Category Archives: Sports Section

ALAH Knights Snap Streak with Sangamon Valley Defeat

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•January 30, 2019•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond boys’ basketball team snapped its six-game losing streak by defeating Sangamon Valley last Wednesday at Nancy Stiff Gym in Arcola.
The Knights took a 15-point lead after the first quarter then went on a 14-8 run in the second quarter for a 33-12 halftime lead.
The Knights held onto the same lead in the third quarter before pulling away in the fourth for the 62-37 win.
Austin Plank contributed a season-high 23 points to go with four rebounds, three assists and three steals to help earn the seventh-place finish in the Little Okaw Valley Conference Northwest Division Tournament.
Austin Romine hit double digits with ten points and added three rebounds, two assists and two points. Read More

Okaw Valley Girls’ Basketball Gains Strength with Wins

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Submitted Photo
Senior night for Madison Vogel and Bella Benning pose for senior night before the Arcola game Monday night.

•January 30, 2019•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Okaw Valley girls’ basketball team has picked a good time to start a winning streak.
The Timberwolves knocked off Arcola in a close Little Okaw Valley Conference Northwest Division game to win its fifth-straight game and stay undefeated in the LOVC Monday night.
The back-and-forth game started strong for OV.
The Timberwolves took a 15-4 lead in the first quarter, but the Purple Riders battled back to cut the lead to 22-18.
Arcola took the lead heading into the fourth quarter, but OV fought back in the fourth for the 45-42 win.
Kate Jeffers recorded a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Madison Vogel added 10 rebounds and eight points.
Bella Benning contributed six points, and Mia Harris added four.
Miaya Lehamn, Shyanne Harding and Ciera Perry each scored two points. Read More

Sullivan Boys’ Basketball Team Upsets Meridian

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•January 30, 2019•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Sullivan boys’ basketball team lost its first game against No. 1 seeded Central A&M in the Central Illinois Conference Tournament at Warrensburg Saturday but bounced back Monday to upset No. 5 seeded Meridians.
Monday night against Meridian, No. 8 seeded Sullivan needed all of its 22-10 first-quarter lead to hold off the Hawks.
Meridian battled back in the middle quarters, outscoring Sullivan 33-26 to cut the lead to four.
Sullivan fought off the Hawks in the fourth quarter for the 67-65 win.
Four Redskins hit double-digit scoring.
Caden Ellis had a team-high 22 points, and Dominick Kimberlin followed with 16.
Dalton Rogers and Ian Plank each scored 10 points. Read More

ALAH Girls Take Out Purple Riders

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•January 30, 2019•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

After losing the Little Okaw Valley Conference Tournament Championship game to Tri-County, the Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond girls’ basketball team bounced back to defeat Arcola in a close regular season LOVC NW game.
Monday night against Arcola, ALAH jumped out to a 9-3 lead in the first quarter, and after a 4-4 second quarter, the Knights took the 6-point lead into halftime.
The Purple Riders took advantage of a 14-9 third-quarter run to cut the lead to one.
In the fourth quarter, ALAH held off Arcola for the 37-34 win. Read More

Sullivan Girls Bounce Back With Bulldog Defeat

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Photo by R.R. Best
Emily White dribbles along the sideline against St. Teresa.

•January 30, 2019•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

After placing a disappointed fourth in the Central Illinois Conference Tournament with a loss to host St. Teresa last Friday, the Sullivan girls’ basketball team bounced back to defeat the Bulldogs to stay undefeated in the CIC regular season game in Decatur Monday night.
In the first meeting, St. Teresa had a 16-point lead by halftime, but the Redskins came out with a better start in the Monday rematch with a 16-10 first quarter lead.
The Bulldogs battled back to take a 26-22 halftime lead, but the second half the game Sullivan took over.
In the third, the Redskins went on a 21-13 run for blow the game open, then held on in the fourth quarter for the 54-48 win.
“I thought we played a tremendous game defensively tonight,” said Sullivan coach Sheri McCain. “We gave up 68 points to them on Saturday night, and tonight we held them to 48. We followed the game plan and did a great job attacking the basket.”
Lilly Null led the Redskins with team-highs of 17 points, seven steals and five assists.
“Lilly Null played a phenomenal game for us,” McCain said. “She was the difference offensively for us in the first half, and Avery Still was the difference in the second half.”
Avery Still hit double-digit scoring with 10 points, and Esther Miller followed with nine points and a team-high 11 rebounds.
Josie Orris recorded eight points, and Emily White added five. Read More

Timberwolves Defeat Purple Riders, Outscore Oblong

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•January 30, 2019•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Okaw Valley boys’ basketball team defeated Arcola to place ninth in the 44th annual Little Okaw Valley Conference Tournament Saturday after winning the fifth annual LOVC NW Division Tournament consolation championship Friday.
To win the ninth place game at Arcola, OV knocked off Oblong 58-30.
After taking an 8-5 lead in the first quarter, OV went into halftime tied 29-29.
In the third quarter, the Timberwolves took over, outscoring Oblong 25-8 to blow the game open.
OV continued the pressure in the fourth for a 13-3 run to end the game.
Cameron Sharp scored a team-high 16 points, and Eli Hagerman hit double digits with 10 points.
Sam Hagerman added nine points, and Tyson Montgomery had seven. Read More

The Bombers Overpower The ALAH Knights

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•January 23, 2019•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond boys’ basketball team dropped its Little Okaw Valley Conference Northwest division opener on the road to Argenta-Oreana 51-44 last Tuesday.
Saturday’s opening of the LOCV NW Tournament was postponed because of inclement weather.
Against the Bombers, Austin Romine scored a team-high 13 points, and Adam Day hit double digits with 12 points to go with five rebounds and two steals. Read More

Ellis’ Extreme Efforts Not Quite Enough for Redskins Win

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•January 23, 2019•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

Despite losing two close Central Illinois Conference games this past week, Redskin senior Caden Ellis combined for a total of 63 points, 24 rebounds, 10 steals and four assists.
The Sullivan boys’ basketball team lost to Meridian last Tuesday and Clinton Friday, Jan. 18.
Against the Maroons, Clinton extended a 3-point lead after the first quarter during a 16-9 second-quarter run.
In the second half, Sullivan stayed close and in the fourth outscored Clinton 11-7 but eventually came up short in the 47-42 loss.
Caden Ellis recorded 23 points, nine rebounds and six steals, and Dominick Kimberlin added nine points, two blocks, two assists and seven rebounds. Read More