Sports – Page 196 – News Progress

Strong Fourth Generates Okaw Valley Win Over Knights

Posted on February 17, 2016 by webmasterFebruary 17, 2016

•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

Redskin Seniors Deliver in Road Win Over Central A&M

Posted on February 17, 2016 by webmasterFebruary 17, 2016

File Photo
Sullivan Redskin Ty Molzen

•February 17, 2016•

By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

Ty Molzen and Alec Ballinger put together a pair of all conference performances in Friday night’s 49-45 win over Moweaqua.

Molzen led all scorers with 19 points and added 12 rebounds for a double double.

Ballinger nailed a pair of threes before the half to swing momentum and finished with 16 points.

Sullivan head coach Chester Reeder said the group is benefiting from experience. “This is always a tough place to play. They showed a lot of toughness tonight. We are towards the end and have eight seniors that show up.”

A back and forth first quarter saw the Raiders 12-10 advantage pushed to 17-10 as part of a 10-1 run.

Redskin senior Adam White scored to stop the bleeding with six minutes left in the second quarter. The basket started a 17-6 Redskin run to close the half.

Trailing by three 23-20 at the two minute mark, back to back threes by Ballinger vaulted Sullivan in front 26-23. Read More

Local Runner Places for ISU

Posted on February 17, 2016 by webmasterFebruary 17, 2016

•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

Posted on February 17, 2016 by webmasterFebruary 17, 2016

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

Posted on February 17, 2016 by webmasterFebruary 17, 2016

•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

Posted on February 10, 2016 by webmasterFebruary 10, 2016

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

Posted on February 10, 2016 by webmasterFebruary 10, 2016

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

Lady Knights Celebrate Seniors with Big Win

Posted on February 10, 2016 by webmasterFebruary 10, 2016

Photo by Darian Hays
Payton Wellbaum scored seven of the next 13 points for the Lady Knights extending the lead to 17-7 with under a minute remaining in the first quarter.

Physical Bomber Game

•February 10, 2016•

By Mattt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

Hannah Wallen scored 16 points in a 58-39 win over Argenta-Oreana on senior night Feb. 4.

The Lady Knights were able to hold the Bombers to just five points in the fourth quarter of a dominate performance. ALAH head coach Craig Moffett was happy for his seniors Alyssa Hershberger, Jazmine Arnett, and Essi Kennunen.

“Our seniors played hard, and they have been working all year,” he said. “They have been good senior leaders for us.”

Argenta took an early lead 3-1 at the six minute mark in the first quarter. Liz Shipman changed the momentum with a steal and got the ball to Wallen for her first three pointer of the game. The trey resulted in a 4-3 lead for the Knights and with five minutes remaining in the first quarter the team started to roll.

Payton Wellbaum scored seven of the next 13 points for the Lady Knights extending the lead to 17-7 with under a minute remaining in the first quarter. The Bombers would add a layup with 10 seconds remaining to make it a 17-9 game heading into the second quarter. Senior Alyssa Hershberger scored at the 6:45 mark in the second period to make it a 21-9 lead for the Knights. Read More

Timberwolves Lose Despite Determined Effort

Posted on February 10, 2016 by webmasterFebruary 10, 2016

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

Argenta Oreana Wins at ALAH

Posted on February 10, 2016 by webmasterFebruary 10, 2016

•February 10, 2016•

Argenta Oreana’s Bombers left Arthur with a 55-29 win February 2.

Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond Knights were bombed in the first quarter with a 24-11 A-O run. In the second quarter the Knights were held down 10-2, allowing the Bombers to go into the half ahead 34-13.

ALAH scored seven in the third quarter to Argenta Oreana’s ten points. In the fourth it was 11-9 for the Bombers to cinch the 55-29 win.

Argenta Oreana hit 21-53 field goals with ALAH hitting 11-42. The Bombers made 4-15 three point shots, while the Knights hit 3-12. From the free throw line A-O made 9-15 and ALAH 4-8.

On the boards the Bombers controlled with 40 to the Knights 21 rebounds. On assists and steals both teams were matched at five and six. Argenta Oreana had four turnovers to ALAH’s eight, with the Knights making 12 bench points compared to the Bombers 11. Read More