Category Archives: Sports

ALAH Girls Shines in Regional Tournament Action

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Photo by Jason Brown
The ALAH bench erupts after the Knights score a basket in the regional championship game.

•February 13, 2019•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond girls’ basketball team upset Tuscola in the IHSA Class 2A Pana Regional last Wednesday but could not take down the top-seeded host Panthers in the championship game the following night.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our team this year,” said ALAH coach Mac Condill. “You nailed it on the head when you said this team improved day by day, quarter by quarter (for the most part). It was a great group of seniors, and those student athletes over achieved in most people’s eyes. They worked hard, played hard and had fun along the way. They truly left an impact on the future of this program.”
In the title match, a back-and-forth first quarter ended in a flurry.
Knight Marissa Herschberger hit a three pointer with 24 seconds left, only to have Panther Shania Schoonover answer with a basket to end the quarter at 19-13.
Pana extended the lead to 22-13 with 5:42 left in the second quarter, but that was where ALAH began its run.
Herschberger hit another 3-pointer with 5:25 left in the period, and Marcy Petersheim followed with her own 3-pointer with 4:45 on the clock. Read More

OVHS Girls’ Basketball Season Ends at Home

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Photo by R.R. Best
Kate Jeffers fights for the ball during the semifinal regional game against Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg last Wednesday.

•February 13, 2019•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Okaw Valley girls’ basketball team ended its season with a 52-36 loss to Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg in the semifinals of the Class 1A Bethany Regional last Wednesday.
This season the team was led by seniors Madison Vogel, who averaged 11.8 points per game and 8.6 rebounds per game, and Bella Benning, who made 52 3-pointers and averaged 7.7 points per game.
Kate Jeffers led the team with 9.4 rebounds per game to go with 9.2 points per game.
The Timberwolves season ended with a 10-20 overall record and a Little Okaw Valley Northwest Division record of 5-1 for second place.[/s2If]

Okaw Valley Timberwolves Take Broncos and Rams

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•February 13, 2019•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

After losing in a heartbreaker in overtime to Decatur LSA Friday, the Okaw Valley boys’ basketball team defeated Cerro Gordo 47-37 Friday and Ramsey 61-45 Saturday.
Against LSA, the Timberwolves took a 11-9 first quarter lead but fell behind 26-24 by halftime.
The teams played the second half to a tie, and in overtime Decatur eked out a 55-52 win. Read More

Knights Outscored

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•February 6, 2019•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond dropped a Little Okaw Valley Conference Northwest division game 57-27 against Decatur Lutheran Friday night.
The Lions outscored ALAH in each quarter, extending the lead from four points in the first to 11 at halftime.
Decatur Lutheran put the game away with a 17-7 third-quarter run. Read More

Okaw Valley Boys Pick up Conference Win

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•February 6, 2019•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Okaw Valley boys’ basketball team picked up another Little Okaw Valley Conference Northwest Division win with a 73-34 win over Sangamon Valley Friday.
After a 12-8 lead in the first quarter, OV outscored Sangamon Valley 21-11 in the second quarter and 23-12 in the third quarter to blow the game open.
Two Timberwolves hit double-digit scoring. Read More

ALAH Girls Take Okaw Valley on Senior Night

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Photo by Jason Brown
Knight Emma Harris boxes out Kate Jeffers for one of her four rebounds on the night.

•February 6, 2019•

by Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond girls’ basketball team defeated Okaw Valley on senior night to place each team tied for second place in the regular season Little Okaw Valley Conference Northwest Division in Arthur Saturday.
The Knight’s 44-28 win set each team’s LOVC regular-season record to 5-1, behind undefeated Kansas/Shiloh/Oakland in the LOVC.
The Knights took an early lead when Marissa Herschberger stole the ball and converted in transition, then scored again on another layup in transition to make the score 8-2 with just less than three minutes left in the game.
After a 15-5 lead, ALAH Marcy Petersheim hit a jumper to make it and a Knight steal and score push the lead to 19-5 with 2:56 left in the second quarter, forcing OV to take a timeout. Read More

Redskins Place in Tourney

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•February 6, 2019•

The Sullivan boys’ basketball team placed sixth in the Central Illinois Conference Tournament Saturday.
The Redskins lost to Shelbyville 68-43 and finished the tournament 1-2.
Senior Caden Ellis led the team with 15 points, nine rebounds and three assists. Read More

ALAH Knights Snap Streak with Sangamon Valley Defeat

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•January 30, 2019•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond boys’ basketball team snapped its six-game losing streak by defeating Sangamon Valley last Wednesday at Nancy Stiff Gym in Arcola.
The Knights took a 15-point lead after the first quarter then went on a 14-8 run in the second quarter for a 33-12 halftime lead.
The Knights held onto the same lead in the third quarter before pulling away in the fourth for the 62-37 win.
Austin Plank contributed a season-high 23 points to go with four rebounds, three assists and three steals to help earn the seventh-place finish in the Little Okaw Valley Conference Northwest Division Tournament.
Austin Romine hit double digits with ten points and added three rebounds, two assists and two points. Read More

Okaw Valley Girls’ Basketball Gains Strength with Wins

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Submitted Photo
Senior night for Madison Vogel and Bella Benning pose for senior night before the Arcola game Monday night.

•January 30, 2019•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Okaw Valley girls’ basketball team has picked a good time to start a winning streak.
The Timberwolves knocked off Arcola in a close Little Okaw Valley Conference Northwest Division game to win its fifth-straight game and stay undefeated in the LOVC Monday night.
The back-and-forth game started strong for OV.
The Timberwolves took a 15-4 lead in the first quarter, but the Purple Riders battled back to cut the lead to 22-18.
Arcola took the lead heading into the fourth quarter, but OV fought back in the fourth for the 45-42 win.
Kate Jeffers recorded a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Madison Vogel added 10 rebounds and eight points.
Bella Benning contributed six points, and Mia Harris added four.
Miaya Lehamn, Shyanne Harding and Ciera Perry each scored two points. Read More

Sullivan Boys’ Basketball Team Upsets Meridian

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•January 30, 2019•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Sullivan boys’ basketball team lost its first game against No. 1 seeded Central A&M in the Central Illinois Conference Tournament at Warrensburg Saturday but bounced back Monday to upset No. 5 seeded Meridians.
Monday night against Meridian, No. 8 seeded Sullivan needed all of its 22-10 first-quarter lead to hold off the Hawks.
Meridian battled back in the middle quarters, outscoring Sullivan 33-26 to cut the lead to four.
Sullivan fought off the Hawks in the fourth quarter for the 67-65 win.
Four Redskins hit double-digit scoring.
Caden Ellis had a team-high 22 points, and Dominick Kimberlin followed with 16.
Dalton Rogers and Ian Plank each scored 10 points. Read More