Category Archives: Sports Section

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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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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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

AOC Volleyball Finishes Third

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AOC Volleyball Finishes Third
The Arthur-Okaw Christian Volleyball team finished the 2019 season with a 36-2 record and a third place finish in the National Association of Christian Athletes tournament.
The team started the season winning all four matches in the Arthur Christian Classic.
The Conquering Riders went on to win their first 17 matches before losing their only regular-season match against Goshen Home School Sept. 21.
Arthur-Okaw Christian then went on to win 19-straight games before losing to The Rock Lions Oct. 25.
AOC’s starting lineup consisted of two seniors, four sophomores and one freshman.
The team roster included senior Lyla Kauffman, senior Lindsey Mast, senior Chloe Tiarks, junior Alexis Cutler, junior Trinity Gregory, junior Susie Pickett, sophomore Chloe Mast, sophomore Ava Yoder, sophomore Halie Rhoades, sophomore Keisha Miller, sophomore Victoria Cisney, and freshman Liana Kauffman.

Knights Volleyball Season Over

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•November 6, 2019•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond lost to Central A&M in the quarterfinals of the Cerro Gordo Regional last Tuesday.
The Knights won the first set 25-19, but the Raiders battled back to take the next two sets, 25-18, 25-19 to win the match.
Mackenzi Bowles led the Knights with 11 kills to go with three digs, and Cheyenne Chupp contributed nine kills and six digs.
Alisha Frederick had a team-high 25 assists to go with seven digs, and Addi Tinkle added three aces, five digs and three assists.
Michaela Powell recorded a team-high 20 digs and served three aces.
ALAH’s season ended with a 12-23 overall record and 3-6 in its inaugural year in the Lincoln Prairie Conference.

OV Volleyball Team Takes Semifinal Match

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•November 6, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Okaw Valley volleyball team defeated Villa Grove in the Kansas Regional semifinal match but could not take down Tri-County in the championship.
Against Villa Grove last Tuesday, the Timberwolves won both sets, 25-19.
Kate Jeffers led OV with 10 kills, three aces and three blocks, while Paige Coleman collected eight kills, eight digs and three aces.
Grace Bunfill had 26 kills and three digs, and Macie Fleshner contributed nine kills and 10 digs. Read More

ALAH Knights Playoff Bid Cut Short at Carrollton

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•November 6, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

For the first time since 2014, the Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond football team made the playoffs.
Saturday, the Knights traveled a long way to take on Carrollton, a team ALAH coach Ryan Jefferson grew up playing against.
Carrollton took an early 8-0 lead in the first quarter, but the Knights answered in the second quarter when Brady Borntreger rushed in for a score to cut the lead to 8-7.
Bornterger also threw for 66 yards on 7-of-16 passing during the game.
Carrollton put up 16 points in the third quarter to extend its lead to 24-7. Read More