The Journal-News

Gillespie's Jenna Clark (#11) tries to box out Hillsboro's Sophia Blankenship (#32) during a free throw in the second half of the Toppers' home game on Thursday, Jan. 26. The Hiltoppers won the battle of the orange and black 71-39, thanks in part to a 36-12 first quarter advantage.

After four straight losses, the Hillsboro girls basketball team was in need of a confidence boost. On Thursday, Jan. 26, the Toppers got just that and kept their hopes for a South Central Conference … more

1/30/23

Toppers Rack Up Points In Win

It was a game of “mosts” for Hillsboro’s boys’ basketball team as they hosted Gillespie in a South Central Conference contest Friday night, Jan. 27; three were positive, one … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 1/30/23

Lovellette A Learning Experience For Toppers

Nelson Mandela once said, “I never lose. I either win or I learn.” On Jan. 27-28, the Hillsboro wrestling team learned a lot at the Rich Lovellette Invitational in Litchfield. Short a … more

1/30/23

Lady Hiltoppers Fall To Highland At Home

The Hillsboro girls basketball team was at home for the first time in two weeks on Monday, Jan. 23, as they played host to a tough squad from Highland. The Bulldogs entered the game with an 18-7 … more

1/30/23

Taelyn Smith has faced some adversity in her three years as a Hillsboro High School softball player, but those challenges have made the victories sweeter and the Topper senior stronger. On Wednesday, Jan. 18, Smith signed to play softball and continue her education at Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville after her time at Hillsboro is complete. Joining her for the signing were her brother Kaeden and parents Gina and Kevin Smith.

Journal-News On The Line: Taelyn Smith, Hillsboro

In her first three years as a Topper, Taelyn Smith has seen a little bit of everything when it comes to adversity. Low numbers in the program have made wins harder to come by and injuries … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 1/26/23

Hillsboro's Treyton Kuhl (right) locks up with Luke Bliven of Quincy Notre Dame during the Rocket Invitational in Rochester on Saturday, Jan. 21. Kuhl would go on to finish fifth at 138-pounds, one of 10 toppers to earn a spot on the podium in Rochester.

Ten Toppers Podium At Rochester Tourney

Fourteen Hillsboro wrestlers made the trip to Rochester on Saturday, Jan. 21, for this year’s 14-team Rocket Invitational. Ten of those 14 earned spots on the podium at Rochester as the … more

1/26/23

Hillsboro's Jace Stewart (#30) tries to slam on the brakes in mid-air to avoid making contact with Aaryn Douglas of the Alton Marquette JV team during the seventh place game at the Rick McGraw Memorial Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 21, in Litchfield. Pictured behind the play are Hillsboro's Blaze Helton (#44) and Mitchell Lowe (#40). The trio combined for 26 points in Hillsboro's 69-41 win over the young Explorers, giving the Toppers with a 2-2 record in their four games at the Litchfield tournament.

Hiltoppers Mark Down Win Over JV Explorers In 7th Place Game

Danger exists when a varsity team squares off with a junior varsity team in a high school basketball tournament; that happened in the just-completed Rick McGraw Memorial Invitational Tournament in … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 1/23/23

Redskins, Toppers Battle For Shot At Fifth

Before the Hillsboro/Nokomis boys’ basketball game played Thursday, Jan. 19, at the Rick McGraw Invitational Tournament held in Litchfield High’s bigger gym, the Toppers had won 72 of the … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 1/23/23

Eleven players from seven teams earned all-tournament recognition for their play at the 2023 Rick McGraw Memorial Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 21, in Litchfield. Above, from the left, are Aydin Hitt, Jake Stewart and McGrady Noyes, the tournament's MVP, from champion Triad; Sam Buckley and Adam Ogden from second place Civic Memorial; and the tournament's leading scorer with 94 points in four games, Will Christian of seventh place Hillsboro. Below are Elijah Aumann from fifth place Nokomis; Drake Howard from fourth place Taylorville; Landen Moss and Kaleb Gardner from third place Greenville and Christian Larson from sixth place Mattoon.

