Category Archives: Sports

Sullivan Swim Team Places Third in Sectionals

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Photo by Jason Lee Brown Sullivan swimmer Brodie Goss competes in the 100 Yard Butterfly in the boys’ IHSA Sectional Swimming and Diving Championship at Champaign Centennial High School Saturday.

Photo by Jason Lee Brown
Sullivan swimmer Brodie Goss competes in the 100 Yard Butterfly in the boys’ IHSA Sectional Swimming and Diving Championship at Champaign Centennial High School Saturday.

•February 24, 2016•

By Jason Lee Brown
For the News Progress

The Sullivan boys’ swim team placed third out of 22 teams in the boys’ Sectional Swimming and Diving Championship at Champaign Centennial High School Saturday.

“We had some good personal best times for our swimmers, and we really competed well in a tough sectional meet against much larger schools,” said coach Scott Bales. “Unlike all other IHSA sports, swimming has only one class or division, so we compete against schools with enrollments of 2,000 or 200 students.”

Bryce King, Wiktor Poznachowski, Charlie Goss, Luke DeLong and Brodie Goss finished second in the boys’ 200 yard medley relay with a time of 1:46.39. Read More

Knights Take Storm in Close Home Game

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Photo by Darian Hays Cade Day goes up for a field goal against Sangamon Valley Feb 19. Day also pulled down five rebounds in the win.

Photo by Darian Hays
Cade Day goes up for a field goal against Sangamon Valley Feb 19. Day also pulled down five rebounds in the win.

•February 24, 2016•

Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond Knight basketball beat Sangamon Valley’s Storm 44-42 in Friday, Feb 19 action in Arthur.

The Knights’ better shooting percentage from the field 16-34 to the Storm’s 16-44 was a boost to team performance.

ALAH hit 3-6 three pointers by three players with Sangamon Valley hitting 5-19 three pointers. Free throw percentage was 64 for ALAH hitting 9-14 with the Storm making 5-15.

Sangamon Valley pulled down 23 rebounds to the Knights 25 with ALAH turning the ball over 17 times to Sangamon Valley’s 11.

Sangamon Valley started the first quarter off with a 15-8 run over the Knights. Second quarter saw a  10 point tie with the Storm leading 25-18 at the half.

The Storm had a 13-11 third quarter with the Knights down 38-29 at the start of the fourth quarter.  ALAH kicked into high gear for a 15 -4 point fourth, resulting in the 44-42 win. Read More

Former SOV Athletes Have Strong Indoor Track Seasons

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•February 17, 2016•

Former Sullivan and Okaw Valley athletes Mollie Bowman and Amanda McClain continue strong winter performances during the collegiate indoor track season.

Both were medalists in the IHSA state track meet during high school.

Bowman attends McKendree University and McLain of Findlay is on the Illinois State Redbird team.

At the Olivet Invitational Meet Bowman participated in the 200 meter dash finishing second with a time of 26.61 seconds. In the 4x400 the McKendree team took first with a 4:04.21 second time.

Bowman joined seven athletes on the  McKendree team at the Grand Valley State University big meet in Allendale, Mich. Feb 13. At that meet Sullivan sophomore Bowman participated in the 4x400 relay for a 10th place finish. Read More

Strong Fourth Generates Okaw Valley Win Over Knights

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•February 17, 2016•

Okaw Valley’s girls’ basketball team beat the Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond Knights 55-48 at home February 9.

ALAH came out strong in the first quarter, boosted with a couple of Mycaela Miller three pointers, giving the Knights a 16-6 edge over the Lady Timberwolves.

Second quarter action found the Okaw Valley team’s Paige Robinson responding with three three pointers as the Timberwolves edged the Knights 12-11 for the quarter.

ALAH started the third quarter with a 27-18 lead. Okaw Valley scored 12 to the Knights 10 in the third quarter. Read More

Local Runner Places for ISU

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•February 17, 2016•

Amanda McClain, former Sullivan Okaw Valley track and field athlete recently competed at the Missouri Valley Conference indoor track and field competition in which her Illinois State University team finished fifth.

McClain, who is from Findlay, posted a personal best time of 56.03 in the women’s 400 dash and placed 19th overall of the 67 competing teams. Read More

Arcola Takes Home Win Over Knights

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File Photo ALAH Knight Shandon Herschberger

File Photo
ALAH Knight Shandon Herschberger

•February 17, 2016•

Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond’s Knights traveled to Arcola Friday, Feb 5 with the Purple Riders taking the win 59-43.

First quarter action found the Arcola team ahead 20-9 followed by a Knight tied second quarter at 9-9. The Purple Riders started the third quarter with a 29-18 edge.

Arcola scored a 16-11 third quarter with the Knights scoring 14-14 in the fourth. The Purple Riders came away with the 59-43 win.

The Knights were 16-36 from the field for 44 percent, while the Riders hit 15-32 for 46 percent. ALAH hit 2-3 three point shots for 66 percent while Arcola was 6-17 for 35 percent.

