Category Archives: Sports Section

Timberwolves Win Two on Way to Regional Championship Game

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Photo by R. R. Best
Okaw Valley coach Brooks Inman screams words of encouragement to his players during the regional championship Friday.

•March 4, 2020•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Okaw Valley boys’ basketball team won two games to reach the Class 1A Bethany Regional championship, but came up short against Casey-Westfield.
In the championship game, OV fell behind by double digits in the first half but kept the score within striking distance.
In the fourth quarter, the Timberwolves made their move.
Down by 16 in the fourth quarter, OV battled back to cut the lead to six with seven minutes remaining.
But the Warriors’ defense, which helped OV to 14-of-44 (.318) shooting from the field, including 1-of-11 (.090) from three-point range, stifled OV the rest of the game to go on a 19-1 run and pull away for the eventual 57-37 win. Read More

OV Cheerleaders Perform

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OV Cheerleaders Perform
The Okaw Valley Timberwolves cheerleaders performed a dance routine for the hometown crowd last week. They were front from left:- Autumn Burns, Julia Hildebrandt, Marissa Bell, Madalyne McPheeters; back- Grace Moeller, Shaukana Tipsword, Danae Nave and Faith Briggs.

Blue Dolphins Complete Swimmers Supporting Soldiers Drive

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(At left) the Blue Dolphins Terre Haute Team: First Row: Kara Chambers, Tyson Schmohe, Logan Booker, Johnathan Iacobazzi, Kaiden Smith.   Second Row: Isabel Donovan, Deanna Clark, Mason Booker, Liam Donovan, Josh Cremeens, Max Kersten.  Third Row:  Head Coach Jason Drury, Mackenzie Erixon, Gabrielle Spain, Madalyn Booker, Ethan Schmohe, Isaac Chambers, Miles Kersten. Blue Dolphins photo

•February 26, 2020•
Sullivan Blue Dolphins are finishing out the short course season with success in and out of the pool.
The Dolphins competed in Terre Haute at the Artic Blast meet. The team brought home the 2nd place team trophy against twelve other teams. Gabrielle Spain in the girls open division won the 2nd place high point award. Ethan Schmohe in the 13-14 boy’s division came home with the 1st place trophy. SBD has a moto “You earn your trophies at practice; you bring them home from meets” is a theme that is really showing for the team.
They have thirteen swimmers qualified to swim in the Regional Championship meet in Peoria at the end of February. Read More

Sullivan Competes at Swim Sectionals

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Sullivan Competes at Swim Sectionals
The Sullivan swim team competed in IHSA Swimming Sectionals at Champaign-Centennial High School Saturday.
The Redskins placed eighth overall out of 19 teams, accumulating 79 points.
Individual places and results are below:
Ethan Schmohe, Clayton Schmohe, Matthew Wesselman and Julian Poston swam the 200 medley relay in 1:56.39 for fifth place.
Ethan Schmohe placed third win the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 53.92 and fourth in the 100 butterfly.
Wesselman, Ethan Schmohe, Clayton Schmohe and Poston placed fifth in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:42.03.
Poston also placed 19th in the 100 breastroke at 1:22.93.
Matthew Wesselman swam the 500 freestyle in 5:13.57 for sixth place and set a new school record and he placed seventh in the 200 freestyle at 1:55.76
Clayton Schmohe placed 20th and 21st in the 100 freestyle and 50 freestyle, respectively.

ALAH Knights End Winning Season with Tough Games

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Photo by Jason Brown
Jamison Rocke jumps high in the air to catch a ball to break Okaw Valley’s full-court press.

•February 26, 2020•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

After winning an emotional home game to secure the regular-season Lincoln Prairie Conference championship Friday, the Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond boys’ basketball team could not carry that momentum into the semifinals and lost to Stewardson-Strasburg in the Meridian Regional, Monday.
Against Okaw Valley Friday, a team ALAH lost to 60-57 on Feb. 1, the Knights took the lead in the middle two quarters and held on to ten-point advantage until the fourth quarter.
OV battle back cutting the lead to three points several times in the final period but could not tie the game in the 54-49 win.
“I’m proud of these guys working so hard. We fought through it. These kids went through 3-23 last year to get where they are today is amazing,” said ALAH coach Brad McGill. Read More

Redskins Basketball Season Closes

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Leyton Ellis fights for a rebound against Tuscola on senior night Friday.

•February 26, 2020•
The Sullivan boys’ basketball team lost to Newton in the regional quarterfinal game 67-51 to end its season with an overall record of 5-22 and a Central Illinois Conference record of 0-7.
The Redskins also lost to Maroa-Forsyth 53-44 last Tuesday and Tuscola 72-41 on senior night Friday.
Against Meridian, Ian Plank scored a team-high 21 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Photo by R.R. Best
Four SHS seniors pose before the game on senior night. Luke Harlin, Ryan Batman, Gary Herschberger, Blake Thompson and Aaron Garvey are senior team members.

Sullivan Boys Team Bounces Back for Win

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•February 19, 2020•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Sullivan boys’ basketball team lost to powerhouses Central A&M and St. Teresa but bounced back to defeat Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City.
Against St. Teresa Friday, Sullivan fell behind early and could not catch up in the 68-24 loss.
For the Redskins, Leyton Ellis scored a team-high six points, and Luke Harlin netted four points to go with two rebounds and two assists.
Ian Plank, Austin Sims, Kanin Elder and Ryan Batman each scored two points. Read More

OVHS Girls Track Competes

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•February 19, 2020•

The Okaw Valley girls’ track team competed in the Illinois Wesleyan indoor track meet Saturday.
Kaylie Stauder took fifth in the 400-meter run, and Julia Hildebrandt placed sixth in the high jump.
Mad McPheeters placed seventh in the 60-meter dash, and Macie Fleshner placed seventh in the hurdles.
Karlie Stauder placed ninth in the pole vault and in the 400-meter dash.
The Timberwolves next indoor meet is schedule for 10 a.m. Saturday, March 7, at Illinois College.

Sullivan Girls Basketball Team Finishes Season with Conference Best Record

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Photo by R.R. Best:
Taylor Orris hugs Avery Still after the season-ending loss at home Friday.

•February 19, 2020•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Sullivan girl’s basketball team defeated Fairfield in the semifinal of the Sullivan Class 2A Regional Friday, but could not overcome a No. 2 state-ranked Paris team in the championship game.
In the regional championship, the Redskins fell behind four points after the first quarter, but it was a 16-8 second-quarter run that put Paris on top 36-20 at half.
In the second half, Sullivan was unable to recover and eventually lost 71-46 to the undefeated Tigers (33-0).
For Sullivan, Emily White recorded 16 points, six rebounds and two steals, and Avery Still finished with 10 points, two blocks and six rebounds. Read More