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7th Grade Volleyball Advances to State
The 7th grade girls volleyball team advanced to the State Tournament on Monday night with a 25-15, 25-7 win over South Central (20-1) . The girls will play in Pawnee on Friday night at 8:15 against undefeated A-C Central (25-0). OV is now 18-3 on the season. Okaw Valley Middle School seventh grade girls’ volleyball team won the regional March 1 with 25-5 and 25-15 wins over CHBC.
•March 7, 2018•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports
In her 10th season as head coach of the Sullivan girls’ track team, Kali Taylor has had one of the best first weeks of practice, and she and her athletes have high expectations and goals for this season.
“I’m very proud how the girls responded to some very tough workouts that I gave them,” said Taylor. “We started off the season with an indoor meet at ISU on Saturday with 682 student-athletes competing. I only took two individuals, Madalyne McPheeters and Katherine Kite, but they held their own against some tough Class 2A and 3A competitors and both won their heats of the 60m and 1,600m.”
For the first time in several years, Taylor has had six to eight athletes consistently participating in her three-day a week off-season speed and agility workouts throughout the winter.
“That has really helped create a more competitive practice environment for the athletes who were coming off of a winter sport and didn’t join us until the first week of practice,” said Taylor. “Several of our athletes are coming off an outstanding girls’ basketball season so we are looking to add more accolades in the spring season.” Read More
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First in Backstroke
Anna Wooters, (center), a junior at Okaw Valley High School and a member of the Sullivan Blue Dolphins, competed this weekend at the Regional Swim Championships in Bloomington. She earned first place in the 100 backstroke, second in the 50 freestyle, and both of her relays (400 medley, and 200 free medley) earned first place medals. Anna will head to Wisconsin in two weeks to compete in the Midwest Championships.
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The Okaw Valley sixth grade volleyball team won the Arthur Tournament.
•February 28, 2018•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports
The Sullivan boys’ basketball team gave the No. 1 seeded Effingham St. Anthony (26-3) all it could handle in the IHSA Class 2A Vandalia Regional last Tuesday.
Sullivan took a 12-10 lead into the second quarter and kept an 18-17 lead at the half.
The first half of the third quarter was back-and-forth, but after Jacob White hit a basket to tie the game at 10, the Bulldogs went on a 12-4 run to grab the biggest lead of the game. Read More
•February 28, 2018•
After knocking off Georgetown-Ridge Farm in the first round of the IHSA Class 2A Salt Fork Regional in Catlin, the Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond boys’ basketball team lost 64-45 to host Salt Fork last Tuesday to end its season.
“The game was disappointing in that we did not defend well enough to give ourselves a chance to win,” said ALAH coach Dale Schuring. “Salt Fork executed very well on both ends of the floor and deserved to win the game.”
Salt Fork jumped ahead in the first quarter with a 20-7 lead, then extended the lead to 31-15 at the half. Read More
•February 28, 2018•
The Okaw Valley boys’ basketball team’s season came to an end with a 49-45 loss to Mulberry Grove in the second round of the Class 1A Windsor Regional games last Wednesday.
OV fell behind 7-0 to start the game but battled back to tie the game in the second quarter, then took a 28-24 halftime lead.
In the second half, the Timberwolves could not get shots to fall, but their defense kept them in the game. Read More
Photo courtesy Jennifer Martin
ALAH Knights seniors Colton Romine, Kobe Wells and Will Cohan celebrate senior night in Arthur Friday, Feb. 16.
•February 21, 2018•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports
The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond boys’ basketball team defeated Arthur Okaw Christian to finish out its regular season, then defeated Georgetown Ridgefarm in the first round of the Class 1A Salt Fork Regional.
Monday night, ALAH defeated Georgetown-Ridge Farm to advance to the next round.
After a close first half lead, 31-29, the Knights were able to pull away in the third by outscoring Georgetown-Ridge Farm 19-5.
From there, ALAH held on for the 56-42 win.
“It wasn’t pretty, but we survived and advanced,” said ALAH coach Dale Schuring. “The first half was lacking in effort. We played a much better second half on the defensive end and in rebounding.” Read More
Photo by Jason Brown
Chloe Riley passes the ball out of the zone defense.
•February 21, 2018•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports
After a magical IHSA Class 2A post-season run that included regional wins against the No. 10 seeded Meridian, No. 3 seeded Greenville and No. 2 seeded Tuscola to win its 12th regional title and an upset win against No. 1 seeded Marshall in the sectional semifinals, the Sullivan girls’ basketball team’s season came to an end with a 56-25 loss to Teutopolis at Effingham St. Anthony last Thursday.
“I’m so proud of what these girls were able to accomplish down the stretch,” said Sullivan coach Sheri McCain. “They brought home a regional title and made it to the Sweet 16.”
With a loud crowd behind Sullivan to start the game, Elizabeth Green stole the ball two possessions in a row and scored each time on transition layups to help put the Redskins up 8-6 at the end of the first quarter. Read More
•February 21, 2018•
For the second year in a row, Okaw Valley standout guard Paige Robinson advanced through regionals and on to state in the IHSA Class 1A Country Financial Three-Point Contest this past week.
Robinson advanced through the regional shootout by making 7-of-10 three pointers in a tiebreaker round at Chrisman. Read More