Hope Snyder
Hope F. Snyder, 91, of Bethany passed away at 3:04 p.m. Saturday, December 9, 2017 in Aspen Creek in Sullivan.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, December 17 in McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Bethany. Visitation will be from 1–3 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home in Bethany. Burial will be in Marrowbone Township Cemetery in Bethany. Read More
•December 13, 2017•
Shelby Dash, a senior at Central College in Pella, Iowa, has been honored for her contributions to the college volleyball team. Dash of Bethany is a graduate of Okaw Valley High School. She was awarded a varsity letter.
Coach Jeanne Czipri awarded 15 varsity letters during the team’s recent awards banquet.
•December 13, 2017•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports
The Sullivan girls’ basketball team picked up two Central Illinois Conference wins this past week.
Monday night the Redskins toppled Meridian and Thursday defeated Warrensburg-Latham.
Against Meridian, Sullivan took a 13 point lead into the second quarter and extended that lead to 19 points at the half.
The Redskins continued extending the lead in the second half, including a 20-5 third-quarter run, to eventually win 59-20.
Sullivan totaled 35 total team rebounds and 26 steals. Read More
•December 6, 2017•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports
The Okaw Valley girls’ basketball team hammered Arthur Okaw Christian 50-24 Monday night for another nonconference win.
“It was a nice game by our girls. We executed what we wanted to do defensively, and we did a great job of playing selfless, team basketball, coach Brad Ackers said of the effort.
The Timberwolves took a 13-5 lead after the first quarter and did not look back.
The game was a coming out party for junior Bella Benning. Read More
•December 6, 2017•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports
Last Tuesday Villa Grove and Heritage entered withdrawal letters to exit the Little Okaw Valley Conference.
Like pulling a thread, by the end of week 15 out of the 19 LOVC schools submitted withdrawal letters, unraveling the conference.
Okaw Valley and Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond were among the schools that withdrew from the league following the 2018-19 season.
“At this time, there is a restructuring of the conference, and schools are doing what they feel is in the best interest of their students and communities,” said OV principal Matthew Shoaff.
For now many administrations from the departing schools are reportedly in talks for a solution which could include starting a new conference, but nothing has been confirmed. Read More
Photo by R.R. Best
Hannah Wallen (#14) and Haley Rose (#12) fight over a loose ball Monday night.
•December 6, 2017•
Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond girls’ basketball team split a pair of games this past week.
The Knights defeated Cumberland Thursday but lost to Sullivan Monday night.
Against Cumberland, ALAH jumped out to an 18-6 first quarter lead and didn’t look back.
The Knights outscored Cumberland 18-0 in the second quarter to ride out the eventual 51-15 win.
Junior Marissa Herschberger tallied 13 points, eight rebounds, three assists and five steals.
Senior Janette Comstock contributed eight points, three rebounds, four assists and a whopping nine steals.
Freshman Mackenzi Bowles scored 10 points and had four rebounds, and senior Hannah Wallen totaled eight points, four rebounds, three assists and four steals.
Senior Madi Corum, senior Abi Duzan and junior Marcy Petersheim each pulled down seven rebounds. Senior Kyla Carson added six points, four rebounds and two assists. Read More
Photo by R. R. Best
Timberwolf Austin Hill drives to the basket against Shelbyville at Bethany Friday night.
•December 6, 2017•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports
A tough schedule which included the St. Anthony Turkey Tournament has stifled Okaw Valley boys’ basketball team’s overall record this year, but coach Brooks Inman has seen improvement with each game and hopes the competition will pay off down the road.
This week the Timberwolves finished 1-1 with a win against Tuscola and a loss to Shelbyville in back-to-back games.
“We have played as tough a schedule as anyone our size,” said Inman. “We have yet to play a 1A school and have been challenged each and every game. I have seen improvement in every game except for one and have been encouraged by our play at times.”
Against Tuscola Saturday, three Timberwolves scored in double digits to help overcome the Warriors 61-55.
OV jumped out to a 15-5 first quarter lead and then fought off Tuscola the rest of the way. Read More
Photo by Jennifer Martin
ALAH Knight Kobe Wells scored eight points, brought down six rebounds and had two steals.
•December 6, 2017•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports
The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond boys’ basketball team finished a busy week with a 1-2 record.
ALAH defeated Martinsville but lost to Meridian and Oakwood.
“Overall, it was a difficult week with the amount of travel and the back-to-back games on Friday night and Saturday night,” said ALAH coach Dale Schuring. “We did make adjustments and improvements in some areas, but we continue to struggle in some areas that we need to fix quickly.”
The Knights knocked off Martinsville 54-40 last Tuesday.
ALAH jumped out to a 12-4 lead in the first quarter and kept that lead until the fourth quarter where the Knights outscored Martinsville 19-12.
“I thought we made great improvements from the first half to the second half verses Martinsville,” said Schuring. “We played much better team basketball and improved from our game verses Sullivan in defensive rebounding and many other areas of play.” Read More
•December 6, 2017•
The Sullivan boys’ basketball team dropped two games this past week.
The Redskins lost to Jersey Community High School Saturday and St. Anthony last Tuesday.
The Sullivan boys’ basketball team ran across a talented St. Anthony team. Read More
•December 6, 2017•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports
After dropping a game to Tuscola on a last second shot, the Sullivan girls’ basketball team bounced back to beat Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond at home Monday night.
Sullivan jumped out to a 7-2 lead to start the game and kept a 3-to-6 point lead for the next three quarters.
Senior Hannah Wallen had six steals which led to several transition layups to help the Knights climb back into the game, but Sullivan countered with baskets from Avery Still to keep the lead.
With just under a minute to play in the fourth quarter, Marissa Herschberger hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key to tie the game at 55.
From there, Redskin Esther Miller made two free throws to take the lead. Read More