•November 21, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

For the first time in 14 years, the Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond boys’ basketball team has a new coach.
Brad McGill takes over a team that finished last year 17-11 overall and 5-1 in the Little Okaw Valley Northwest Division.
Last season the Knights had height with 6 feet 8 inch Colton Romine, 6 feet 3 inch Will Cohan and 6 feet 2 inch Kobe Wells.
But those players graduated, and ALAH will now have to use its speed and quickness to overcome its loss of size.
“We are relatively young and don’t have a ton of size,” said McGill. “We plan on using our quickness and our depth to be a factor in our success.”
The Knights return six letter winners and five seniors to the team.
“We have a good group of kids who like to work hard and compete,” McGill said. “We also hope to have depth, even though we are young. We hope their “competitiveness will translate to success on the court.” Read More

•November 14, 2018•

The Okaw Valley girls’ basketball team lost a tough season opener 57-54 to Shelbyville at Shelbyville Monday night.
The Timberwolves kept the game close, but the Rams outscored OV 19-16 in the fourth quarter for the win.
To lead OV, Kate Jeffers scored 25 points, and Bella Benning hit double digits with 17 points, included five 3-pointers.
The Timberwolves are scheduled to enter the Pana Thanksgiving Tournament Friday and Saturday to play Mattoon, Athens and Centralia.

Photo furnished
Paige Robinson is pictured.

•November 14, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

In February Okaw Valley girls’ basketball standout Paige Robinson led the Timberwolves to an IHSA Class 1A state appearance.
This week Robinson embarked on an all-new experience with the Drury Panthers, a Division II University in Springfield, Missouri.
Though Robinson has been improving her game on the court, the off-court adjustments from a high school athlete to a collegiate athlete has been huge.
“Time management has been a difficult adjustment for sure,” she said. “In high school the typical day was go to school for eight hours, then practice for two hours after. In college, there are workouts in the morning, then class, another workout, class again, try to get study hours in, practice, get shots up on your own, and of course trying to get a healthy sleep schedule in there. It’s definitely been an adjustment, but I’ve started to get the hang of it.”
The Panthers kicked of their season with games Friday and Saturday, and Robinson is getting the hang of collegiate basketball as well.
Drury won its season opener 98-60 over Kentucky Wesleyan in the Pops Duncan Classic in Nashville Friday.
Though she did not start the game, Robinson led all scorers with 24 points in her collegiate debut.
She was 6-of-9 from three-point range, all in the first half, and finished 9-of-14 from the field
She also recorded two assists, two steals and a block.
“Drury has been a really great experience for me so far, and I’ve enjoyed every aspect of it,” said Robinson…I’m excited to see what this season has in store for myself and the team.” Read More

•November 14, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond girls’ basketball team opened its season with a 66-54 overtime win against Meridian Monday night.
Down two after the first quarter, ALAH outscored the Hawks 13-8 in the second quarter for a 27-24 lead.
The Knights extended that lead to 41-34 into the fourth quarter, but Meridian mounted a comeback in the fourth to tie the game at 52.
The Knights dominated in overtime, outscoring the Hawks 14-2 for the win. Read More

•November 7, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

In his fourth year as Okaw Valley girls’ basketball head coach, Brad Ackers is coming off a historical season.
Last year the Timberwolves finished the season 29-7 overall, 5-0 in the Little Okaw Valley Conference Northwest division, and with a final four state tournament appearance.
But that was last year, and this is this year.
The Timberwolves returned three key players from last year’s squad: senior Bella Benning, senior Madison Voegel and junior Kate Jeffers.
Benning, who has had a lot of varsity experience, averaged just over eight points and three rebounds per game last season, and she made 66 3-pointers.
Voegel, who started 26 games last season as a proven defender and rebounder, averaged nearly four and a half points and rebounds per game.
Jeffers, who was a key player off the bench but played starter minutes, averaged nearly four points and five rebounds per game, and the 5 feet 10 inch post player should provide defense and rebounding. Read More