Category Archives: Sports

ALAH Rally Falls Short in Season-Ending Loss to Arcola

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February 11, 2015

Hopes for regional championship bid dashed

By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

The Lady Knights gave no. 2 seed Arcola all they wanted and more during the ISHA class 1A regional semifinal Tuesday night in Casey Westfield. With 25 seconds remaining and Arcola leading 49-42 Hannah Wallen knocked down back-to-back threes bringing the Knights to within one with six seconds remaining. Wallen, a freshman who has ice water running threw her veins, finished with a game high 22 points almost brought the Knights back from an 11-point fourth quarter deficit. But Arcola would hold off the attempt for a 51-48 win.
Head coach Craig Moffett’s team looked the better side for much of the game, and he was quick to point out the girls had nothing to hang their heads about. Read More

Redskins Dominate Raiders in Consolation Game

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February 11, 2015

Sullivan boys finish fifth in conference tourney

by Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

Sullivan defeated Central A&M 52-35 earning fifth place in the CIC Conference Tourney last Wednesday night in St. Teresa.
Zach Hrvol scored a game high 17 points coming on four 3-pointers, and Ty Molzen added 13 to secure the impressive win.
“We just have struggled so much offensively, and that is starting to change,” said Sullivan head coach Chester Reeder. “This is two games in a row now we have hit shots and got good looks. So hopefully that is snowballing, and, hopefully, we are starting to play our better basketball at the right time of the year.” Read More

Lady Knights Cruise Past Blue Streak 48-11

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February 11, 2015

Fall in semi-finals Tuesday

By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond‘s defense showed up to play in their first round regional game against Martinsville in Casey-Westfield Monday night. The Knights came up with 25 steals, holding the Blue Streaks to eight points in the first half and three points in the second. Hannah Wallen scored a game high 16 points to go with six rebounds and three steals leading the Knights to a memorable 37 point victory. Head coach Craig Moffett acknowledged the team couldn’t have asked for a better start to the tournament.
“It was ideal. All the girls played well from the starters down to everyone who came off the bench. It was a great team effort.” Read More

Knights Add 2015 LOVC Tourney Champions to Resume

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February 4, 2015

Goal now is to win conference outright

By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

One Knights’ fan traveled 1200 miles to see the Little Okaw Valley Conference championship game against the Hutsonville-Palestine Tigers in Arcola Saturday night. Arthur/Lovington-Atwood/Hammond made sure that fan, Danny Powell, left with a smile, defeating the Tigers 69-51.
“It is special. We have been fortunate enough to win a few and be in a couple finals. But you gotta appreciate it, and you can’t take it for granted because it’s not easy to do,” said head coach Dale Schuring. “It takes a lot to get to these games and even more to win them. The kids have done a great job.”
With Jermey Plank and Tyler Schuring acting as sharpshooters, the Knights’ offense looked like a well-oiled machine throughout the tournament.

Photo by RR Best Pictured is the Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond basketball team along with the cheerleading squad after finishing first in the LOVC tournament Saturday.

Photo by RR Best
Pictured is the Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond basketball team along with the cheerleading squad after finishing first in the LOVC tournament Saturday.

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Knights Celebrate Senior Night with Win over LSA

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Photo by Matt Kracht The ALAH Lady Knights celebrated their two seniors Monday night, Elyse Harris (left) and Emily Powell (right). ALAH defeated Decatur LSA 48-23.

Photo by Matt Kracht
The ALAH Lady Knights celebrated their two seniors Monday night, Elyse Harris (left) and Emily Powell (right). ALAH defeated Decatur LSA 48-23.

February 4, 2015

Harris, Powell get victorious send-off

By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond Lady Knights honored Elyse Harris and Emily Powell Monday for senior night, mauling the LSA Lions in a dominant 48-23 performance. Kim Davis scored a game high 20 points and Hannah Wallen added eight points respectively.
The Lady Knights led 12-0 for most of the first quarter before Decatur LSA( Lutheran School Association) scored their first basket with under a minute remaining in the first quarter.
“I thought our defensive rotation and defensive block-outs were better than they had been,” said ALAH head coach Craig Moffett. “So those are two things we need to keep working on, but I was proud of the girls' effort tonight. They did a good job. Also we limited turnovers, and that is the key. If we can limit turnovers, rebound, and shoot with confidence, we can be dangerous.” Read More

Sullivan’s Comeback Attempt Falls Short in CIC Finals

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Photo by Keith Stewart Sullivan’s April Shuman watches her shot’s path to the basket during last Thursday’s CIC tournament final against Central A&M.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Sullivan’s April Shuman watches her shot’s path to the basket during last Thursday’s CIC tournament final against Central A&M.

