Category Archives: Sports Feature

Okaw Valley’s Paige Robinson Named Player of the Year

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•March 28, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

Okaw Valley senior guard Paige Robinson was named the 36th annual JG-TC Girls Basketball Player of the Year this past week.

She set several records this season and has collected even more accolades along the way.

Robinson was named to the 15-member Illinois Girls’ Basketball Coaches’ All-State Class 1A/2A first team.

The 5 feet 10 inch guard was one of five players named to the second team Associated Press All-State girls’ basketball team.

“I said Paige is the best player in the area and best player around to anyone that would listen in the last two years,” said OV coach Brad Ackers. “Paige just continued to prove it.” Read More

OVHS Softball Team Slugs Past Paris for Win

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Photo furnished
OVHS Varsity Softball first row - Miaya Lehman, Bella Benning, Grace Harlin, Kailey George, Andi Dicken. Second row - Kiersten Kennedy, Grace Bunfill, Hannah Landreth, Kami Landret. Third row - Paige Coleman, Madison Voegel, Kate Jeffers, Natalie Jeffers, Danielle Lochbaum.

•March 21 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

The Okaw Valley softball team split a pair of games this past week.

The Timberwolves outslugged Paris 19-18 last Wednesday but lost to Maroa-Forsyth 10-. Monday evening.

Against Paris, OV took the lead with a 4-run first inning then tacked on another run in the second inning.

Paris took a 6-5 lead with six runs in the top of the fourth inning, but OV answered with six runs in the bottom of the inning.

Both teams scored four runs in the fifth inning and one run in the sixth. Read More

A State Finals Run that Put Okaw Valley on the Map

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Photo by Sonya Best
The Okaw Valley Lady Timberwolves took Findlay, Bethany and surrounding fans on a wild ride as Regional, Sectional, and Super-sectional champs. The historic run took the team and their fans to their first appearance at the Class 1A Illinois State Finals at Redbird Arena. The team is pictured with fourth place trophy.

•February 28, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

The Okaw Valley girls’ basketball team brought home the first state basketball trophy in the school’s history to a reception of fans at the high school in Bethany Saturday, Feb. 24.

Despite not being ranked in the top 10 all season, the Timberwolves took their fans on an incredible run that ended at the Illinois High School Association Class 1A State Tournament in Redbird Arena in Normal Friday and Saturday.

Though OV lost both games, the players, coaches and fans got to experience how special a trip to state can be.

“The trophy means everything to the communities here,” said Ackers. “We accomplished a lot of things that have never been done in school history. I could run through them; it’s a laundry list. That will sink in more as we look back here.” Read More

OV Timberwolves Trio Triumphs With Trip to State Finals

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Photo by RR Best
The Okaw Valley girls’ Super Sectional win over Mounds Meridian improved their overall record to 29-5, which set another school record for most wins in a season. The Timberwolves are scheduled to play Stockton at 11 a.m. Friday at Illinois State University’s Redbird Arena in Normal.

•February 21, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

Three years ago as sophomores, Paige Robinson, Natalie Jeffers and Hope Ruppert saw major playing time for the Okaw Valley girls’ basketball team.

The Timberwolves finished that season 16-7 overall and 4-1 in the Little Okaw Valley Conference.

More importantly, the seeds were sown.

Last year the trio had high expectations for the team, and though the OV finished 18-9 overall and 3-1 in the LOVC, the Timberwolves were bounced out of the regional by a tough Central A&M team.

This year as seniors, the trio of Robinson, Jeffers, Ruppert and the team’s strong supporting cast were not going to be denied. Read More

Sullivan Lady Redskins Keep Finding Ways to Win

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Photo by RR Best
Sectional Bound: Sullivan Redskins Girls Basketball team celebrates winning the Regional Championship and with one sectional win behind them the team faces off with Teutopolis at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15 at St. Anthony High School in Effingham.

•February 14, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

After defeating the No. 10 seeded Meridian in the first round of the IHSA Class 2A Arthur Regional, the Sullivan girls’ basketball team upset its way to the Sweet 16 on Feb. 12.

On their way to a sectional championship match, the Redskins upset No. 3 seeded Greenville and No. 2 seeded Tuscola to win the Arthur regional, then upset No. 1 seeded Marshall in the sectional semifinals Monday night in Effingham.

“Words can’t express how happy I am for these girls,” said Sullivan coach Sheri McCain. “They continue to defy the odds and find a way to win.”

