OV girls finish third as a team
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
Okaw Valley senior Paige Harlin did what was expected of her Saturday at the Windsor Invitational. Play like the dominate golfer that she is.
So dominate, in fact, the senior shot just two strokes over par after 18 holes for a combined score of 75, taking the top individual place. In fact, Harlin shot just one stroke off of the top boys’ medalist, which was Windsor’s Tristan Warner with a 74. Read More
Photo by Keith Stewart
Warrensburg-Latham’s Austin Tucker tries to make a catch during Friday’s first quarter while SOV’s Zach DeVore defends on the coverage.
September 24, 2014
SOV now ranked 16th in Class 3A
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
For SOV head coach Gerald Temples, a poor first half for his team consists of a 21-0 lead and getting pushed around at the line of scrimmage. Needless to say, he wasn’t the happiest with the Redskin’s first half performance against Warrensburg-Latham, especially against the near flawless backdrop of his team’s second half effort, which solidified a 42-0 win to maintain their undefeated record at 4-0.
“We came in to do what we do offensively and defensively and to Warrensburg’s credit, in the first half now, I’m telling you, they got after us up front,” said Temples. “They took it to us, and that was our discussion at half time-how defensively and offensively we have got to be able to play better and control the line of scrimmage better because we didn’t, especially defensively.” Read More
The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond soccer team traveled to play Warrensburg Saturday and fell 0-6.
“As always they are a very tough team to beat,” said head coach Jeff Trower. “We had hoped to score early in the first couple minutes and try to shake them up a little bit.” Read More
Photo by Darian Hays
The ALAH Knights' offensive line was altogether healthy for the first time since week one, which proved a big asset in the Knights' 36-25 win over Sangamon Valley last Friday.
September 24, 2014
ALAH now to host powerhouse Arcola
By Matt Kracht
NP Sport Reporter
In their Little Okaw Valley Conference opener, Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond dominated the line of scrimmage defeating a spirited Sangamon Valley squad 36-25 Friday night. A Knights offensive line healthy for the first time since week one cleared the way for Tyler Schuring’s four touchdowns moving ALAH to 3-1 on the season. Knights head coach Dale Schuring praised the offensive unit’s effort in the victory.
“It’s a good group,” he said. “We ran the ball pretty much anytime we wanted to today, so I was really pleased with their play.” Read More
Aces plentiful as OV routs Edinburg
by Joe Wheeler
Bethany Reporter
After splitting four games in the Windsor Invitational this past weekend to earn fourth place, the Okaw Valley Lady Timberwolves dominated a Monday night matchup against the Edinburg Lady Wildcats.
Things were all positive as the girls from OV looked like a well-oiled machine, sending the Wildcats home in just two sets. Teamwork was key Monday evening, as was a string of aces from middle-hitter Megan Dash in both sets. Dash combined with Caity Ohm and Hayley Carlson for a team total nine aces. Read More
Photo by Keith Stewart
The Lady Knights Emily Seegmiller (left), Kim Davis (center), and Brooke Tabb (right) celebrate along with their team after defeating rival Tri-County 25-21, 25-21 last Thursday.
September 24, 2014
Consistent play finds ALAH through in two-set victory
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
In both of Thursday night’s sets, ALAH had to power past a stubborn Tri-County team but did so successfully to win 25-21, 25-21.
In the first, ALAH had to overcome Tri-County’s lead but would after the Lady Titans’ miscommunication tied the game at 11-11. ALAH then fought on the ensuing volley with two point-saving digs before a kill attempt by Tri-County went out. Alyssa McArthur then landed a kill to put ALAH up 13-11. Read More
Photo by Keith Stewart
Pictured is the 2014 Sullivan Middle School baseball team with its regional championship plaque Monday evening. The Redskins defeated Argenta-Oreana 9-7 in Sullivan to earn their first title in five years. Front row, left to right: Andrew Kirk, Brycen Dalbey, Tim Lawyer, Matt Klukis, Case Crawford, John Meyer, Gary Herschberger, and Ethan Foster. Back row, left to right: Ian Hill, Beau Atchison, Dalton Rogers, head coach Jon Harwood, Caden Ellis, Gabe McGregor, Wyatt Sentel, Spencer Johnson, Aaron Garvey, and assistant coach Troy Rogers.
