Hillsboro High Sports | The Journal-News

Hillsboro's Nathan Matoush dives back into first ahead of the tag by Nokomis' Bryce Gillock during the county showdown in Nokomis on April 25. A little later, Matoush got the final two outs in the Toppers' 4-2 win over the Redskins.

Hiltoppers Avenge Tourney Loss To Nokomis

When Nokomis defeated Hillsboro 2-0 in the first round of the Montgomery County Baseball Tournament in mid-April, Drake Taylor was the winning pitcher while Dylan Lessman absorbed the loss. Perhaps … more

4/29/24

Nokomis' Becca Hill (#15) and Addison Glenn (#10) go in an attempt to deter Hanna Hughes' block attempt during the Redskins' game with Hillsboro on Sept. 25. Nokomis dominated the first game 25-12, then held on for a 28-26 victory in the second set.

Lady Redskins Avenge Loss To Hillsboro

The first meeting between the Nokomis and Hillsboro volleyball teams was about as close as you can get, with the Toppers outlasting the Redskins 15-12 in the third set after the two teams split the … more

9/28/23

Toppers' Small Team Posts Big Numbers

The Hillsboro girls track team only entered five of the 13 events at the Bert Trump Relays at Southwestern High School on Tuesday, April 23, but what the Lady Toppers lacked in quantity they more … more

4/29/24

Litchfield senior Tug Schwab shot a 5-over-par 77 at Spencer T. Olin Golf Course in Alton on Wednesday, Sept. 27, to finish tied for sixth individually at the Class 1A Marquette Regional. As a team, the Panthers shot a 324 to finish third and advance to the sectional in Waterloo on Monday, Oct. 2.

Panthers, Topper Trio Advance To Sectionals

The Litchfield boys golf team and three members of the Hillsboro boys golf team advanced to the next round of the postseason on Wednesday, Sept. 27, by virtue of their performance in their respective … more

9/28/23

Hillsboro's Dylan Lessman, who scored the Toppers' first touchdown in Staunton on Friday, Sept. 8, throws a stiff-arm at a defender during the third quarter of the Toppers' 35-21 loss to the Bulldogs.

Staunton Dogs Hillsboro In Week 3

If one is a fan of Hillsboro football, Staunton was not a good place to be Friday night, Sept. 8, as the Bulldog offense put 35 points on the scoreboard while the Toppers were limited to 21. … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 9/11/23

The Hillsboro offensive line, consisting of Elliott Lentz (#54), Jesse Ringhausen (#67), Hayden Titsworth and Cole Lenczycki (#50) during their win over Pana, helped the Toppers run for more than 2,000 yards in 2023.

Mr. D Looks Back At The 2023 Hillsboro Season

Though three wins in a season aren’t enough for Hillsboro football coaches, players, parents, and fans, there were highlights scattered throughout the season to remember as life continues. … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 11/13/23

Hillsboro Boys Sprint To First In Medleys

The Hillsboro boys track team picked up a pair of wins in the sprint medleys to highlight their trip to the Bert Trump Relays at Southwestern High School on April 23. The Toppers’ … more

4/29/24

Weiss Goes 3-Under At Hillsboro

The Hillsboro boys golf team shot a season-best 156 on their home course on Thursday, Sept. 7, as they defeated Rochester in a dual meet at the Hillsboro Country Club. Led by sophomore Colton Weiss, … more

9/11/23

HHS Welcomes Panthers For Homecoming

The football Toppers face the same uphill battle to reach the playoffs as they did last season when they were also 2-3 after five games. To be playoff eligible, they need to win three of the next … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 9/28/23

With the construction of the new high school, access to the Hillsboro High School gym has changed for fans going to sporting events this winter. Fans may park in the lower parking lots highlighted above and enter the campus at the intersection of Fairground Avenue and Hiltop Drive (#2) then proceed to the rear entrance of the gym. Anyone needing handicap parking may enter on Tremont Street (#1) and proceed to the lot near the football field (#3).