ALAH was 9-12 from the free stripe for 75 percent with Arcola hitting 23-37 for 62 percent.

The Knights’ Shandon Herschberger had two rebounds, two steals was four for nine from the field and 2-2 from the free stripe for 10 points.

Teddy Poe grabbed five rebounds, had three assists, was 3-4 from the field and 2-2 from the free stripe for eight points. Read More

Okaw Valley Take Knights by One Point in Bethany

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•February 17, 2016•

Only one point separated Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond from Okaw Valley in Bethany February 9, and the 49-48 win went to the home team.

The Knights had a strong first half outscoring the Timberwolves 11-6 in the first quarter and 16-11 in the second quarter. ALAH started the third quarter ahead 27-17.

The Timberwolves came on strong in the third quarter with a 15-9 run over the Knights. Okaw Valley scored 17 to Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond’s 12 in the fourth to win the game 49-48.

The Knights hit 15-29 for 51 percent from the field while the Timberwolves hit 18-43 for 41 percent.

Okaw Valley made 6-17 three point shots for 35 percent while ALAH made one three point shot.

The Knights hit 73 percent of free throws 17-23 while the Timberwolves hit 7-16 for 43 percent.

Okaw Valley dominated with 22 rebounds to ALAH’s 14. Read More

Tough Redskin Loss to Broncos at Regionals

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Photo by Doug Cottle Sullivan Lady Redskins Madi Wall and Alyssa Marshall take rebound from Bronco in the 43-40 regional loss in Tuscola Monday.

Photo by Doug Cottle
Sullivan Lady Redskins Madi Wall and Alyssa Marshall take rebound from Bronco in the 43-40 regional loss in Tuscola Monday.

•February 10, 2016•

The Sullivan Lady Redskins ended the basketball season with a tough 43-40 loss to Cerro Gordo Bement February 8.

It was the first game of Regional play at Tuscola, and the Broncos were hungry.

“No one wants to end their season on a loss,” coach Sheri McCain began, “but tonight Cerro Gordo simply outplayed us and wanted it more.”

“They hustled after every loose ball and contested our shots,” she continued, noting the Redskins were hindered by missed free throws and 22 turnovers.

“I think Brooke Tuttle played a great game for us, and Ester Miller also played hard,” she said. “The plus side is we are young and can only get better if we work hard in the off season.” Read More

Fourth Quarter Blasts Knights Past Lions

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Knight Jakob Brewer leaves three Decatur LSA Lions behind going up for two of his 17 points in the ALAH win February 5.

Knight Jakob Brewer leaves three Decatur LSA Lions behind going up for two of his 17 points in the ALAH win February 5.

Big Comeback for ALAH

•February 10, 2016•

By Mike Brothers

From floor wrestling to leads flipping, the final few minutes of the Knights 55-49 win over Decatur LSA was a crowd pleaser.

The midcourt wrestling match for the ball between Knight Shandon Herschberger and Decatur LSA’s Austin with 5:43 left during the Friday, February 5 game started a Knights fire.

“I was really pleased with the effort and the ability to overcome adversity we displayed.” Knight coach Dale Schuring said of the comeback victory.

“The players did a great job of taking the last two days of practice to the game floor.”

After the floor encounter, the Arthur-Lovington/Atwood Hammond Knights went ahead 45-43 on a three point shot by Brad R. Miller at 4:49.

The LSA Lions had dominated the game and responded with a field goal and free shot. Then Cade Day tied the scored at 47-47 with 3: 25 left.

LSA returned to the lead while Jakob Brewer responded for the Knights resulting in a 49-49 tie. Read More

Timberwolves Lose Despite Determined Effort

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Photo by RR Best Timberwolf Alex Martin drives for back to back scores in second quarter action against the Storm.

Photo by RR Best
Timberwolf Alex Martin drives for back to back scores in second quarter action against the Storm.

•February 10, 2016•

By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

Okaw Valley went wire to wire in front of a sold-out crowd Friday night, ultimately falling 69-62 versus the Sangamon Valley Storm.

A pair of well-timed runs by the Storm to end the first half and begin the second proved too much to overcome.

Okaw Valley head coach Brooks Inman was proud of how the Timberwolves battled throughout. “Our kids don’t quit. They have a lot of heart and a lot of pride. They won’t quit ever, and I am proud of them for that. I am proud of the fight.”

The Timberwolves jumped all over the Storm early rushing out to an 8-2 lead at the five minute mark in the first quarter. The Storm responded with an 8-0 run to retake the lead 10-8 with three minutes left in the first.

Taylor Coleman converted a three point play from the line on the Timberwolves’ next possession to take the lead right back 11-10.

The teams traded scores to end the period with the Storm on top 16-13.

Alex Martin, who finished with 10, took control in the second quarter, driving and scoring on back to back possessions to get the Timberwolves within one basket of the Storm’s 20-18 lead.   Read More