Against top-seeded Marshall Sullivan played from behind almost the entire first half and went into the locker room down 25-19. Read More

Robinson Sets School Scoring Record

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Photo by R.R Best
Senior Okaw Valley basketball player Paige Robinson gives her father, Brett Robinson, the game ball after breaking the school’s all-time scoring record in a game against Cumberland Saturday.

•January 31, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

Senior guard Paige Robinson added another accolade to her high school basketball resume.

During the game against Cumberland at home Saturday, Robinson, at the top of the OV’s zone defense, stole the ball with 3:41 left in the first quarter and drove the ball for a layup and scored with 3:36 to set Okaw Valley’s all-time scoring record.

“Paige is very deserving of breaking the record,” said OV coach Brad Ackers. “She is the best scorer of the basketball that I have ever been around, male or female.”

Robinson surpassed the old record of 1,851 held by Tracy Yantis. Paige finished Saturday’s game with 1,863 points.

Yantis’ 2004-05 team finished 28-1 but was upset in the regional by Central A&M. Read More

Wallen Scores 1000th Career Point at Knights Classic

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File Photo by R.R. Best
Hannah Wallen (#14) and Haley Rose (#12) fight over a loose ball at a recent game. Wallen scored her 1000th career point against Cumberland last Friday.

•January 3, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond girls’ basketball team placed second in the Knights Classic Holiday Tournament this past week, and senior Knight Hannah Wallen scored her 1,000th career point against Cumberland Friday.

During the Knights Classic Holiday Tournament, ALAH defeated Cumberland and Chrisman to reach the championship game against Decatur St. Teresa.

In the championship game, though, the Knights lost to the Bulldogs 65-61.

St. Teresa jumped out to a 13-7 first-quarter lead and took a 32-23 lead at the half.

The Knights outscored the Bulldogs 19-13 in the third quarter cutting the lead to three points, 45-42.

St. Teresa held on in the fourth for the eventful 65-61 win.

Hannah Wallen tallied a team-high 16 points (including three 3-pointers), five rebounds and seven assists, to go with five rebounds. Read More

Okaw Valley Girls Finish Strong Week with Wins

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Photo by R.R. Best
Sullivan and Okaw Valley players fight for the rebound.

•December 20, 2017•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

The Okaw Valley girls’ basketball team finished a strong week with a win against rival Sullivan last Tuesday and two wins in the Okaw Valley Holiday Tournament in Bethany.

“We continued to play well throughout the weekend,” said Okaw Valley coach Brad Ackers. “I was very pleased with our defense and rebounding all week long. We shot the ball well Friday and Saturday, and when we do that, we are awfully tough to beat.”

Against Sullivan the Timberwolves jumped out to a 13-6 first quarter lead and almost repeated it in the second with a 10-6 run.

The second half was a low scoring affair with OV outscoring the Redskins 13-8 for the 36-20 win.

“You can’t beat too many teams shooting 13 percent from the field, 0-for-14 from behind the arc, and 56 percent from the line,” said Sullivan coach Sheri McCain. “I was very disappointed with our effort tonight. Okaw Valley simply wanted it more than us tonight.” Read More

Robinson Breaks Record at Thanksgiving Tournament

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•November 29, 2017•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

The Okaw Valley girls’ basketball team avenged an earlier loss and defeated Central A&M to place third in the Pana Thanksgiving Tournament this past week. Then they knocked off Mount Pulaski Monday night.

In the Pana Thanksgiving Tournament, Paige Robinson broke her own tournament scoring record.

In five games, she totaled 107 points and was named to the all-tournament team.

To win third place, the Timberwolves knocked off Central A&M 45-35 after losing to the Raiders 44-33 the previous Saturday. Read More

Four Swimming Girls Advance to State

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Submitted Photo
Girls’ Swim Team: Left to right: Natalie Drury, McKenna Kull, Alison Oligschlaeger and Anna Wooters.

•November 15, 2017•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

The Sullivan/Okaw Valley/Shelbyville girls’ swim team competed in the Girls’ Swimming and Diving Sectional in Champaign (Central) at Centennial High School, Saturday.

The swim team finished fourth out of 32 teams (138 points) and advanced four swimmers to the state meet at Winnetka (New Trier) Friday and Saturday.

“These girls are really dedicated to their sport, and they swim all year round, even summer,” said coach Scott Bales. “Most people don’t realize the hours of practice our swimmers must put into their sport to even drop a few seconds in any event. The fact that this is their third year in a row to qualify for the state swim meet is a testament to their hard work and dedication.” Read More