Category Archives: Sports Feature

Sullivan Boys Golf Wins Regional

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Photo submitted by Coach Richter
Ben Richter, Brett Bushue, Will Haegen, Leyton Ellis, Logan Westjohn, Drew Rogers, and Camden Dwyer pose after winning Sullivan’s fourth-straight IHSA Class 1A golf regional champsionship.

•October 14, 2020•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports

In a year when the Sullivan boys’ golf team has an average team score to compete with nearly every Class 1A team in the state, the IHSA will not be holding a state golf tournament.
“It really is a shame that this group doesn’t get to fight for a state championship because when we play to our ability, we can score very low,” said Sullivan coach Ben Richter.
Despite no state tournament, Sullivan won its fourth-straight IHSA Class 1A golf regional Oct. 6 at the Moweaqua Golf Course.
The Redskins’ low score of 330 took the regional title, and Monticello’s team score of 334 earned second place. Read More

National Health Crisis Leaves Players Standing on the Sidelines

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Photo by Jason Brown:
Paige Robinson slashes toward the basket during the 2018 Final Four in Normal.

•June 17, 2020•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports

When Okaw Valley alumnus Paige Robinson selected which collegiate basketball team she wanted to play for after high school, she wanted to join a university basketball team that had a chance to win a national championship.
Last season, in her freshman year, Robinson was part of a 35-0 Drury University that made it to the Final Four. She thought that she might have the opportunity for a dream season in her first year. But the Panthers lost 69-60 to Lubbock Christian in the NCAA-II semifinals to end their season.
This season, as the No. 1 ranked team in the NCAA-II, the Panthers defeated Lewis 77-55 for their fourth straight Great Lakes Valley Conference title and again headed into the NCAA-II undefeated (32-0). Read More

Brynna Sentel Named 2020 HCAC Female Athlete of the Year

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•June 10, 2020•
Franklin College junior swimmer Brynna Sentel has been named the 2020 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference’s (HCAC) Female Athlete of the Year, announced by the league on Monday (Jun. 8) afternoon.
The Sullivan native becomes the second Franklin female athlete to earn the league’s top individual honor, joining 2015 winner Anna Murdock. Sentel earned the award after putting together a dominant season in the pool, qualifying for the NCAA National Championships and being named an NCAA All-American for the second straight year. Read More

A Shout Out to SHS Alumnus Amanda Glazebrook

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File Photo
Amanda Glazebrook is pictured.

IBCA Hall of Famer
By Jason Brown
NP Sports

While the Basketball Museum of Illinois in Elburn is currently closed because of the pandemic shutdown, the Museum’s Twitter account gave a shout out to Sullivan alumnus Amanda Glazebrook.
On May 11, the Museum’s Twitter account posted three photos of Glazebrook, who is an IBCA Hall of Famer, with the follow tweet.
“During the 1990-91 season, Amanda Glazebrook, playing pt. guard, led Sullivan H.S. to the State Title going 35-0. From 1987 -1991, Sullivan was 105 -14. Amanda attended ISU & had 239 assists. We are proud to call her an IBCA Hall of Famer.”
After playing at Illinois State University, Glazebrook returned to Sullivan to coach the high school varsity team.
In the 2001-02 season, an Amanda Glazebrook coached team lost to Teutopolis in the Decatur sectional. Read More

Timberwolves Win Two on Way to Regional Championship Game

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Photo by R. R. Best
Okaw Valley coach Brooks Inman screams words of encouragement to his players during the regional championship Friday.

•March 4, 2020•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Okaw Valley boys’ basketball team won two games to reach the Class 1A Bethany Regional championship, but came up short against Casey-Westfield.
In the championship game, OV fell behind by double digits in the first half but kept the score within striking distance.
In the fourth quarter, the Timberwolves made their move.
Down by 16 in the fourth quarter, OV battled back to cut the lead to six with seven minutes remaining.
But the Warriors’ defense, which helped OV to 14-of-44 (.318) shooting from the field, including 1-of-11 (.090) from three-point range, stifled OV the rest of the game to go on a 19-1 run and pull away for the eventual 57-37 win. Read More

ALAH Knights End Winning Season with Tough Games

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Photo by Jason Brown
Jamison Rocke jumps high in the air to catch a ball to break Okaw Valley’s full-court press.

