Photo by R.R. Best
Grace Bunfill sets the ball.

•September 11, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Okaw Valley volleyball team picked up three wins to stay undefeated this past week.
The Timberwolves defeated Sullivan, Cowden Herrick/Beecher City and Decatur LSA.
Against Sullivan last Tuesday, OV won in straight sets, 25-22, 25-18.
For OV, Kate Jeffers had a game-high 12 kills, as well as two blocks.
Paige Coleman collected six digs, three aces and five kills, and April Decesaro had nine digs and three aces.
Grace Bunfill tallied 20 assists, six digs, three aces and three kills, and Avery Bruns had three kills.
For Sullivan, Avery Still had seven kills, and Zoe Walton had six.
Emily White dished out 17 assists.
Monday night, Okaw Valley took Cowden Herrick/Beecher City in three sets. Read More

•September 11, 2019•
Sullivan girls’ golf team lost to Teutopolis in a dual meet and Clinton and St. Teresa in a triangular this past week.
Thursday, Sept. 5, against the Wooden Shoes, Alyssa Shriver led the Redskins’ scoring, followed by Erin Wallace, Abby Kirkwood and Lara Herschberger.
In the losses to Clinton and St. Teresa, Shriver again led Sullivan in scoring.
Erin Wallace, Herschberger and Abby Kirkwood followed.
The Redskins are scheduled to host senior night during a quad meet Thursday, Sept. 12, in which the team will be recognizing Wallace and Miriah Booker.

•September 11, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Sullivan-Okaw Valley football team dropped its first road game of the season to Newton 31-21 Friday.
The Eagles put 14 quick points on the board to take a 14-0 first-quarter lead.
From there, SOV outscored Newton but could not make up the difference.
The Redskins and Eagles each scored 14 points in the second, to make it 28-14 at half.
Sullivan scored again and held Newton to a field goal in the third quarter to cut the lead but could not get any closer in a scoreless final period. Read More

•September 4, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

First-year Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond cross country coach Lyle Dorjahn has low numbers this season, but the runners he does have he believes can be good.
“Our top 3 will compete with the area’s best,” he said. “We need to see more improvement from 4-7 scoring positions. From what I see so far, our kids will work hard to make those improvements.
Dorjahn returned four letter winners in junior Layton Hall, senior Justin Miller, senior Cade Hendrickson and sophomore Jace Green.
Hall returns from an all-state performance at the state championships, and last year the team advanced out of regionals to the sectional.
“Our strengths include Layton Hall’s leadership both with his performance as well as his interaction and encouragement of his teammates, especially the underclassmen,” Dorjahn said. “Our freshman and sophomore are a strong point and I expect them to contribute immediately. This group has responded to a heavier workload and has been fun to work with. They are developing strong team chemistry.” Read More

•September 4, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

Last season after the Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond football team took a 7-0 lead against Tri-County, the Titans scored 16-unanswered points to win the game.
Friday night in Oakland, Tri-County scored the first seven points, but it was the Knights who rattled off 41 points for a 41-1 victory.
“(One of the) keys to the game was the difference in ball security and turnover ratio,” said coach Ryan Jefferson. “We forced several.”
The Knights’ defense forced several fumbles and had an interception, while the offence did not turn over the ball once.
“We capitalized on offense almost every possession so we were able to keep pulling away from them,” Jefferson said. “We controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.” Read More