Lady Toppers Happy At Home

After more than three weeks and eight straight road games, the Hillsboro girls basketball team returned home for the first time since Dec. 9. In celebration of their return, the picked up their 10th … more

1/4/24

Former SCC Foe Knocks Off Toppers

by Ron Deabenderfer The bus ride for the Hillsboro teams trip to downtown Alton to play the Marquette Catholic Explorers in any contest is always a long voyage, which is a major … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 1/4/24

Soccer Toppers Rebound Against Piasa Birds

After taking one on the chin at the hands of the Litchfield Purple Panthers and dropping their first conference game in two calendar years, the Hillsboro High School boys soccer team returned to the … more

9/11/23

Mt. Olive's Alyssa Aubuschon tries to regain possession after Chloe Law of Litchfield pokes the ball away at midcourt during the Jan. 2 meeting between the two teams in Mt. Olive. Law had five steals and Litchfield had the Wildcats' lead down to four in the final two minutes before a 6-0 run gave Mt. Olive a 41-31 win.

Mt. Olive Girls Hold Off Litchfield

The Mt. Olive girls basketball team held a 19-5 advantage in free throws over Litchfield on Tuesday, Jan. 2, as the Lady Wildcats held off the Panthers 41-31 in the first game of the new year. … more

1/4/24

Hillsboro Gets SCC Win In Three Set Thriller

The Hillsboro High School volleyball team picked up their first South Central Conference win of the season and improved to 5-0 with a gutty three-set win over Vandalia on Thursday, Sept. 7. The … more

9/11/23

Tennis Toppers Beat Vandals For Third Victory

In a match characterized by good competition and some long rallies, the Hillsboro girls tennis team picked up their third victory of the season on Thursday, Sept. 7, with an 8-1 win over Vandalia at … more

9/11/23

Hillsboro's Zander Wells (left) locks up with Tiffin Kouzoukas of Benton during their quarterfinal match at the Vandalia Sectional on Friday, Feb. 9. Wells defeated Kouzoukas in an 11-5 decision one of three wins on the weekend as the senior went on to finish third and qualify for the IHSA Class 1A State Tournament for the first time.

Wells Far From Done With Wrestling

The COVID pandemic may keep Zander Wells from 100 wins in his prep wrestling career, but nothing was going to stop the Hillsboro High School senior from a trip to state. On Saturday, Feb. 10, … more

2/12/24

The Lincolnwood-Morrisonville volleyball team celebrates as senior Taryn Millburg receives the championship trophy for the Montgomery County Invitational Grace Tournament from Charley Herschelman, the sister of the tournament's namesake, the late Grace Herschelman. The Lancers won the tournament for the second year in a row, defeating Hillsboro 25-19, 23-25, 25-19 to improve to 10-0 on the season.

Lancers Repeat At Grace Tourney

What has been a banner year for Montgomery County volleyball got even better over the weekend as Lincolnwood, Hillsboro and Nokomis took the top three spots at the Montgomery County Invitational … more

9/11/23

Hillsboro’s Zander Wells tries to turn Cooper Miller of Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley during their preliminary match at the IHSA Class 1A State Wrestling Tournament in Champaign on Feb. 15. Wells was down 9-3 to Miller going into the third period when he took down the Falcons’ 165-pounder and earned the pin at the 4:17 mark of the match.

Wells’ Senior Season Comes To End At State

Of the 116 wrestlers who started the Class 1A postseason in the 165-pound weight class, only 16 were able to make it to state. Of those 16, half lost, with half of that number losing for a second … more

By Kyle Herschelman | 2/20/24

Hillsboro's Kearstynn Davis (left) and Litchfield's Chloe Law (right) go up for a 50/50 ball during the third place game at the Panther Classic in Litchfield on Saturday, March 30. After losing to Hillsboro twice last year, the Lady Panthers scored a 2-1 victory over the Toppers, with Law scoring the go-ahead goal in the second half.

Panthers Top Hillsboro For Third

Last year, the Hillsboro and Litchfield girls soccer teams were slated to play for the championship of the 2023 Panther Classic, before Mother Nature put the kibosh on those plans. This Saturday, … more

4/1/24

Hillsboro’s Cheyenne Harston (#30) and Kamryn Langston look for the steal against Gillespie’s Erika Gill during the regional championship game in Virden on Feb. 16. The Miners jumped out to a seven-point first quarter lead en route to a 59-45 victory over the Lady Hiltoppers for their first regional title since 2012.

Season Ends In Regional Championship

A strong start in both the first and second halves helped Gillespie score their first regional championship since 2012 on Friday, Feb. 16, as the Miners defeated Hillsboro 59-45 in the title game at … more

2/20/24