February 4, 2015

Redskins avenge loss Monday in big win

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

Another sluggish first half for Sullivan put the Lady Redskins in a tough situation last Thursday evening in Warrensburg during the CIC tournament championship against Central A&M. And though Sullivan would battle back in the second half and come within one of the Lady Raiders, A&M would hold on to win 59-54 and earn the inaugural Central Illinois Conference tournament championship.
Like their game against Tuscola the previous Tuesday during the semi-finals, Sullivan struggled to get into any rhythm in the first half, though much of that had to do with Brittin Boyer sitting almost the entire second quarter after she was called for a charge and her second foul just 36 seconds into the period.
With Boyer benched, A&M took advantage and went on a 15-3 run and held Sullivan to just eight points in the second. Read More

Okaw Valley Falls to Arcola 59-53 Tuesday

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February 4, 2015

Arcola gets best of back-and-forth affair

By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

It was groundhogs day again in Bethany on Tuesday night for the Timberwolves boys’ basketball team as for the second time in little over a week the team fell in a close game to the Purple Riders.
In both contests, Arcola jumped out to an early lead only to watch Okaw Valley storm back before struggling in the fourth quarter.
“We are familiar with themm and they are familiar with us,” said head coach Tony Sparks. “They threw a 1-3-1 zone at us we had not seen, and we threw a 1-3-1 zone that they had not seen. So we were on the same wavelength.” Read More

Sullivan Boys to Play Central A&M for Consolation Championship Wednesday

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February 4, 2015

After taking a tough 52-23 opening loss to host St. Teresa this past Saturday, the Sullivan boys’ basketball team rebounded against Meridian on Monday evening, winning 67-44, earning the Redskins a Wednesday matchup against Central A&M in the consolation championship of the CIC tournament.
In their opening loss to St. Teresa Saturday, Sullivan was kept to single digit scoring in all four quarters. Christian Williams led the Bulldogs with 20 points followed by Rashan Smith’s 12.
Sullivan was led by Zach Hrvol who was the only double digit scorer with 11. Read More

Okaw Valley Stays Unbeaten in Conference with Win Against Knights

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Photo by RR Best Mycaela Miller tries to dribble inside against Okaw Valley’s Jessica Robinson Thursday.

Photo by RR Best
Mycaela Miller tries to dribble inside against Okaw Valley’s Jessica Robinson Thursday.

February 4, 2015

Lady T-Wolves avenge opening tournament loss

By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

The Lady Timberwolves bounced back from a less than stellar conference tournament performance to beat Arthur-Lovington/Atwood Hammond Thursday night in Bethany 66-49.
Okaw Valley jumped out to a 21-5 lead in the first quarter. and head coach Don Gardener praised his girls’ effort from the first whistle.
“They dominated from the opening tip off,” he said. “This is how I expect us to play every game. When we’re firing on all cylinders, we are tough to beat, and everyone on the team contributed so it was a good team win.”
Paige Harlin opened up the scoring for Okaw Valley knocking down two free throws and adding a step-back 3-pointer putting the score at 5-0 with 6:51 left in the first. Harlin who went 6-of-6 from the foul line would finish with 13 points. Amanda McClain then scored to make it 7-0 before Elyse Harris got the Kinghts on the scoreboard with 3:40 left in opening quarter. Read More

Lady Red Earn Tournament Championship Berth

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Photo by Keith Stewart Sullivan head coach Sheri McCain speaks to her players during a timeout Tuesday evening. McCain's halftime talk helped inspire the Lady Redskins' 26-point third quarter, which proved pivotal in their semi-final victory over Tuscola.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Sullivan head coach Sheri McCain speaks to her players during a timeout Tuesday evening. McCain's halftime talk helped inspire the Lady Redskins' 26-point third quarter, which proved pivotal in their semi-final victory over Tuscola.

January 28, 2015

Will now face state ranked A&M squad Thursday

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

After a sluggish first half, Sullivan poured it on in the third quarter Tuesday evening, scoring 26 points, while holding Tuscola to just six en route to their 52-36 victory in the Central Illinois Conference tournament semifinal in Warrensburg.
“I challenged the seniors at halftime. I told them as long as I’ve been here we’ve never been to the conference tournament championship,” said Sullivan head coach Sheri McCain. “They’ve had three shots at it, and this is their fourth one. They needed to step up and lead, and they had 16 minutes to get it done.”
It took Sullivan no time at all to take McCain’s message to heart.
The Lady Red opened the second half with an 8-0 run, and for some spectators, they no doubt missed it as Sullivan stormed ahead in less than a minute and a half to a 30-16 lead.
Tuscola’s Halle McCrory would get the Warriors first basket following three offensive rebounds, but on the trip back down court, Brittin Boyer found Emily Neuhauser down low for the reply. Read More