•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

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

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

Photo By RR Best
Redskins Blake Stewart steps over the goal line for a touchdown in the Homecoming football game between SOV and the Shelbyville Rams on Friday, October 9.

Strong in Second Half

•October 14, 2015•

By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

Sullivan Okaw Valley football played a second half for the ages Friday but came up just short in a 41-33 loss to the Shelbyville Rams.  Trailing 21-0 at the half the Redskins outscored the Rams 20-13 in the third quarter and 13-7 in the fourth getting within a touchdown of the lead.  SOV head coach Gerald Temples was proud of the effort displayed in the second half and hopes the team can build off the positives going forward.

“First half we did not get after it and play with emotion.  I am proud as heck of how we came back and did play in the second half.  Our kids played their tail off, and we are going to build on that going forward.”

The Rams opened up the game’s scoring after connecting on a 60 yard screen pass, setting up first and goal from the eight yard line.  Two plays later Garret Brachbill’s touchdown run with 1:30 remaining in the first period, gave the Rams a 7-0 lead.

The Redskins marched inside the red zone on their next possession thanks to a 30 catch and run by Ty Nichols but missed a field goal wide left with 11:28 left in the second quarter.

Shelbyville’s next possession was controversial. A pass interference call on fourth and 13 with five minutes remaining in the half gave Shelbyville a new life.   Blake Stewart, who was in step for step coverage with the Ram’s receiver, turned at the last second to deflect the ball away with his off hand in the front left corner of the north end zone.

However, the officials ruled too much contact had taken place even though the ball looked to be uncatchable.

Coach Temples acknowledged that the call was a back breaker at that point in the contest.  “The interference set up a touchdown for them which was a killer at the time. We didn’t think it was pass interference.”  Read More

Photo by RR Best
Play action for ALAH Knights with Teddy Poe taking the snap from Isaac Kitchen while Tyler Smith is poised to go.

•October 7, 2015•

By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond fell to the Cerro Gordo Bement Broncos 47-22 at Wilson Field on Friday.  The Broncos came out of the gait swinging scoring 41 unanswered points before the half.

The Knights regrouped, outscoring the Broncos 22-6 in the second half.  ALAH head coach Dale Schuring said the team needed to start the game with the same intensity showcased after halftime.  “We have to come out with that kind of attitude and aggressiveness in the first half against a varsity team.”

The Knights attempted an onside kick to open the contest, but the Broncos were fortunate to fall on the ball.  Setup at midfield it took Cerro Gordo four plays and under a minute to cover 50 yards on the ground taking 7-0 lead.

ALAH was also setup at midfield on their first possession thanks to a nice kick return by Marcus Vanausdoll.   Back to back Ricky Davis catches allowed the Knights to advance as far as the Bronco 36 before the drive ended with Teddy Poe sacked on fourth and ten with 8:04 left in the first.

Cerro Gordo rode tailback Dalton Grohler to his second touchdown on the ensuing drive, extending the lead to 14-0 with 6:55 left in the first.

Teddy Poe was under constant duress on the Knights’ next possession, resulting in a quick three and out.   Read More