Category Archives: Sports Section

Sullivan Girls Team Sweeps Maroa Forsyth Tip Off Classic

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•November 27, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

To win another regional championship and make a deep run into the IHSA playoffs, Sullivan girls’ basketball coach Sheri McCain has her players focused on each step of the process during the long season.
The first step for the regular season schedule was to win the 2nd Annual Maroa-Forsyth Tip-off Classic by sweeping all three games.
Sullivan did just that.
The Redskins won their first game of the season 35-14 against host Maroa-Forsyth. Read More

Busy Week for Okaw Valley Girls Basketball

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•November 27, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Okaw Valley girls’ basketball finished a busy first week of action to kick off the season.
The Timberwolves lost to Shelbyville but knocked off Meridian before entering the Pana Thanksgiving Tournament.
In the tournament, OV fell to Mattoon, Athens and Centralia.
Against Meridian last Tuesday, OV outscored the Hawks by five points in each of the first two quarters for a 27-17 halftime lead. Read More

OVHS Boy’s Basketball Team Returns with Experience

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•November 27, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

For the Okaw Valley boys’ basketball team to be successful this season, the Timberwolves will have to take advantage of its energy and game plans to over its lack of height.
OV returns five letter winners and quite a bit of experience.
“We don’t have much height, but we make up for that with effort and execution,” said coach Brooks Inman. “We will have to be fundamentally sound on defense and on the glass.” Read More

ALAH Girls Basketball Wins Opener

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•November 27, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond girls’ basketball team won its season opener at home last Monday.
The Knights dismantled Meridian 52-18 with help from a defense that held the Hawks to six points or less in each quarter. Read More

Young Roster Fires Okaw Valley Basketball Team’s Future Season

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Photo by Jason Brown
Timberwolves player Kate Jeffers eyes the rim during the state tournament two years ago. Jeffers looks to take that experience into a successful senior year.

•November 20, 2019•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Okaw Valley girls’ basketball team returned only one senior: Kate Jeffers.
At the same time, OV returned other Timberwolves who earned quality varsity playing time last season.
“We return a lot of varsity minutes, both in the back court and front court, more than last year in that respect,” said OV head coach Brad Ackers. “The girls know what is in front of them and what to expect this year, that will pay off when we face adversity this season too.”
Ackers will have to count on several young players to contribute for OV to have a successful season.
“Some young girls will see varsity reps, and we will get them as ready as we can,” Acker said. “I also think we are a bit deeper this year than we have been in the past. I could see up to ten girls in the varsity rotation here next week, and that is something we haven’t had since our first year here.” Read More

Sullivan Girls Basketball Team Seeks Deep Playoff Run

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Photo by Jason Brown
Avery Still passes the ball last year during the sectional at Tuscola. Avery looks to help Sullivan beyond a Sweet 16 bid.

•November 20, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

For the last two seasons, the Sullivan girls’ basketball team has earned trips to the Sweet 16.
This season, the Redskins are eager for a chance to go deeper in the state tournament.
Sullivan head coach Sheri McCain believes her team should contend for a Central Illinois Conference championship, but her real goal each year is making deep runs in the playoff.
“Our ultimate goal is to be ready for post-season play and bring home another regional title,” McCain said. “These girls have experienced a lot of success over the past few years and are hungry to keep the tradition going. They have fallen short in the Sweet 16 the past two years, but I know they are motivated and want to go beyond the Sweet 16.”
The Redskins have a good blend of height and speed to go inside and outside scoring.
And as usual, McCain led teams will apply full and three-quarter court pressure, along with well-scouted half-court defensive schemes.
“We are pretty quick in transition and like to get up and down the floor,” she said. “We have a lot of offensive threats and several girls can score outside as well as around the rim. I think we are also a pretty good team defensively, and I think our height and length will cause some problems for other teams.” Read More

Letter Winners Athleticism is Key to ALAH Girls Basketball Strength

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Photo by Jason Brown
Alexa Miller, who earned all-Little Okaw Valley Conference last season, dribbles the ball for the Knights.

•November 20, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond girls’ basketball team returned a very young team to this year’s varsity squad.
The Knights return four letter winners: Alexa Miller, Makenzie Brown, Jolynn Barbee and Mallory Nichols.
“I hope we can find ourselves near the top,” said head coach Mac Condill. “But it’s going to depend on injuries and how quickly our inexperience becomes experienced.”
But Condill had no other choice but to get them playing time hope they learn quickly.
“I hope it’s our athleticism (is our strength),” he said, “we won’t know until the season gets going. We will try to play at a pace that compliments our five players on the floor.”
In every single practice of day practice so far, the coaches have been emphasizing ball handling. Read More

Redskins Swim Team Competes at Urbana

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•November 20, 2019•
The Sullivan girls’ swim team competed in the IHSA Swimming Sectionals at the Urbana Indoor Aquatic Center starting Saturday.
The Redskins placed seventh with 68 points. Champaign Centennial’s 209 points won the sectional meet.
Redskins Lilly Graham, Madalyn Booker, Gabrielle Spain and Kadence Kennedy competed in several events. Read More

Blue Dolphins Win Again at Terre Haute

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•November 20, 2019•

Photo courtesy Jamie Crosier
First at Terre Haute
Left to right Cadence Schmohe, Emerson Risley, Max Kersten, Rylan Diener, Lilly Graham, Matthew Wesselman, Miles Kersten, Madalyn Booker, Gabby Spain, Mackenzie Erixon, Ethan Schmohe, Isaac Chambers, Kaiden Smith, Libby Henry, Kara Chambers, Johnathan Iacobazzi, Deanna Clark, Eli Crosier

The Sullivan Blue Dolphins Swim Team competed at Terre Haute in the Halloween Splash.
In a total team effort, with fast swims, the Dolphins kept the tradition going and brought home the 1st place trophy.
The 13-14 division brought home individual trophies as well with Madalyn Booker 2nd place, Ethan Schmohe 1st place and Matthew Wesselman 2nd place.

Kibler Earns Chance for USA Trampoline Team Spot

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Arthur resident Ariel Kibler poses in her USA leotard that she will be wearing in Tokyo at the World Age Group Championships Dec. 1-9.

•November 13, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP sports Editor

In her last year of eligibility, Arthur resident Ariel Kibler has earned one more chance to represent the USA trampoline team.
Kibler, 21, made the World Age-Group Competition Team and is scheduled to compete in Tokyo at the World Age Group Championships.
“This is my last year to be eligible for this competition,” Kibler said. “I will compete in the 17-21 age group. The next step is World Championships, which is the week before our event, and they are the best of the best from each country. However, because of the Olympics next year, there will not be a world championship.”
To earn her spot on the team, Kibler earned enough scores during competitions in Evansville, Ind., Winston-Salem and Des Moines to move on.
“After the first event I had the first spot,” said Kibler. “After the second, I moved to second, and the third, I moved down but was able to hang on to earn a spot.”
She was also invited to the World Championship selection camp, where she
gained a lot of experience training and competing with the best.
This was also when she heard the announcement that she made the World Championships and World Age Groups. Read More