Lady Knights Cruise Past Blue Streak 48-11

News Progress Posted on by
February 11, 2015

Fall in semi-finals Tuesday

By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond‘s defense showed up to play in their first round regional game against Martinsville in Casey-Westfield Monday night. The Knights came up with 25 steals, holding the Blue Streaks to eight points in the first half and three points in the second. Hannah Wallen scored a game high 16 points to go with six rebounds and three steals leading the Knights to a memorable 37 point victory. Head coach Craig Moffett acknowledged the team couldn’t have asked for a better start to the tournament.
“It was ideal. All the girls played well from the starters down to everyone who came off the bench. It was a great team effort.” Read More

Ending it Nearly Scripted, Sullivan Wins CIC on Senior Night

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Keith Stewart The Sullivan Lady Redskins celebrated their four seniors Thursday night. Pictured, left to right: Elissa Stewart, Emily Neuhauser, Brittin Boyer, and April Shuman.

Photo by Keith Stewart
The Sullivan Lady Redskins celebrated their four seniors Thursday night. Pictured, left to right: Elissa Stewart, Emily Neuhauser, Brittin Boyer, and April Shuman.

February 7, 2015

Close out regular season with title victory over Clinton

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

Sheri McCain doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to a pre-game pep-talk.
So when it came time to sit her girls down before Thursday’s senior night game against Clinton with outright conference title implications, the Sullivan head coach had her group, including her core of four seniors, watch video of their seventh grade year when the four went to the state tournament. McCain then followed up with highlights from their victory over the Lady Maroons in 2013 in the Okaw Valley holiday tournament championship.
Things got emotional to say the least. Read More

Turnovers Upset OV Senior Night Monday

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Keith Stewart Pictured are this year’s Okaw Valley girls’ varsity basketball seniors who were celebrated Monday night. From left to right: Kali Forsyth, Amy Orris, Paige Harlin, Amanda McClain, and Savannah Birch. The Lady Timberwolves fell to Arcola 35-28.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Pictured are this year’s Okaw Valley girls’ varsity basketball seniors who were celebrated Monday night. From left to right: Kali Forsyth, Amy Orris, Paige Harlin, Amanda McClain, and Savannah Birch. The Lady Timberwolves fell to Arcola 35-28.

February 4, 2015

31 giveaways help Arcola overcome Lady T-Wolves

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

Considering Okaw Valley had already committed 15 turnovers at the half and still led 16-14 over Arcola had a lot to do with boxing out and their typical stalwart defense. But given the chance to correct their course in the second half, OV failed to do so, instead committing another 16 turnovers that would prove too much to sustain a lead as they fell 28-35 on senior night.
“Unforced errors, that’s what killed us tonight,” said head coach Don Gardner. “And I don’t know if it was the whole senior night thing with emotions running high– not to take anything away from Arcola, they’re a very good team. Obviously they’re very well-coached, but I thought we played with them tonight, and it was a very winnable game. We just let it slip out of our grasp.” Read More

Knights Add 2015 LOVC Tourney Champions to Resume

News Progress Posted on by

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.

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.

Read More

Knights Celebrate Senior Night with Win over LSA

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by Matt Kracht The ALAH Lady Knights celebrated their two seniors Monday night, Elyse Harris (left) and Emily Powell (right). ALAH defeated Decatur LSA 48-23.

Photo by Matt Kracht
The ALAH Lady Knights celebrated their two seniors Monday night, Elyse Harris (left) and Emily Powell (right). ALAH defeated Decatur LSA 48-23.

February 4, 2015

Harris, Powell get victorious send-off

By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond Lady Knights honored Elyse Harris and Emily Powell Monday for senior night, mauling the LSA Lions in a dominant 48-23 performance. Kim Davis scored a game high 20 points and Hannah Wallen added eight points respectively.
The Lady Knights led 12-0 for most of the first quarter before Decatur LSA( Lutheran School Association) scored their first basket with under a minute remaining in the first quarter.
“I thought our defensive rotation and defensive block-outs were better than they had been,” said ALAH head coach Craig Moffett. “So those are two things we need to keep working on, but I was proud of the girls' effort tonight. They did a good job. Also we limited turnovers, and that is the key. If we can limit turnovers, rebound, and shoot with confidence, we can be dangerous.” Read More

Sullivan’s Comeback Attempt Falls Short in CIC Finals

News Progress Posted on by

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.

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

Okaw Valley Falls to Arcola 59-53 Tuesday

News Progress Posted on by
February 4, 2015

Arcola gets best of back-and-forth affair

By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

It was groundhogs day again in Bethany on Tuesday night for the Timberwolves boys’ basketball team as for the second time in little over a week the team fell in a close game to the Purple Riders.
In both contests, Arcola jumped out to an early lead only to watch Okaw Valley storm back before struggling in the fourth quarter.
“We are familiar with themm and they are familiar with us,” said head coach Tony Sparks. “They threw a 1-3-1 zone at us we had not seen, and we threw a 1-3-1 zone that they had not seen. So we were on the same wavelength.” Read More

Sullivan Boys to Play Central A&M for Consolation Championship Wednesday

News Progress Posted on by
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

Okaw Valley Stays Unbeaten in Conference with Win Against Knights

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by RR Best Mycaela Miller tries to dribble inside against Okaw Valley’s Jessica Robinson Thursday.

Photo by RR Best
Mycaela Miller tries to dribble inside against Okaw Valley’s Jessica Robinson Thursday.

February 4, 2015

Lady T-Wolves avenge opening tournament loss

By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

The Lady Timberwolves bounced back from a less than stellar conference tournament performance to beat Arthur-Lovington/Atwood Hammond Thursday night in Bethany 66-49.
Okaw Valley jumped out to a 21-5 lead in the first quarter. and head coach Don Gardener praised his girls’ effort from the first whistle.
“They dominated from the opening tip off,” he said. “This is how I expect us to play every game. When we’re firing on all cylinders, we are tough to beat, and everyone on the team contributed so it was a good team win.”
Paige Harlin opened up the scoring for Okaw Valley knocking down two free throws and adding a step-back 3-pointer putting the score at 5-0 with 6:51 left in the first. Harlin who went 6-of-6 from the foul line would finish with 13 points. Amanda McClain then scored to make it 7-0 before Elyse Harris got the Kinghts on the scoreboard with 3:40 left in opening quarter. Read More

Lady Red Earn Tournament Championship Berth

News Progress Posted on by

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.

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