Category Archives: Sports Section

ALAH Girls Hold On to Beat Oakwood

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•November 28, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond girls’ basketball team split a pair of nonconference games this past week.
The Knights defeated Oakwood in a close game Monday night but lost to Salt Fork last Tuesday.
Against Oakwood Monday, the Knights jumped out to an early lead then held on for the one point win.
ALAH took a 16-11 first-quarter lead then extended the lead by six at half, 29-18.
The Comets cut the lead to three points after the third quarter and outscored the Knights 20-13 in the fourth quarter.
The Knights were able to hold off the Comets for the final 56-55 score. Read More

OVHS Cheer Squad

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Photo furnished
OVHS Cheer Squad
Okaw Valley High School Cheerleading Squad. Front row from left: Seniors Riley Kesterson, Sadie Zimmerman, Kailey George, Angela Robinson, Isabella Benning. Back row from left: Julia Hildebrandt, Shaukana Tipsword, Marissa Bell, Chloe Harris, Shelby Woodall, Kalie Reed, Haven Caulfield

Sullivan Opens Basketball Season With a Bang

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•November 28, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

Craig Black, who kicks off his tenure as Sullivan boys’ basketball coach, faced off in his first game of the year against another first year coach, Brad McGill, who took over Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond’s team.
But this game was not about two first-year coaches.
It was about Sullivan senior Caden Ellis who took over in the second quarter to help the Redskins pull away with a comfortable lead.
In the first quarter, ALAH took an early six-point lead after senior Adam Day and senior Austin Romine both hit jumpers, and senior Adam Hingson scored on a transition put-back basket.
After a Sullivan timeout, sophomore Ian Plank hit a corner three to cut the lead to 6-3.
In the middle of the first quarter, Caden Ellis put back a missed free throw, and sophomore Dom Kimberlin hit a jumper off a long rebound to take the lead 8-6. Read More

Three Make All Tourney Team

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•November 28, 2018•

Last week the Sullivan girls’ basketball team kicked off its season by winning the Maroa-Forsyth Round Robin Tip-off Classic.
This week the Maroa-Forsyth Round Robin Tip-off Classic announced all-tournament team members which included three Sullivan players.
Esther Miller, Lilly Null and Emily White each made the all-tournament team.

OVJH Student Competes on the World Gymnastics Stage

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•November 21, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

It is not often an Okaw Valley Junior High student gets to tell her friends that she’s jetting off to New York, North Carolina and Russia.
But that was the journey Reese Nichols just finished taking.
Nichols competed for the Team USA in the double mini trampoline event at the World Age Group Competition in Russia this past weekend including top athletes from each participating country.
She finished 10th in the world but missed advancing by two spots (3/10 of a point). Only the top eight moved on to the finals.
“She’s heartbroken and feels she could have done better,” said her father Chris Nichols, “but the competition was obviously elite.”
Chris stayed home while his wife, Bethany, made the trip with Reese to Russia, where Reese competed at 2:30 a.m. Read More

Six Redskins Earn All-Area Honors

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•November 21, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Champaign News Gazette announced its 2018 All-Area boys’ golf teams last Thursday.
Six Redskins earned honors, including Sullivan boys’ coach Ben Richter.
Richter was named Champaign Area Coach of the Year.
“I am honored to be awarded the COTY,” said Ben Richter. “It was not something I was expecting, and I want to thank all of my golfers for working so hard to give us such an awesome season.”
The Richter led squad placed fifth with a score of 337 in Class 1A after winning sectional, regional and Little Okaw Valley Conference championships.
They also finished the regular season a perfect 21-0. Read More

Ellis Signs with UCM

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Ellis Signs with UCM
Sullivan High School golf team leader Caden Ellis signed a national letter of intent to participate in the University of Central Missouri’s Mules golf program with family and students attending. SHS Golf Coach of the Year Ben Richter pointed out Caden’s devotion had led the team to state where he finished third last season. The UCM Mules under coach Tim Poe, a NCAA Coach of the year, currently ranks 20th in the nation. Ellis is majoring in finance with UCM leading the state with strong nationally credited programs. Pictured during the signing at SHS gymnasium were Ellis’ family. Front from left: Mother Laura Ellis, Caden Ellis, father Rick Ellis; back siblings: Leyton Ellis, Shaelyn Ellis and Tatum Ellis.

ALAH Knights Basketball: New Coach, New Team

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•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

ALAH Girls Pick up a Couple of Big Wins

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Photo by RR Best
Kathy Best (upper left) observes ALAH basketball action 11-20.

•November 21, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond girls’ basketball team picked up its second and third wins of the season against Arthur Okaw Christian and Shelbyville.
To defeat AOC Thursday (15th), the Knights outscored the Conquering Riders 15-2 in the fourth quarter to pull away for the 38-26 win.
ALAH fell behind in the first quarter 11-4 but battled back in the second quarter to cut the lead to 19-15 at half.
The Knights ended the third quarter down one, before dominating the final period.
Senior Marissa Herschberger led ALAH with 16 points, along with three rebounds, five steals and two assists.
Junior Addi Tinkle and freshman Mallory Nichols each scored five points, and freshman Alexa Miller and sophomore Mackenzi Bowles each had four points and three rebounds.
Miller also had four steals and one assist, and Bowles added two assists.
Senior Emma Harris collected seven rebounds, three points and a steal, and senior Nisa Asghar Read More

Okaw Valley Girls Outscored by Rams

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•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.