girls’ basketball team finished the week 1-2 in Lincoln Prairie Conference action.
The Timberwolves lost to Villa Grove Heritage last Monday and Blue Ridge on Thursday in the Lincoln Prairie Conference Tournament game.
But four days later, OV avenged the Blue Ridge loss by knocking off the Knights at Farmer City.
The Timberwolves fell behind 18-9 in the first quarter, but OV slowly battled back in the next two quarters to cut the lead to 30-28.
OV then went on a 14-7 run to take the lead and game 42-37. Read More
•January 22, 2020•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor
The Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond boys’ basketball team picked up a Lincoln Prairie Conference win against Argenta-Oreana last Tuesday and had a game against Arcola postponed on Friday.
Against the Bombers, the Knights took a four-point lead, 18-14, in the first quarter.
ALAH’s defense then held AO’s offense to eight points or less in the last three quarters.
The Knights scored 17 points in the third and fourth quarters for the eventual 65-30 win. Read More
•January 22, 2020•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor
The Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond girls’ basketball game against Blue Ridge Saturday was like déjà vu.
That was because the Knights had just played Blue Ridge less than 48 hours earlier.
ALAH won both games to improve its overall record to 13-8 and its Lincoln Prairie Conference record to 4-1.
Saturday at Farmer City, ALAH defeated Blue Ridge 45-23.
The Knights doubled Blue Ridge in the first quarter 10-5 before running away with it.
Every player on ALAH’s team scored.
Mackenzi Bowles led the team with 15 points. Read More
•January 22, 2020•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor
The Sullivan girls’ basketball team improved its winning streak to six with two big wins this week.
The Redskins took down Clinton and Altamont.
In the NTC vs CIC Shoot Out Saturday, Sullivan represented the Central Illinois Conference well with a 67-53 win.
“This was the by far the best game of the season for us,” said Sullivan coach Sheri McCain. “We really did a great job executing our game plan and limiting their attempts inside. We took care of the ball and transitioned really well.”
Sullivan took a five-point lead in the first quarter then incrementally extended its lead the rest of the game. Read More