Category Archives: Sports Feature

Okaw Valley Puts Arcola Away in LOVC Action

News Progress Posted on by
Photo by Darian Hays Paige Robinson drives against Purple Rider Rylee Fishel for two of her game leading 17 points, helping the Knights to a 42-30 wind over Arcola.

Photo by Darian Hays
Paige Robinson drives against Purple Rider Rylee Fishel for two of her game leading 17 points, helping the Knights to a 42-30 wind over Arcola.

•January 20, 2016•

Okaw Valley girls beat Arcola 42-30 in LOVC tournament action in Arthur January 18.

The Timberwolves were up 10-6 at the end of the first quarter. The Purple Riders came back with a 5-3 second quarter, putting the Okaw Valley team up 13-11 at the half.

During the third quarter Okaw Valley scored 12 to Arcola’s eight points. Up 25-21 at the end of three, the Timberwolves finished with a 17-10 fourth quarter for the 42-30 win.

Paige Robinson led the Timberwolves in scoring with six field goals, while hitting 5-6 free throws for 17 points.

Chloe Weybright hit one three point shot, three field goals and was 3-4 from the free stripe for 12 points.

Natalie Jeffers hit two field goals and one free shot for five points; Hope Ruppert made two field goals for four points; Jesse Robinson made one field goal, and Brianna Creviston scored a field goal to complete Okaw Valley scoring. Read More

Redskins Fight Tuscola Down to the Wire

News Progress Posted on by
Photo by Mike Brothers Sullivan’s Kaleb Shumard drives hard to the basket in the January 8 home game against the Tuscola Warriors on the Redskin home court.

Photo by Mike Brothers
Sullivan’s Kaleb Shumard drives hard to the basket in the January 8 home game against the Tuscola Warriors on the Redskin home court.

•January 13, 2016•

By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

Redskins’ basketball fans watched an instant classic Friday night as Ty Molzen and Nick Bates traded baskets in a pair of all conference performances, that ended in a 38-36 Tuscola win.
Molzen finished seven for seven from the field tallying 14 points for Sullivan, and Nick Bates poured in 22 points leading the way for Tuscola.
Sullivan head coach Chet Reeder was unhappy with Sullivan’s “timid” play on the offense but thought the effort shown on defense was top notch. “We played our tails off on defense. Defensively that was one of the best games we have ever played. The ball just did not bounce our way a couple times, and that is all it takes.”
The Warriors jumped out to an early 7-2 before back to back baskets tied the game at the end of the first quarter. In the second period Tuscola’s Bates took over at the five minute mark scoring the Warriors next seven straight. The run gave the Warriors a 16-11 halftime lead. Coach Reeder complemented Bates’ game after the contest. “He is a special player; there is not a matchup for Nick Bates.” Sullivan stayed within striking distance during the third quarter and cut Tuscola’s lead to 23-21 with 2:30 remaining in the period. However, Bates responded with another run hitting what looked to be a dagger three pointer to put Tuscola up by 10, 31-21, with just six minutes left in the game. Read More

Lady Redskins Finish Seventh at Mattoon Tourney

News Progress Posted on by
Photo by Keith Stewart Freshman Brooke Tuttle eyes the basket during Sullivan’s game against St. Anthony last Monday. Tuttle would have a solid performance throughout the three-day tourney with 47 points.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Freshman Brooke Tuttle eyes the basket during Sullivan’s game against St. Anthony last Monday. Tuttle would have a solid performance throughout the three-day tourney with 47 points.

•January 6, 2016•

by Keith Stewart
For the NewsProgress

Playing in the annual Mattoon tournament for the second year, the Sullivan girls’ basketball team ran into some tough competition each of their three days and eventually settled for seventh place.

On day one, they drew the eventual tournament champion and no. 6 ranked Galesburg (3A) for their first contest.

And the 66-39 result was to be expected.