September 24, 2014
Top of the seventh heroics earn Redskins title
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
Head coach John Harwood is only 27 years old. Nonetheless, he still nearly had a coronary Monday night in the top of the seventh inning when his middle school baseball team trailed no. 1 seed Argenta-Oreana 7-6 in what was the regional championship.
“They came back, and I about had a heart attack,” said Harwood. “They don’t stop fighting, and that’s something that’s changed from the beginning of the season. We used to kind of roll over and play dead. That happened in Shelbyville when we lost 15-0 in three. We came back in our regional semifinal and beat them 7-6.” Read More
Photo by RR Best
Sullivan's Tommy Schibur puts during last Thursday's triangular at the Sullivan Country Club.
Three Redskins shoot 40s to earn second
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
Hosting Okaw Valley, Shelbyville, and Meridian last Thursday, the Sullivan boys' golf team earned second place, but only after squeaking by Okaw Valley.
Sullivan's top three golfers shot in the 40s, while OV had two in seniors Devon Still, who shot a 46, and Jay Orris, who shot a 48. The Redskins' Sam Mulligan and Kent Taber each shot a 46, while Joey Davison was three strokes behind at 49. Rounding out the team score was Eric Keller (56), Tommy Schibur (60), and Adam White (59) for a total of 197.
Okaw Valley meanwhile finished four strokes out from Sullivan for a team total of 201. Drew Fructl shot a 52, followed by Tanner Coleman and Austin Read More
Photo by RR Best
Alec Ballinger (no. 15) and Jake Eaton celebrate after SOV took a 15-14 lead over Tuscola Friday night.
September 17, 2014
Victory keeps SOV atop CIC with Shelbyville
by Matt Kracht
NP Sports Writer
First place in the newly formed Central Illinois Conference was on the line Friday night at Victory Field. The Redskins rallied from a halftime deficit to defeat the Tuscola Warriors 28-22 improving to 3-0 on the season. Homecoming fans battling the elements looked on as two of the area’s top quarterbacks squared off in an instant classic.
Coming down to five minutes to go in the four quarter and the score tied 22-22, Ty “white shoes” Molzen calmly set himself at the line of scrimmage. Facing 3-and-9 Molzen was hit in stride on a slant pass from Nick Frerichs and then it happened. Molzen, per Bill Cosby, transformed into “an amoeba splitting himself in half leaving the half without the football with the tackler.” After applying the brakes causing one Tuscola defender to fly by, Molzen hit the gas and accelerated past a second, before finally carrying a man on his back and falling forward for the biggest first down of the night. Frerichs scored three plays later on a quarterback sprint putting the Redskins on top for good. Molzen finished the night with two catches for 40 yards. Read More
Photo by Keith Stewart
Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond’s Payton Wellbaum battles a Newton forward for the ball last Thursday. The Knights took their first loss of the season, falling 2-1 and to 5-1 on the year.
September 17, 2014
ALAH falls to 5-1 on year
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
Going into Thursday evening’s matchup against Newton, the ALAH soccer team was attempting to stay perfect on the year and improve to 6-0. Such a feat seemed possible when Javi Briseno’s corner kick near the end of the first half went in the goal to put ALAH up 2-1, but the goal would be called back after officials cited that time had actually expired 14 seconds earlier.
“I’m kind of upset with they went ahead and let us kick the corner kick and then after it’s in, they say, ‘No, time quit 14 seconds ago.’,” said head coach Jeff Trower. “Don’t ask me. I have no explanation. That’s not right.” Read More