Hillsboro High Sports | The Journal-News

Toppers Collect Eight Spots On All-Conference List

Of the 37 players named to this year’s South Central Conference all-conference boys soccer team, 16 were repeat selections, including one player who capped off a record-breaking season by … more

11/6/25

Hillsboro quarterback Elijah Patton looks for a way past Williamsville's Jackson Britton during the Toppers' first round playoff match-up against the Bullets on Saturday, Nov. 1. Williamsville showed why they were the top seeded team in Class 3A with a 53-20 victory over the Hiltoppers.

Bullets Knock Off Hillsboro

The host Williamsville Bullets were quick to show the visiting Hillsboro Hiltoppers why they were seeded #1 in the IHSA Class 3A Southern Section football playoffs Saturday afternoon, Nov. 1. The … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 11/3/25

Hillsboro's Kearstynn Davis tips a shot over to the Staunton side of the net during the Lady Hiltoppers' regional championship game in Virden on Thursday, Oct. 30. Davis had three kills and three blocks against the Bulldogs, who escaped with a 28-26, 25-17 victory over the Toppers for their third straight regional championship.

Staunton Sinks Topper Title Shot

Like most teams in the South Central Conference, it has been a while since Hillsboro has beaten Staunton in volleyball. The Bulldogs came into the championship game of the North Mac Regional with a … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 11/3/25

Record 24th Win Sends Toppers To Title Game

The Hillsboro and Auburn volleyball teams squared off for the third time this season on Tuesday, Oct. 28, in the semifinals of the North Mac Regional in Virden. The two teams split their first two … more

10/30/25

The Hillsboro High School football team gathered on Saturday, Oct. 25, to find out their postseason destination and get a playoff haircut or two. The Toppers will face the top-seeded Williamsville Bullets at Paul Jenkins Field, with gates opening at noon for the 1 p.m. kickoff.

Toppers Ready To Give Bullets Their Best Shot

For the fourth time since the IHSA initiated their playoff system for football, Hillsboro will invade the home field of the Williamsville Bullets to begin both teams’ hunt for a state title in … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 10/30/25

Hillsboro's Rheece Malloy (#31) keeps an eye on Southwestern's Jerion Holoman during the Hiltoppers regular season finale in Piasa on Oct. 24. After going 0-9 last year, Malloy and the Hiltoppers are going back to the playoffs as they improved to 5-4 with a 57-20 victory over the Piasa Birds.

Toppers Blow Out Birds For Fifth Victory

The Hillsboro fans who followed the Toppers’ football team to Piasa Friday night, Oct. 24, outnumbered the Piasa Southwestern Birds fans and were rewarded with a 56-14 win over the outmanned … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 10/27/25

The Hillsboro High School volleyball team honored their two seniors prior to their three-set win over Pana on Thursday, Oct. 23. From the left are Kearstynn Davis, with parents Cody and Jade McCoy, and Jossalyn Kimbro, with parents Dan and Lacy Kimbro.

Toppers Keep Pana From SCC Title

Every now and then, second place can feel like first. That was the case Thursday, Oct. 23, when the Hillsboro High School volleyball team knocked off Pana in three sets to put themselves in a … more

10/27/25

Hillsboro's Chanse Liebscher (left) and Aiden Robinson smother Carlinville senior Vandon Sproull during the regional semifinal game on Tuesday, Oct. 21, in Carlinville. Sproull turned out to be the hero for the Cavaliers as he scored the game-winning goal with less than three minutes left in overtime to send Carlinville to Friday's regional championship game.

Overtime Goal Sends Cavaliers Past Toppers

The saying, “That’s the way the ball bounces,” means that certain outcomes are a matter of circumstances beyond one’s control, and nothing can be done about them. Sometimes, … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 10/23/25

Hillsboro's Briley Kirby gets underneath a Carlinville serve during the Toppers' trip to Macoupin County on Tuesday, Oct. 21.