Triad Takes The Title At McGraw Invitational

All three Montgomery County boys basketball teams who participated in the 2023 Rick McGraw Memorial Invitational won their final games at the 12-team Litchfield tournament, so it was only appropriate … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 1/23/23

Eagles Come Up Big Against Hiltoppers

Basketball fans typically like to see their favorite teams play opponents they can whip, so one fan base or the other will be upset by the final score if victory is the only criteria. Hillsboro … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 1/19/23

Late Run Pushes Toppers Past Ramsey

For a half the Ramsey Rams were as good on the scoreboard as their bigger school opponent, Hillsboro, when the two met in Pool C play late Monday afternoon, Jan. 16; at halftime, the Toppers were … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 1/19/23

Tornadoes End Toppers' Run At Highland Tourney

The challenge of the Highland Girls Basketball Tournament is that even the consolation side of the bracket is full of heavy hitters. Hillsboro knew this going into the annual event and nothing … more

1/19/23

Hillsboro Wrestlers Pick Up Pair Of Victories

The Hillsboro wrestling team picked up a pair of victories on Wednesday, Jan. 11, as the Toppers defeated Pittsfield and Carlinville in Hillsboro. The Toppers yielded just 18 points in their win … more

1/17/23

Lady Hiltoppers Fall To Staunton, O’Fallon

After starting the season with four losses, the Hillsboro girls basketball team had won 15 of their next 17 games. But the Toppers' last two games have been two of their toughest of the season as … more

1/17/23

Robinson's Braxton Pethel tries to break away from Hillsboro's Chase Knetzer during their 195-pound match in Hillsboro on Tuesday, Jan. 10. Knetzer won by fall seconds later, the first of two pins for Topper junior.

Toppers Compete With Maroons, Rams

The Hillsboro wrestling team held their first meet of the new year on Tuesday, Jan. 10, as they played host to Robinson and Shelbyville. The meeting with the Maroons, who made the four-hour round … more

1/12/23

Hillsboro’s Sophia Blankenship fights for possession with Wesclin’s Lexi Oster (left) and Lauren Marks (right) during the first half of the Hiltoppers’ home game on Monday, Jan. 9. Depth was one of the keys in the Toppers’ 57-35 win over Wesclin, who played just five players in the game, as Blankenship was one of nine players to score for the home team, with all 11 on the roster seeing time on the court.

Hillsboro Takes Down Wesclin

The depth and defense of the Hillsboro girls basketball team helped the Toppers defeat Wesclin on Monday night, Jan. 9, in Hillsboro. The Toppers outscored the Warriors 17-5 in the first and 14-7 in … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 1/12/23

Second Quarter Sends Toppers Past Cavies

A tight game became a runaway in the second quarter at Carlinville Friday night, Jan. 6, when Hillsboro outscored the home Cavaliers 28-0 en route to a 61-32 victory. The Toppers didn’t have an … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 1/9/23

Hillsboro Wrestling Finishes Abe's Rumble On A High Note

More than anything else, Hillsboro’s trip to the sixth annual Abe’s Rumble dual team tournament in Springfield on Dec. 29-30 was about giving the Toppers something that Coach Garrett … more

1/9/23

Hillsboro's Ella Greenwood (right) and Southwestern's Samantha Stormer fight for possession of a loose ball during the Toppers' home game on Saturday, Jan. 7. Greenwood had 10 points off the bench for Hillsboro, who improved to 14-6 overall and 4-0 in the SCC with a 52-16 win over the Piasa Birds.

Lady Toppers Get Back-To-Back SCC Wins

The Hillsboro girls basketball team improved to 4-0 in the South Central Conference with a pair of victories over Vandalia and Southwestern on Jan. 5 and 7 to end the week. On Thursday, the Lady … more

1/9/23

Toppers Right At Home With Win Over Hawks

The Hillsboro girls basketball team hasn’t played a home game since before Christmas, but at least the Lady Hiltoppers have been familiar with their surroundings in their six games since the … more

1/5/23