The Silver Streaks wasted no time in exerting their pressure, coming out with a full court press that helped account for many of Sullivan’s 12 first quarter turnovers. In turn, Galesburg shot 12-of-18 from the field, including two 3-pointers, to take a 27-8 lead after the initial period.

The Streaks would sub many of their starters in the second, but Sullivan struggled offensively, scoring just three points from the charity stripe.

“We didn’t do well from the free throw line,” said coach Sheri McCain. “I appreciate the fact that the Galesburg coach subbed in quite a bit in the second half. I appreciate that since we are so young and still learning. His starters are absolutely phenomenal. They deserve the six seed in 3A. I expect them to go pretty far this year.”

But the second half would see better production for the Lady Redskins. Read More

Lady Titans win Knights Holiday Classic

News Progress Posted on by
Photo Provided Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond Lady Knight coach Craig Moffett lays out the game plan as they head into the final minutes.

Photo Provided
Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond Lady Knight coach Craig Moffett lays out the game plan as they head into the final minutes.

Knights finish strong

•December 30, 2015•

By Mike Brothers

It was the Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond Knights Holiday Classic with Tri-County’s Titans taking the championship in a 29-22 win over St. Teresa’s Lady Bulldogs December 23.

Tri-County jumped to a 9-4 lead over St. Teresa in the first quarter. The Lady Bulldogs came back with a 8-4 second quarter and went into the half at 13-12 Lady Titans.

St Teresa tied the Tri County team at the end of the third quarter with a 9-8 run. A cool shooting fourth quarter left St. Teresa with two points to the Lady Titans nine for the 29-22 win.

McIntyre led scoring for the Titans with four field goals and two free throws for ten points; Price scored two from the field and one from the free throw line for five points; Tomlinson hit a field goal and was 2-2 from the free throw line for four points; S. Smith scored two from the field for four points; Madison Eskew scored 2-2 from the free stripe to complete Tri County scoring.

Scoring for St. Teresa was Natakor with four field goals and one free shot for nine points; Thornton scored three field goals for six points; Switzer hit one three pointer for three; Newban scored two and so did Peck. Read More

Redskins Win Barn Burner in Overtime

News Progress Posted on by
Photo by RR Best Head coach Chester Reeder watched the Redskins catch fire in the fourth quarter.

Photo by RR Best
Head coach Chester Reeder watched the Redskins catch fire in the fourth quarter.

Wild 4th Quarter

•December 16, 2015•

By Mike Brothers

Sullivan High School gym was the scene of a barn burning basketball game between the Redskins and Okaw Valley Timberwolves Dec 8.

It was a game that had the Redskins roaring back in the fourth quarter to throw the game into overtime.

And the overtime win came on the shoulders of 5’10” senior guard Kaleb Shumard at the free throw line.The final score was 86-85 Sullivan.

“Our kids were resilient last night,”  coach Chester Reeder said of the comeback effort.  “Zach Hrvol and Ty Molzen completely took over in the fourth quarter.”

Sullivan scored 35 points to the Timberwolves 17 points in the fourth quarter, then came back to win 9-8 in overtime.

“Kaleb Shumard had some key late game stops and made the game winning free throw,“ Coach Reeder continued.  “I’m unbelievably proud of our young men tonight.  Hopefully this will snowball into something great.”

The Redskins started the first quarter ahead of the Timberwolves 16-12. Okaw Valley had a 31 point run in the second quarter, putting  them up 43-34 at the half.

A dismal 8-17 third quarter put the Redskins in a 60-42 hole at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Read More

Redskins Open Season with Road Win

News Progress Posted on by

•December 2, 2015•

Sullivan boys’ basketball team traveled to Arthur Nov 24 winning 48-32 over the Knights.

The Redskins led off the first quarter 15-9, scoring 8-9 in the second quarter to head into the half ahead 24-17.

Sullivan outscored the Knights again in the third 10-4 and 14-11 in the fourth for the 48-32 total.

