Category Archives: Sports Section

Okaw Valley Boys Basketball Posts Wins

News Progress Posted on by

•February 17, 2021•
by Jason Brown
NP Sports

The Okaw Valley boys’ basketball team improved its overall record to 4-1 and its Lincoln Prairie Conference with blowout wins against Tri-County and Blue Ridge.
Friday night, the Timberwolves took care of Tri-County 53-32.
Okaw Valley took an 18-14 first quarter lead and extended that lead to 30-22 at the half.
The Timberwolves extended that lead to double digits in the third quarter, then outscored the Titans 14-4 in the final period.
Every Okaw Valley player scored at least one point.
Eli Hagerman scored a team-high 17 points, including three 3-pointers in the first quarter, and Cale Roley hit double digits with 14 points. Read More

Sullivan Boys Basketball Wins Against Central A&M and Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg

News Progress Posted on by

•February 17, 2021•
by Jason Brown
NP Sports

The Sullivan boys’ basketball team lost its home opener against Meridian High School, but bounced back to win a conference and non-conference game to finish the week 2-1.
After losing to the Hawks, Sullivan defeated Central A&M Friday and Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg Saturday.
Against the Hatchets Saturday, Sullivan was consistent in the first two quarters with 11 points each to take a 22-16 halftime lead.
The Hatchets came out in the third and outscored Sullivan 9-5 to cut the lead to 27-25.
But Sullivan held off WSS in the final period for the 38-33 win. Read More

Sullivan Girls Kick Off Season With Three Games

News Progress Posted on by

•February 10, 20201•
by Jason Brown
NP Sports

The Sullivan girls’ basketball team kicked off the season with three games this past week.
The Redskins opened up the season with a 44-21 win over Villa Grove Monday, Feb. 1, and then knocked off Champaign Central 52-15 Thursday.
Sullivan suffered its first loss of the season to a tough Paris team, 50-39. Read More

Sullivan Boys Bball Wins Season Opener Against Paris

News Progress Posted on by

•February 10, 20201•
by Jason Brown
NP Sports

The Sullivan boys’ basketball team had to complete a fourth quarter comeback to win its season opener against Paris Saturday.
The Redskins fell behind 13-8 after the first quarter. Sullivan cut the deficit to five at half, 26-22.
The Redskins again cut into the lead in the third by outscoring the Tigers 10-8 to cut the lead to 34-32.
In the fourth quarter, Sullivan took the lead, outscoring Paris 24-17, for the eventual 56-51 win. Read More

OV Boys Basketball Starts Season With Two Wins

News Progress Posted on by

•February 10, 20201•
by Jason Brown
NP Sports

The Okaw Valley boys’ basketball team opened the season with two wins.
The Timberwolves knocked of Villa Grove/Heritage Friday and Windsor/Stew-Stras Tuesday, Feb. 2.
Against Villa Grove/Heritage, only ten points were scored in the first quarter total when Okaw Valley took a 6-4 lead.
The Timberwolves doubled up Villa Grove/Heritage 10-5 in the second quarter to take a 16-9 halftime lead.
Okaw Valley extended that lead by four in the third quarter and eventually won 44-30. Read More

OV Girls Bball Falls to Villa Grove/Heritage

News Progress Posted on by

•February 10, 20201•

by Jason Brown
NP Sports

Whether coming off a good year or a bad year, coaches will tell everyone before the season starts that each year has different players and last year’s record doesn’t matter.
Last season, Okaw Valley coach Brad Ackers was rattling off each one of those sentiments after his team had come off a trip to the state basketball tournament.
This year, Ackers might have been saying the same things but for completely different reasons.
Those sentiments are more applicable to this unprecedented season than ever before.
First, each team has about half the games scheduled than last season.
Second, without much conditioning and practice before games started, players began in mid-season but are not necessarily in mid-season shape. Read More

ALAH Loses to Tuscola

News Progress Posted on by

•February 3, 20201•
by Jason Brown
NP Sports

For a start of the season that many did not believe would come, local boys’ and girls’ basketball teams tipped into action this week.
After the Illinois High School Association announced new guidelines that basically allowed basketball to start practice and games, athletic directors, coaches, and athletes scrambled to set scheduled and began action as soon as possible.
Sullivan
The Sullivan girls’ opened their season Monday, February 1, with a home game against Villa Grove.
And the boys’ team is scheduled to begin next week.
Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond Read More

Sports Spectator Rules: Suggestions For Spectators Attending Sporting Events

News Progress Posted on by

•January 27, 20201•
by Jason Brown
NP Sports

With the possibility of high school spring sports starting soon comes the possibility of high school sport spectators.
But what are the minimum requirements according to the guidance issued by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)?
Here are a few of the suggestion for spectators attending spring sporting events.
For contact tracing purposes, sports organizers or venues should maintain a log of all spectators and non-participant visitors in attendance and schools or coaches should maintain a log of all participants in attendance.
Sports organizers require all participants and attendees to wear appropriate face coverings over their noses and mouths.
Sports organizers should direct all individuals to refrain from shouting, singing, or chanting. Read More

IHSA Board Of Directors To Meet Again On January 27

News Progress Posted on by

•January 27, 20201•
by Jason Brown
NP Sports

What a difference two weeks make.
January 15, high school athletes in Illinois’ Region 6, including Moultrie County, did not have much hope for spring sports.
On that day, Governor JB Pritzker announced sports restriction rollbacks for three regions in the state, which did not include Moultrie County.
Schools in Moultrie County are located inside Region 6 and were on pause, until the Illinois Department of Public Health announced significant changes to its all-sports policy Friday, January 22.
The IDPH announced it would allow higher-risk sports to have competitions in regions that reached and stayed at Phase 4 of the state’s COVID-19 mitigations.
Region 6, which includes Moultrie County, reached Phase 4 on Thursday, January 21. Read More