•February 26, 2020•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

After winning an emotional home game to secure the regular-season Lincoln Prairie Conference championship Friday, the Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond boys’ basketball team could not carry that momentum into the semifinals and lost to Stewardson-Strasburg in the Meridian Regional, Monday.
Against Okaw Valley Friday, a team ALAH lost to 60-57 on Feb. 1, the Knights took the lead in the middle two quarters and held on to ten-point advantage until the fourth quarter.
OV battle back cutting the lead to three points several times in the final period but could not tie the game in the 54-49 win.
“I’m proud of these guys working so hard. We fought through it. These kids went through 3-23 last year to get where they are today is amazing,” said ALAH coach Brad McGill. Read More

Sullivan Girls Basketball Team Finishes Season with Conference Best Record

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Photo by R.R. Best:
Taylor Orris hugs Avery Still after the season-ending loss at home Friday.

•February 19, 2020•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Sullivan girl’s basketball team defeated Fairfield in the semifinal of the Sullivan Class 2A Regional Friday, but could not overcome a No. 2 state-ranked Paris team in the championship game.
In the regional championship, the Redskins fell behind four points after the first quarter, but it was a 16-8 second-quarter run that put Paris on top 36-20 at half.
In the second half, Sullivan was unable to recover and eventually lost 71-46 to the undefeated Tigers (33-0).
For Sullivan, Emily White recorded 16 points, six rebounds and two steals, and Avery Still finished with 10 points, two blocks and six rebounds. Read More

Sullivan Girls Bounce Back Beating St. Teresa

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Photo furnished
Senior Night at SHS
Sullivan celebrated senior night recognizing Kirsten O’Neill (left center) and Avery Still along with their families prior to Sullivan’s win over St. Teresa Monday night.

•February 5, 2020•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

After losing to St. Teresa in overtime in the championship game of the Central Illinois Conference Tournament Thursday, the Sullivan girls’ basketball team bounced back to defeated the Bulldogs in a regular-season CIC matchup on senior night Monday.
After a back-and-forth first quarter, the Redskins went into the half trailing 21-19.
The Bulldogs extended that lead to 35-31 heading into the fourth quarter.
Unlike in the championship game where Sullivan was able to grab the lead for good, the Redskins took a 41-39 lead after Lilly Null hit two layup drives.
St. Teresa tied the game with 2:10 left in the game.
Emily White knocked down a 3-pointer with just less than two minutes to play to retake the lead 44-41. Read More

Redskins Push Cardinals Down to the Wire in OT Action

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Photo by R.R. Best
Sullivan junior Colin Chappel wrestles for the ball against Clinton at home Friday night. Chappel contributed four rebounds, two assists and five points in the game.

•January 29, 2020•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Sullivan boys’ basketball team dropped three Central Illinois Conference games last week.
The Redskins lost to Warrensburg-Latham Monday and Clinton Friday in heartbreakingly close games; then again to Meridian last Tuesday.
Monday night at home against the Cardinals, Sullivan fell behind 12-2 to start the game.
W-L took a 26-12 halftime lead but Sullivan battled back in the second half.
With 6:14 left in the fourth quarter, Plank hit a corner three to cut the lead to 44-36.
After a defensive stop, Plank missed a corner three from the same spot but an Elder rebound-put-back basket cut the lead to 44-38.
With 3:49 left, Colin Chappel hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to 45-41. Read More

Sullivan Girls Basketball Team Holds Off Mt. Zion for Win

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Photo by R. R. Best
Kirsten O’Neill wrestles for the ball against Mt. Zion at home Saturday.

•January 15, 2020•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

After losing to Mt. Zion in the championship game of the Holiday Classic Tournament in Arthur Dec. 28, Sullivan girls’ basketball coach Sheri McCain knew her team would get another shot at the Braves at home Saturday.
The Redskins took advantage and revenged the earlier loss by defeating Mt. Zion 40-31.
“The girls did a nice job defensively tonight and stuck to the game plan,” McCain said.
Unlike the first matchup in which the Redskins fell behind in the second quarter, Sullivan doubled the Braves score 14-7 in the first quarter then took a 21-13 halftime lead.
Sullivan held off Mt. Zion in the second half for the win.
“We were able to hold Wolter to 10 points tonight as opposed to 19 the first time we played them,” McCain said. “We still need to work on handling the ball more and not turning it over down the stretch, but that is something we can work on for the next few weeks. I am proud of these girls for coming back and defeating a very talented team after losing to them in the holiday tournament championship game.”
Avery Still led the team with 18 points and 13 rebounds. She scored 15 of her 18 points in the second half.
Emily White had nine points and three steals.
Taylor Orris scored five points and ripped five key defensive rebounds down in the stretch.
Lilly Null contributed six points, and Kirsten O’Neill added two points and three steals. Read More