Sullivan shot 50 percent from the field hitting 20-40. They made 5-7 three point shots for 29 percent and the Redskins were 3-9 from the free stripe for 33 percent.

The Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond team hit 15-31 shots for 48 percent from the field and hit 2-8 from the free throw line for 25 percent.

The Redskins and Knights were evenly matched on rebounds. Sullivan had seven offensive and 11 defensive rebounds for 18.

The Knights edged by with 19 total rebounds, pulling down seven offensive and 12 from the defensive boards. Read More

Lady Redskins Get Past Okaw Valley

News Progress Posted on by
Photo by RR Best At left: During a close game in Bethany between Okaw Valley’s Lady Timberwolves and Sullivan’s Lady Redskins Danielle Lochbaum of Okaw Valley and Sullivan’s Ally Elzy battle for a rebound.

Photo by RR Best
At left: During a close game in Bethany between Okaw Valley’s Lady Timberwolves and Sullivan’s Lady Redskins Danielle Lochbaum of Okaw Valley and Sullivan’s Ally Elzy battle for a rebound.

•November 25, 2015•

The Sullivan High School Lady Redskins earned a hard fought victory over Okaw Valley 40 - 39 November 19.

Photo by RR Best Ball possession was important in the Okaw Valley - Sullivan match as Lady Timberwolf Brianna Creviston and Lady Redskin Haley Rose fight for the ball last Thursday.

Photo by RR Best
Ball possession was important in the Okaw Valley - Sullivan match as Lady Timberwolf Brianna Creviston and Lady Redskin Haley Rose fight for the ball last Thursday.

Lizzie Green led in scoring with 12 points. Freshman Brooke Tuttle came off the bench and and scored nine points. Tatum Ellis led in three assists and four steals, and Chloe Riley had a huge offensive rebound late in the game. Ester Miller led rebounding with 11.

“It was not a pretty win, but I’m proud that the girls dug deep and found a way to win as a team,” commented coach Sheri McCain. “Brooke Tuttle had a tremendous game as a freshman.”

Joining Green’s 12 points in Lady Redskin scoring were: Brooke Tuttle with nine points; Chloe Riley had eight; Tatum Ellis added five; with Alyssa Marshall and Haley Rose adding two apiece. Laine Cameron and Ester Miller completed scoring with one each.

The Lady Reds are 1-1 for the season.

The JV overcame Okaw Valley JV 35-17.

In that game Paige Robinson led Sullivan scoring with 14 points followed by Chloe Weybright with ten. Natalie Jeffers had five points with Jesse Rovbison and Devan Nave scoring four apiece. Brianna Creviston and Danielle Lochbaum scored one each.

Big News for the Sullivan Blue Dolphins

News Progress Posted on by
Photo submitted Blue Dolphin first place relay team. Top row- Natalie Drury, Anna Wooters Bottom row- Brynna Sentel, McKenna Kull.

Photo submitted
Blue Dolphin first place relay team. Top row- Natalie Drury, Anna Wooters Bottom row- Brynna Sentel, McKenna Kull.

•November 18, 2015•

It was big news for the Sullivan Blue Dolphin swim team over the weekend with the first place 200 freestyle relay team advancing to the state meet at New Trier High School Friday, Nov. 20.

The sectional relay team includes Brynna Sentel, Natalie Drury, Anna Wooters and McKenna Kull with Lily Bales as alternate.

Sentel also took first place in the 100 backstroke.

Coach Jason Drury explained that swimming at state does not follow class divisions as in other high school sports. Sullivan Blue Dolphin swimmers compete against all high school swimmers in the state at the New Trier meet.

Blue Dolphins swimming in the weekend competition in addition to Sentel, Drury, Wooters, Kull and Bales were Michaela Donnel, Sara Griffin, Cadisen Nuzzo, Anna Wooters and Allison Oligschlaeger.

Sullivan High School swimmers placed fourth overall out of 16 teams at the sectional level.

