•November 27, 2019•
The Lincoln Prairie Conference and the Central Illinois Conference announced all-conference volleyball teams this week.
In its inaugural year, the LPC unanimously voted Okaw Valley hitter Kate Jeffers to the first team.
OV senior Paige Coleman and Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond junior Mackenzi Bowles earned second team honors.
Okaw Valley finished 23-11, and ALAH finished 12-24.
In the CIC, Sullivan senior Avery Still received honorable mention honors.
ALAH Knights Pursue Turnaround Season
•November 27, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor
Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond boy’s basketball coach Brad McGill expects a turnaround season from last year.
How big of a turnaround is yet to be determined.
“The players are well aware of the season we had last year and are excited to change the results,” McGill said. “They have had a great attitude, bought in to what we are doing and are excited to do some very good things this season.”
Last season, McGill’s first year as Knights’ head coach, the team finished with a 3-22 overall record and 1-6 record in the Little Okaw Valley Conference.
The Knights lost their last four games, including a first-round loss to Broadlands in the Heritage Regional. Read More
All Conference Honors for ALAH Players
•November 27, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor
The Lincoln Prairie Conference announced all-conference team honors this past week, including several Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond players.
Lucas Otto earned first-team honors as a linebacker and offensive line. Read More
Sullivan Girls Team Sweeps Maroa Forsyth Tip Off Classic
•November 27, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor
To win another regional championship and make a deep run into the IHSA playoffs, Sullivan girls’ basketball coach Sheri McCain has her players focused on each step of the process during the long season.
The first step for the regular season schedule was to win the 2nd Annual Maroa-Forsyth Tip-off Classic by sweeping all three games.
Sullivan did just that.
The Redskins won their first game of the season 35-14 against host Maroa-Forsyth. Read More
Busy Week for Okaw Valley Girls Basketball
•November 27, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor
The Okaw Valley girls’ basketball finished a busy first week of action to kick off the season.
The Timberwolves lost to Shelbyville but knocked off Meridian before entering the Pana Thanksgiving Tournament.
In the tournament, OV fell to Mattoon, Athens and Centralia.
Against Meridian last Tuesday, OV outscored the Hawks by five points in each of the first two quarters for a 27-17 halftime lead. Read More
OVHS Boy’s Basketball Team Returns with Experience
•November 27, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor
For the Okaw Valley boys’ basketball team to be successful this season, the Timberwolves will have to take advantage of its energy and game plans to over its lack of height.
OV returns five letter winners and quite a bit of experience.
“We don’t have much height, but we make up for that with effort and execution,” said coach Brooks Inman. “We will have to be fundamentally sound on defense and on the glass.” Read More
ALAH Girls Basketball Wins Opener
•November 27, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor
The Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond girls’ basketball team won its season opener at home last Monday.
The Knights dismantled Meridian 52-18 with help from a defense that held the Hawks to six points or less in each quarter. Read More
Young Roster Fires Okaw Valley Basketball Team’s Future Season
Photo by Jason Brown
Timberwolves player Kate Jeffers eyes the rim during the state tournament two years ago. Jeffers looks to take that experience into a successful senior year.
•November 20, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor
The Okaw Valley girls’ basketball team returned only one senior: Kate Jeffers.
At the same time, OV returned other Timberwolves who earned quality varsity playing time last season.
“We return a lot of varsity minutes, both in the back court and front court, more than last year in that respect,” said OV head coach Brad Ackers. “The girls know what is in front of them and what to expect this year, that will pay off when we face adversity this season too.”
Ackers will have to count on several young players to contribute for OV to have a successful season.
“Some young girls will see varsity reps, and we will get them as ready as we can,” Acker said. “I also think we are a bit deeper this year than we have been in the past. I could see up to ten girls in the varsity rotation here next week, and that is something we haven’t had since our first year here.” Read More
Sullivan Girls Basketball Team Seeks Deep Playoff Run
Photo by Jason Brown
Avery Still passes the ball last year during the sectional at Tuscola. Avery looks to help Sullivan beyond a Sweet 16 bid.
•November 20, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor
For the last two seasons, the Sullivan girls’ basketball team has earned trips to the Sweet 16.
This season, the Redskins are eager for a chance to go deeper in the state tournament.
Sullivan head coach Sheri McCain believes her team should contend for a Central Illinois Conference championship, but her real goal each year is making deep runs in the playoff.
“Our ultimate goal is to be ready for post-season play and bring home another regional title,” McCain said. “These girls have experienced a lot of success over the past few years and are hungry to keep the tradition going. They have fallen short in the Sweet 16 the past two years, but I know they are motivated and want to go beyond the Sweet 16.”
The Redskins have a good blend of height and speed to go inside and outside scoring.
And as usual, McCain led teams will apply full and three-quarter court pressure, along with well-scouted half-court defensive schemes.
“We are pretty quick in transition and like to get up and down the floor,” she said. “We have a lot of offensive threats and several girls can score outside as well as around the rim. I think we are also a pretty good team defensively, and I think our height and length will cause some problems for other teams.” Read More
Letter Winners Athleticism is Key to ALAH Girls Basketball Strength
Photo by Jason Brown
Alexa Miller, who earned all-Little Okaw Valley Conference last season, dribbles the ball for the Knights.
•November 20, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor
The Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond girls’ basketball team returned a very young team to this year’s varsity squad.
The Knights return four letter winners: Alexa Miller, Makenzie Brown, Jolynn Barbee and Mallory Nichols.
“I hope we can find ourselves near the top,” said head coach Mac Condill. “But it’s going to depend on injuries and how quickly our inexperience becomes experienced.”
But Condill had no other choice but to get them playing time hope they learn quickly.
“I hope it’s our athleticism (is our strength),” he said, “we won’t know until the season gets going. We will try to play at a pace that compliments our five players on the floor.”
In every single practice of day practice so far, the coaches have been emphasizing ball handling. Read More