OV Timberwolves Trio Triumphs With Trip to State Finals

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Photo by RR Best
The Okaw Valley girls’ Super Sectional win over Mounds Meridian improved their overall record to 29-5, which set another school record for most wins in a season. The Timberwolves are scheduled to play Stockton at 11 a.m. Friday at Illinois State University’s Redbird Arena in Normal.

•February 21, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

Three years ago as sophomores, Paige Robinson, Natalie Jeffers and Hope Ruppert saw major playing time for the Okaw Valley girls’ basketball team.

The Timberwolves finished that season 16-7 overall and 4-1 in the Little Okaw Valley Conference.

More importantly, the seeds were sown.

Last year the trio had high expectations for the team, and though the OV finished 18-9 overall and 3-1 in the LOVC, the Timberwolves were bounced out of the regional by a tough Central A&M team.

This year as seniors, the trio of Robinson, Jeffers, Ruppert and the team’s strong supporting cast were not going to be denied. Read More

ALAH Knights Advance at Salt Fork Regional

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Photo courtesy Jennifer Martin
ALAH Knights seniors Colton Romine, Kobe Wells and Will Cohan celebrate senior night in Arthur Friday, Feb. 16.

•February 21, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond boys’ basketball team defeated Arthur Okaw Christian to finish out its regular season, then defeated Georgetown Ridgefarm in the first round of the Class 1A Salt Fork Regional.

Monday night, ALAH defeated Georgetown-Ridge Farm to advance to the next round.

After a close first half lead, 31-29, the Knights were able to pull away in the third by outscoring Georgetown-Ridge Farm 19-5.

From there, ALAH held on for the 56-42 win.

“It wasn’t pretty, but we survived and advanced,” said ALAH coach Dale Schuring. “The first half was lacking in effort. We played a much better second half on the defensive end and in rebounding.” Read More

Sullivan Girls’ Magical Run Over at Sweet Sixteen

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Photo by Jason Brown
Chloe Riley passes the ball out of the zone defense.

•February 21, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

After a magical IHSA Class 2A post-season run that included regional wins against the No. 10 seeded Meridian, No. 3 seeded Greenville and No. 2 seeded Tuscola to win its 12th regional title and an upset win against No. 1 seeded Marshall in the sectional semifinals, the Sullivan girls’ basketball team’s season came to an end with a 56-25 loss to Teutopolis at Effingham St. Anthony last Thursday.

“I’m so proud of what these girls were able to accomplish down the stretch,” said Sullivan coach Sheri McCain. “They brought home a regional title and made it to the Sweet 16.”

With a loud crowd behind Sullivan to start the game, Elizabeth Green stole the ball two possessions in a row and scored each time on transition layups to help put the Redskins up 8-6 at the end of the first quarter. Read More

OV’s Robinson Advances to State Three Point Contest

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•February 21, 2018•

For the second year in a row, Okaw Valley standout guard Paige Robinson advanced through regionals and on to state in the IHSA Class 1A Country Financial Three-Point Contest this past week.

Robinson advanced through the regional shootout by making 7-of-10 three pointers in a tiebreaker round at Chrisman. Read More

OV Boys Take Arcola in Conference Match

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•February 21, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

The Okaw Valley boys’ basketball team finished the week 2-1 with wins against Arcola and Sangamon Valley but a loss to Dieterich.

Last Friday, OV knocked off Arcola 40-35 in a Little Okaw Valley Conference Northwest Division game.

After a first quarter 7-7 tie, OV went on a 14-8 run to take a 21-15 at halftime lead.

Arcola battled back to take the lead, 30-29, by the end of the third quarter.

