Photo by Keith Stewart
Okaw Valley head coach Jody McCormick reacts excitedly during her team's game against Decatur LSA Saturday.

September 24, 2014

OV volleyball loses three set heartbreaker to decide third

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

In recent history, the Windsor volleyball tournament hasn’t been the Timberwolves’ best showing. In fact, the last three years, Okaw Valley has failed to make it into any of the top four deciding games, going a combined 2-7. And it was this recent hardship at the Blue Devils’ annual invitational that made the Timberwolves’ fourth place finish all the more surprising, not to mention, pleasing.
“The last three years we’ve been at this tournament the very first match, we weren’t even awake,” said second year head coach Jody McCormick. “I wonder if we even got off the bus. So this year my focus was getting them here early, getting food in their bellies before we even get here, getting them in that intensity mode, and I couldn’t be more proud of them. They worked really hard and pulled through it.” Read More

Photo by Keith Stewart
Warrensburg-Latham’s Austin Tucker tries to make a catch during Friday’s first quarter while SOV’s Zach DeVore defends on the coverage.

September 24, 2014

SOV now ranked 16th in Class 3A

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

For SOV head coach Gerald Temples, a poor first half for his team consists of a 21-0 lead and getting pushed around at the line of scrimmage. Needless to say, he wasn’t the happiest with the Redskin’s first half performance against Warrensburg-Latham, especially against the near flawless backdrop of his team’s second half effort, which solidified a 42-0 win to maintain their undefeated record at 4-0.

“We came in to do what we do offensively and defensively and to Warrensburg’s credit, in the first half now, I’m telling you, they got after us up front,” said Temples. “They took it to us, and that was our discussion at half time-how defensively and offensively we have got to be able to play better and control the line of scrimmage better because we didn’t, especially defensively.” Read More

Photo by Darian Hays
The ALAH Knights' offensive line was altogether healthy for the first time since week one, which proved a big asset in the Knights' 36-25 win over Sangamon Valley last Friday.

September 24, 2014

ALAH now to host powerhouse Arcola

By Matt Kracht
NP Sport Reporter

In their Little Okaw Valley Conference opener, Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond  dominated the line of scrimmage defeating a spirited Sangamon Valley squad 36-25 Friday night. A Knights offensive line healthy for the first time since week one cleared the way for Tyler Schuring’s four touchdowns moving ALAH to 3-1 on the season. Knights head coach Dale Schuring praised the offensive unit’s effort in the victory.

“It’s a good group,” he said. “We ran the ball pretty much anytime we wanted to today, so I was really pleased with their play.” Read More

Photo by Keith Stewart
The Lady Knights Emily Seegmiller (left), Kim Davis (center), and Brooke Tabb (right) celebrate along with their team after defeating rival Tri-County 25-21, 25-21 last Thursday.

September 24, 2014

Consistent play finds ALAH through in two-set victory

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

In both of Thursday night’s sets, ALAH had to power past a stubborn Tri-County team but did so successfully to win 25-21, 25-21.

In the first, ALAH had to overcome Tri-County’s lead but would after the Lady Titans’ miscommunication tied the game at 11-11. ALAH then fought on the ensuing volley with two point-saving digs before a kill attempt by Tri-County went out. Alyssa McArthur then landed a kill to put ALAH up 13-11. Read More

Photo by Keith Stewart
Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond’s Payton Wellbaum battles a Newton forward for the ball last Thursday. The Knights took their first loss of the season, falling 2-1 and to 5-1 on the year.

September 17, 2014

ALAH falls to 5-1 on year

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

Going into Thursday evening’s matchup against Newton, the ALAH soccer team was attempting to stay perfect on the year and improve to 6-0. Such a feat seemed possible when Javi Briseno’s corner kick near the end of the first half went in the goal to put ALAH up 2-1, but the goal would be called back after officials cited that time had actually expired 14 seconds earlier.
“I’m kind of upset with they went ahead and let us kick the corner kick and then after it’s in, they say, ‘No, time quit 14 seconds ago.’,” said head coach Jeff Trower. “Don’t ask me. I have no explanation. That’s not right.” Read More