Photo by Darian Hays
ALAH Freshman Jolynn Barbee (pictured) along with, senior Abi Duzan, junior Marcy Petersheim and senior Callie Schable each scored four points in the 59-27 win over Villa Grove.

•February 7, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond girls’ basketball team defeated Cerro Gordo/Bement in a Little Okaw Valley Conference Northwest Division game Thursday and then won its first-round matchup in the IHSA Class 2A Arthur Regional against Villa Grove Monday night.

In regional action at Arthur, the No. 7 seeded ALAH fell behind the No. 6 seeded Villa Grove 10-7 in the first quarter but bounced back in the second quarter to outscore the Blue Devils 21-9 to take a 28-19 halftime lead.

ALAH kept up the pressure in the third quarter by again scoring 21 points, but this time, Villa Grove scored only six.

The Knights added eight points in the fourth for the eventual 59-27 victory.

Junior Marissa Herschberger scored a team-high 16 points and five steals, and senior Hannah Wallen, back from injury, recorded 12 points and eight rebounds, eight assists and four steals.

Senior Kyla Carson contributed nine points, and Janette Comstock added six points, four rebounds and two steals. Read More

•January 31, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

Okaw Valley girls’ basketball team improved its overall record to 23-5 and stayed undefeated at 4-0 in the Little Okaw Valley Northwest Division this past week.

In a busy week of games, the Timberwolves defeated Windsor-Stewardson-Strasburg last Tuesday, Arcola last Thursday, Cumberland Saturday and Decatur LSA Monday.

Against LSA Monday night, OV jumped out to a 24-5 first quarter lead and kept the pressure on from there for the eventual 59-27 win.

Paige Robinson scored a game-high 23 points, including five 3-pointers.

Ciera Perry followed Robinson with 11, and Madison Vogel added eight. Read More

Photo by R.R. Best
Senior night (L to R) Lizzie Green, Chloe Riley, Laine Cameron and Haley Rose.

•January 31, 2018•

The Sullivan girls’ basketball team finished 1-2 overall and lost the third place Central Illinois Conference Tournament game to St. Teresa last Thursday and then dropped a home game against Central A&M Monday night.

Against A&M, Sullivan fell behind 15-8 in the first quarter but hung around to make a final push in the fourth quarter.

Late buckets by Avery Still and Chloe Riley cut the lead to 55-53 with under 20 seconds to play, but Sullivan could not get any closer in the eventual 57-53 loss.

“The girls played exceptionally hard the entire game,” said Sullivan coach Sheri McCain. “It was a close game, but A&M just capitalized on our turnovers tonight at key moments. We were 13-for-21 from the free-throw line, and they were 15-for-18 (9-for-12 in the fourth quarter).” Read More

Photo by Martin Call
Austin Hill shoots a floater in the lane against Cumberland Saturday.

•January 31, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

The Okaw Valley boys’ basketball team won the Little Okaw Valley Northeast Conference championship by defeating Decatur LSA but could not carry that momentum into the LOVC companionship game against Cumberland Saturday.

“We had a solid week going 3-1 and played three of the best defensive games in a row that I have been a part of,” said OV coach Brooks Inman. “We allowed 83 points total over the first three games of the week. Our effort and attention to detail was tremendous.”

Against Decatur LSA, OV had to make a fourth quarter comeback to overtake LSA in a close 38-36 game.

OV took a 14-11 lead into half, but LSA outscored the Timberwolves 13-4 to take a 24-18 lead.

In the fourth quarter, OV came back with a 13-4 run to overcome LSA. Read More

Photo furnished
ALAH Knight Kobe Wells is up for a block in the Hutsonville-Palestine 55-46 win over the weekend. Wells contributed 11 points and three rebounds toward the win.

•January 31, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond boys’ basketball team defeated Arcola last Friday and Hutsonville/Palestine Saturday in the Little Okaw Valley Conference Tournament to earn fifth place.

“We played well, especially offensively, this week,” said ALAH coach Dale Schuring. “Our defense hasn’t been as good as I would like, but we have rebounded very well with Colton Romine leading the way.”

Against Hutsonville/Palestine, the Knights were tied early in the second quarter but took advantage of a 20-4 run to pull away for a 23-17 halftime lead.

Hutsonville/Palestine could not get any closer.

ALAH extended the lead by three in the third period and four in the fourth period for the 55-46 final.

Colton Romine collected a game-high 22 rebounds to go with nine points, and Will Cohan scored a game-high 21 points, including three 3-pointers, and three steals. Read More