OV outscored the Purple Riders 11-5 in the fourth quarter to pull away for the win. Read More

Sullivan Boys Swim Team Places at Sectionals

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Sullivan Boys Swim Team Places at Sectionals
The Sullivan boys’ swimming team placed seventh in the IHSA Boy’s Swimming Sectional in Urbana Saturday.
“Not too bad for six kids,” said Sullivan coach Scott Bales. “Every swimmer dropped time in at least one race. Very proud of these young men.”
The six swimmers include Brodie Goss, Addison Graham, Ryan Schodlatz, Luke Bowman, Justin Helmuth and Julian Poston.
The relay team of Poston, Goss, Schodlatz, and Graham placed sixth in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:58.59 18.
The relay team of Schodlatz, Helmuth, Graham and Goss placed seventh in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:50.17.
“Brodie Goss had a great meet placing second in the 100 butterfly and a fourth place in the 100 breaststroke,” said Bales. “It was a great finish to the high school season.

Sullivan Redskins Pick Up Regional Win

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•February 21, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

The Sullivan boys’ basketball team finished up a strong week with a Central Illinois Conference win and an out of conference win last week before winning in first round of the Class 2A Vandalia Regional Monday night.

The Redskins knocked off Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg last Wednesday, Clinton last Thursday and Pana Monday night.

Against Clinton, the Redskins honored their seniors on senior night with a 43-37 win in overtime.

The back-and-fourth game was close the entire way.

Clinton took a 2-point lead into the second quarter, but Sullivan cut the lead to one at 16-15 at the half.

Sullivan had a 24-22 lead heading into the final quarter, but Clinton tied the game at the end of regulation to send it into overtime.

The Redskins took over in the extra period, outscoring the Maroons 11-5 for the 43-37 win. Read More

Okaw Valley Boys Split a Pair of Games

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•February 14, 2018•

The Okaw Valley boys’ basketball team split a pair of games this week.

The Timberwolves defeated Cerro-Gordo Bement Friday but lost to Decatur LSA last Tuesday.

Against CGB, OV improved its record to 13-12 overall and 2-2 in the LOVC NW with a 64-29 win.

Jared Bunfill poured in a game-high 27 points to go with three steals and two rebounds. Read More

Sullivan Lady Redskins Keep Finding Ways to Win

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Photo by RR Best
Sectional Bound: Sullivan Redskins Girls Basketball team celebrates winning the Regional Championship and with one sectional win behind them the team faces off with Teutopolis at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15 at St. Anthony High School in Effingham.

•February 14, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

After defeating the No. 10 seeded Meridian in the first round of the IHSA Class 2A Arthur Regional, the Sullivan girls’ basketball team upset its way to the Sweet 16 on Feb. 12.

On their way to a sectional championship match, the Redskins upset No. 3 seeded Greenville and No. 2 seeded Tuscola to win the Arthur regional, then upset No. 1 seeded Marshall in the sectional semifinals Monday night in Effingham.

“Words can’t express how happy I am for these girls,” said Sullivan coach Sheri McCain. “They continue to defy the odds and find a way to win.”

Against top-seeded Marshall Sullivan played from behind almost the entire first half and went into the locker room down 25-19. Read More

Knights Take Sangamon Valley and Arcola 

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ALAH Kobe Wells takes the ball in for a dunk during the Sangamon Valley game.

•February 14, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond boys’ basketball team finished the week with a 2-1 record.

The Knights knocked off Sangamon Valley last Tuesday and Arcola Friday but lost to St. Elmo in the LOVC/NTC Shootout in Cumberland, Saturday, Feb 10.

“We played well, but inconsistently, this week,” said ALAH coach Dale Schuring. “It seemed that we started well in the games we won but didn’t finish as well as we would have liked.”

Against Arcola, ALAH jumped out to an early 15-7 first quarter lead then extended that lead to 13 at half, 32-18.

“We played a great first half against Arcola,” said Schuring. “We executed on both ends of the floor. We had good ball movement and got great shots.”

Arcola battled back in the second half to cut the lead, but it was not enough in the 61-53.

“The second half we didn’t value the ball as well and tried to score too quickly giving Arcola a chance to get back in the game,” said Schuring. Read More