Cavies Knock Hillsboro Out Of Title Hunt

The Hillsboro High School volleyball team was dealt a blow to their conference title hopes on Tuesday, Oct. 21, as they fell to Carlinville 25-19, 25-23 on the Cavies’ home floor. Both teams … more

10/23/25

It's Win And You're In For The Toppers

One of the longest road trips Hillsboro faces athletically each season is west on Rt. 16 to the home of the Piasa Southwestern Birds; this season it’s potentially the last of 2025 for the … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 10/23/25

Hillsboro's Tytin Wells takes a Carlinville defender along for the ride on one of his 28 carries on Friday, Oct. 17. Wells finished with 133 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-27 shootout loss to the Cavaliers.

Cavaliers Take Down Toppers In A Week 8

When the Hillsboro High School football team visited Carlinville Friday night, Oct 17, they knew what they were facing; the Cavaliers, much like the Toppers, want the ball in their possession as much … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 10/20/25

Win Keeps Hillsboro In Title Hunt

The Hillsboro High School volleyball team survived a late scare from North Mac to remain in the hunt for a share of the South Central Conference title on Thursday, Oct. 16. The Toppers rolled … more

10/20/25

Hillsboro's Kailey Weiss goes up for one of her six kills during the Toppers' match in Greenville on Tuesday, October 14. Hillsboro went on to win the South Central Conference clash 25-17, 25-10 to up their conference record to 5-1 on the season.

Hillsboro Chips Away At Lady Comets

The Hillsboro High School volleyball team jumped out to an early lead in both sets during their match in Greenville on Tuesday, Oct. 14, then continued to build on that advantage to defeat the host … more

10/16/25

Sound The Alarm, Week 8 Could Be A Barnburner

If I were a betting man (I’m not - I admired Pete Rose as a baseball player, not for his lifestyle), I’d have a hard time picking the winner of Friday’s football game in … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 10/16/25

Hillsboro High School Hosts Band Showcase

Hillsboro High School is hosting the third annual South Central Marching Band Showcase this weekend on Saturday, Oct. 18, beginning with the first performance at 2:15 p.m. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. … more

10/16/25

Litchfield senior Sam Schwab shot his best state score of his career on Oct. 10-11, carding a 151 to finish tied for 11th at this year's IHSA Class 1A State Finals Golf Tournament.

Schwab 11th, Fuller 31st At State Golf Tournament

It was the fourth IHSA State Golf Tournament for one and the first for the other, but Litchfield's Sam Schwab and Hillsboro's Owen Fuller both showed why they were among the state's best all … more

10/14/25

With some help from Litchfield linebacker Devin Chew (#23), Hillsboro's Sawyer Hindle (#5) goes airborne in pursuit of the goal line during the week seven clash between the two rivals on Oct. 10. Hindle would come up just short, but Tytin Wells scored on the next play to put Hillsboro up 28-14 in what would become a 35-21 win for the Hiltoppers.

Hiltoppers Pick Up Fourth Win Over Litchfield

When the Litchfield Purple Panthers came to Hillsboro Friday evening, Oct. 10, to compete against the Toppers’ football team, they walked into a festive atmosphere; a large crowd came to see … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 10/14/25

Hillsboro setter Amya Greenwood had 19 assists in the Toppers’ 25-19, 25-15 victory over Gillespie on Thursday, Oct. 9, as Hillsboro improved to 18-8 overall and 4-1 in the South Central Conference.

HHS Volleyball Picks Up 4th South Central Conference Win

Before heading to the Pana Invitational on Saturday, the Hillsboro High School volleyball team picked up their 18th win and their fourth South Central Conference victory on Thursday, Oct. 9, with a … more

10/14/25

Lady Toppers Get 20th Win At Pana Invite

The Hillsboro High School volleyball team entered the Pana Invitational just two wins away from 20 for the season, but in order to reach that milestone for the third straight year, the Lady … more

10/14/25

The four senior members of the Hillsboro High School girls tennis team were honored before their final home match on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at the Hillsboro Sports Complex. From the left are seniors Alexis Carlyle, Reagan Voyles, Claire Matthews and Rylie Jones. The Lady Hiltoppers went on to win their senior night match 9-0 over Shelbyville for their fifth victory of the season.

Andrews, Rogers Second At SCC Tourney

The girls tennis teams of the South Central Conference converged on Greenville University on Friday, Oct. 10, for this year’s conference tournament. The Lady Hiltoppers finished second on … more

10/14/25