News Progress

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.

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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.

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

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

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

Photo by RR Best
Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond’s Payton Wellbaum tries to hold on to the ball Saturday evening. Wellbaum contributed eight points and pulled down several crucial rebounds in the Lady Knights’ third place victory over Tri-County.

January 28, 2015

Lady Knights take third place

By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

After falling to tournament champion Arcola 52-38 in the LOVC Northwest championship game, the Lady Knights bounced back to claim third place by defeating the Tri-County Titans 56-43.  Kimberly Davis led all scorers with 15 points going 10-of-11 from the foul line, and Meagan Fifer put forth her best shooting performance of the tourney hitting 3-4 from the field including two crucial 3-pointers. “For three quarters we definitely did a good job bouncing back,” said head coach Craig Moffett. “It showed a lot about a young team that’s got a really good senior leader. Assistant coach Mac Condill used the term resilient, and I think that was spot on.”
The Knights were all over the Titans from the first whistle jumping out to a 6-0 lead with baskets by Davis and Fifer. The Knights extended the margin to 9-3 with 3:30 remaining in the first utilizing crisp passing, but the Titans would claw back to within one at 10-9 at the end of the first quarter. The Titans actually took a short-lived lead at 11-10 on the first points of the second period, but Mycaela Miller answered right back with a big time three. Hannah Wallen then found Payton Wellbaum under the basket to push Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond’s lead back to four at 15-11 with 6:40 remaining in the half. Read More