Further results from the sectionals are fourth place- 200 medley relay team of Oligschlaeger, Griffin, Bales and Donnel; 200 freestyle - third place Kull, 11th place Nuzzo.

200 IM- third Sentel, sixth Oligschlaeger; 50 freestyle- Bales, Nuzzo; 100 butterfly - 10th Bales, 11th Drury; 100 freestyle- fourth Wooters, fifth Kull.
Read More

Redskins Get Run Over by Newton

News Progress Posted on by
Photo by Keith Stewart SOV quarterback Ty Molzen tries to stay upright while carrying the ball past two Newton defenders Saturday night. Molzen would lead the Redskins in rushing with 62 yards on 14 carries, while completing 13 of 23 passes for 88 yards and two interceptions.

Photo by Keith Stewart
SOV quarterback Ty Molzen tries to stay upright while carrying the ball past two Newton defenders Saturday night. Molzen would lead the Redskins in rushing with 62 yards on 14 carries, while completing 13 of 23 passes for 88 yards and two interceptions.

•November 4, 2015•

by Keith Stewart
For the NewsProgress

When you think of Newton, you might as well think of a pair of brutal running backs who are almost impossible to stop, particularly junior Mitch Bierman.

Such was the case Saturday when the Eagles defeated SOV 46-21 with a 400-plus rushing attack, including Bierman’s own 295 yards on 22 carries for three touchdowns.

“They’re a darn good football team, and that’s a good back,” said SOV head coach Gerald Temples. “We worked our tail off on run fits and stuff for the cutback, and they’re good enough, and he’s good enough if you don’t do it just right, he finds the seam. And he did. We made a few mistakes. Believe it or not, and people probably won’t, but first half, there are just a couple execution things that we were so close on, but teams that lose tend to say that.”

Monstrous rushing yardage aside, SOV was able to make stops throughout the evening, most notably at the start of the third quarter when they forced the only Newton three-and-out.

The series began with Bierman rushing for just three yards as Max Todd quickly made the tackle. A false start was then called on the Eagles, dropping them back for a loss of five. On 2-and-12, a pass attempt was nearly picked off by Pierce Bradford. Bringing on the punt unit would then be Alex Martin after he tackled Bierman for a 2-yard loss.

And so it would seem that the halftime talk Temples gave his team worked, at least to begin. Read More

Long Season Ends With Constructive Loss

News Progress Posted on by
Photo by Keith Stewart Defense came alive as Knights gather for the stop during Friday’s game in Clinton.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Defense came alive as Knights gather for the stop during Friday’s game in Clinton.

ALAH gives Cumberland its best

•October 28, 2015•

by Keith Stewart
For the NP

This isn’t just a sportswriter trying to make fans happy.

Friday night’s 50-20 loss to Cumberland was as indicative as the rest of the Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond football season: get better, be resilient, and never give up.

The Knights’ squad, which has had its fair share of injuries strike its small 25 man roster, has had to play a different puzzle each week when it came to assignments. And week nine was no different.

“It’s been that way all year long,” said head coach Dale Schuring. “I don’t think it’s been the same lineup twice all year. It’s been, ‘throw them out there and hopefully someone can tell them what to do.’ They’ve been very adaptable and willing to go wherever we need them so we can have 11 on the field and have some semblance of order. Tonight was no different. Great credit to the kids and their willingness to do that and trying the best they can in spots they don’t know.”

Quarterback Teddy Poe was unable to throw the ball Friday and back-up sophomore Will Cohan was out with an injured quad. So starting at the quarterback position for the first time this year was sophomore Marcus Vanausdoll, who used his sheer athleticism at times to get the Knights down field and lead them for their final game of the year.

“He was in there in an emergency situation tonight, and he did well,” said Schuring. “He was very willing to try and do whatever he could. He’s played several positions in this offense, so he had a decent idea of what was going on some plays, and others he just used his athletic ability.” Read More