The Journal-News

Topper 'D' Vexes Vipers

Hillsboro’s boys basketball team ventured into a Viper pit Friday evening, Dec. 14, and emerged with a 53-40 victory built upon a solid defense, which forced 24 turnovers from the … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 1/18/22

Toppers Survive Late Rally By North Mac

Coaches sometimes experience the thrill of building a big lead and then the agony of watching that lead melt away in the space of 16 minutes of playing time in the same game. Hillsboro’s Kyle … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 1/13/22

Rams Knock Off Toppers In Shelbyville

The Hillsboro wrestling team traveled to Shelbyville on Tuesday, Jan. 11, to face off against the host Rams. The Toppers would win four of the seven contested matches, but gave up forfeits in three … more

1/13/22

Gillespie's Mia Brawner blocks Ally Schnarre's path to the basket during the second half of Hillsboro's home game against the Miners on Tuesday, Jan. 4. The Toppers outscored Gillespie 31-10 in the first half en route to a 55-27 victory. Journal-News/Kyle Herschelman

Hiltoppers Roll Past Gillespie For SCC Win

The Hillsboro girls basketball team scored early and often in a rare Tuesday conference game as they defeated Gillespie 55-27 on Jan. 4, in Hillsboro. Guard Layne Rupert stayed hot for Hillsboro … more

1/6/22

Home Sweet For Explorers In Victory Over Hillsboro

The Alton Marquette high school gym is a unique place in which to watch a high school basketball game. When one steps in the doors, he is very close to the playing floor. The ceiling is infamous for … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 1/6/22

Surrounded by Purple Panthers, Carson Saathoff to the left, Keenan Powell to the right and Victor McGill behind, Hillsboro's Gavin Matoush goes up for a shot during the championship game of the Carlinville Holiday Tournament on Thursday, Dec. 30. Matoush finished with 19 points and six rebounds in Hillsboro's 79-65 win over Litchfield. He, Powell and McGill all made this year's all-tournament team, along with Matoush's teammates Drake Vogel and Will Christian.

Hiltoppers Take Title Over Panthers At Carlinville

A full house in the Big House (the main gym in Carlinville High School) had to be satisfied with the thirty-two minutes of shoot-and-score basketball action as they watched Hillsboro defeat … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 1/3/22

Hillsboro's Sierra Compton (#4) and Alex Frailey (#34) both go up for a rebound during the Toppers' game against Auburn on Thursday, Dec. 30. Frailey would have 14 points and eight rebounds in Hillsboro's 42-30 win over the Trojans, which gave them fifth place in the 16-team Riverton Christmas Classic.

Lady Hiltoppers Fifth At Riverton

The good news for Auburn in the fifth place game at the Riverton Christmas Classic was that they held Hillsboro to 20 fewer points than the Toppers scored in their 62-49 win over the Trojans on Dec. … more

1/3/22

Hillsboro's Magnus Wells drives forward into Olympia's Nolan Yeary during their match at Abe's Rumble on Thursday, Dec. 30. Wells went on to pin Yeary at the 1:47 mark of the match, one of eight wins for the Topper senior at the Springfield tournament.

Toppers Finish Out Abe's Rumble With Win

After a rough start to the 58-team Abe’s Rumble dual team tournament in Springfield on Wednesday, Dec. 29, the Hillsboro High School wrestling team rebounded and ended their time in Springfield … more

1/3/22

Toppers Slip Past Oilers To Earn Shot At Carlinville Title

Based on the evidence prior to the last Red Pool game at the Carlinville Holiday Tournament, the outcome for Hillsboro appeared iffy. Both teams were 2-0 entering the game on December 29, … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 1/3/22

2021-22 Holiday Basketball Tournaments

Wondering where your favorite high school team is hooping it up this holiday season? Don't worry. We have you covered below. Riverton Christmas Girls Tournament Pool A: Auburn, Mt. … more

1/2/22

It's Hillsboro Versus Litchfield For The Title

It's been five years since the Hillsboro boys basketball team last won the championship of the Carlinville Holiday Tournament. For Litchfield, it's been a little bit longer, with the Purple Panthers' … more

12/30/21

Hillsboro's Blaze Helton (#34) tries to go up and under for two during the Toppers' 89-38 victory over Gillespie in their opening game of the Carlinville Holiday Tournament on Monday, Dec. 27.

Top Seeded Toppers Take Down Gillespie

If the mission in front of the Hillsboro Hiltoppers was to defend their number one seed in the Carlinville Holiday Tournament when they opened play on Monday, Dec. 27, their 89-38 victory over … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 12/30/21

Hillsboro's Addison Lowe eyes her free throw attempt during the Lady Hiltoppers' game against PORTA on Tuesday, Dec. 28, at the Riverton Christmas Classic. Lowe would score seven points in the Toppers' 64-56 defeat, their only loss in three games in pool play. The 2-1 record put Hillsboro in the fifth place pool, where they defeated Riverton on Wednesday and will play Auburn on Thursday, Dec. 30.

Hillsboro Girls To Play For 5th

Two blowouts and a close loss to a good PORTA squad put the Hillsboro girls basketball team in the fifth place bracket at the Riverton Christmas Classic, held Dec. 27-30 on the Lady Hawks’ home … more

12/30/21

Hillsboro Boys Hold On To Beat 'Dogs

Many reasons cause a team to play inconsistently in a basketball game; to be inconsistent and still win is both lessons-learned and a morale booster. Hillsboro also enjoyed a sigh of relief after … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 12/30/21

Pana’s Ace Armstrong (#20) and Hillsboro’s Gavin Matoush get tangled up as they vie for a loose ball in the second quarter of the Toppers’ home game on Wednesday, Dec. 22. Pana would hold a 27-16 lead at halftime, which helped power them to a 66-55 victory over Hillsboro.

Panthers Catch Toppers In SCC Clash

To paraphrase an old hunting adage, sometimes you catch the Panther, but sometimes the Panther catches you. In a make-up, long anticipated game Wednesday evening, Dec. 22, the visiting Pana Panthers … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 12/27/21

Altamont's SCC Success Continues Against HHS

by Ron Deabenderfer The first offensive possession by the host Altamont Indians was a warning of things to come when Hillsboro’s boys ventured east to test themselves against a quality … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 12/27/21

Hillsboro senior Magnus Wells was a three-time all-conference selection this year by the coaches of the South Central Conference. Recently, Wells received another honor as he was selected to play in this year’s Illinois Coaches Association Shrine All-Star Football Game on June 18 in Bloomington.

Two From County To Play In Shrine Game

Two Montgomery County athletes will be suiting up with some of the best football players in the state at the 2022 Illinois Coaches Association Shrine All-Star Football Game on June 18 in … more

12/27/21

Topper Tandem Has 20-20 Vision At Auburn

Alex Frailey scored 11 of her career high 20 points in the fourth quarter, while Layne Rupert dropped in 20-plus for the third straight game as Hillsboro beat Auburn 62-49 on the Trojans’ home … more

12/23/21

Toppers Pick Up SCC Win Over Birds

Any trip from Hillsboro to Piasa Southwestern, a school serving a wide area of southwestern Macoupin County, seems long; one passes through five towns and over innumerable railroad tracks on Rt. 16. … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 12/20/21

Hillsboro Shot Down At Greenville Shootout

A time-tested maxim of coaching on any level is to win every game one should win based on the talent pool available, and to have his/her team put up a spirited battle when the opposing talent level … more

12/20/21