Sports | The Journal-News

Playing under the championship banners of the Indiana Pacers, the Lincolnwood-Morrisonville boys basketball team had the opportunity most players can only dream about as they squared off against Madison on Thursday, Jan. 25, on the Pacers' home court at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Sometimes when high school teams play on a big stage in the regular season, the experience outweighs the actual game itself. Thursday’s game between Lincolnwood and Madison lived up to … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 1/29/24

Litchfield's Keaton Morgan (left) went out on a win as he pinned Reid Dazey of Oakwood in the seventh place match at the Rich Lovellette Classic in Litchfield on Saturday, Jan. 27. Morgan was one of seven Litchfield wrestlers to finish in the top eight at the tournament named after the Panthers' legendary head coach, who was on hand to present medals at the event.

Panthers Battle-Tested After Lovellette

To say it was a busy weekend for the Litchfield wrestling program would be an understatement. In addition to the Panthers taking two girls to the IHSA regional in West Frankfort (more on that event … more

1/29/24

Later that night, many of the players and fans stuck around to see the Pacers knock off the 76ers by a slightly less defensive minded final of 134-122.

Hoop Dreams

Just a few hours before the Indiana Pacers took the floor on Thursday, Jan. 25, for an Eastern Conference showdown against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Lincolnwood and Madison boys basketball teams … more

1/29/24

Nokomis senior Reece Lohman joined his sister Taylor and uncles Mike Havera (left) and Mark Havera in scoring 1,000 points at Nokomis High School on Saturday, Jan. 27. All told, the four have scored more than 5,000 points for their alma mater, with more than a half dozen games still to go for Reece.

One 1,000... Two 1,000...Three 1,000... Four 1,000...

The Nokomis boys basketball team is in the midst of a tough stretch, but that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been cause to celebrate for the Redskins. Nokomis’ Reece Lohman scored … more

1/29/24

New Year, New Ride For Saathoff

After winning rookie of the year in 2022 and scoring a top five finish in the Parts Unlimited American Flat Track Singles series in 2023, Hillsboro’s Chase Saathoff will be hitting the track … more

1/29/24

Hillsboro's Zander Wells finished fifth at the Rich Lovellette Classic on Saturday, Jan. 27, in Litchfield, beating Carson McPeek of Lena Winslow in the fifth place match.

Wells Wins Out To Finish 5th At Lovellette

Hillsboro senior Zander Wells rallied back from a second round loss to win three straight matches and take fifth place at the Rich Lovellette Classic in Litchfield on Saturday, Jan. 27, as the … more

1/29/24

Second Half Sends Toppers Past Miners

What a difference a half makes; at least it did in Gillespie Friday night, Feb. 26, when the Hillsboro Hiltoppers converted a 9-0 start-of-the-game deficit into a 68-50 end-of-the-game win. The … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 1/29/24

Litchfield Boys Cruise Past Cavaliers

In a rare Thursday night boys basketball affair, the Purple Panthers welcomed the Cavaliers from Carlinville to Simmons Gym on Jan. 25. This would be the second match-up between the two schools, as … more

1/29/24

Gillespie Holds Off Lady Hiltoppers

Fresh off a Macoupin County Tournament title and securing their first 20-win season since 2016, the Gillespie girls basketball team is in the midst of a memorable year. The Miners are also in the … more

1/29/24

Second Quarter Sends Pana Past LHS

A strong second quarter helped Pana collect their second South Central Conference victory of the season on Thursday, Jan. 25, at the expense of the Litchfield Lady Panthers. Playing on their home … more

1/29/24

Calhoun Sneaks Past 'Skins At Carrollton

The Nokomis girls basketball team nearly handed Calhoun just their fourth loss of the season on Wednesday, Jan. 24, before falling to the Warriors 52-51 in the quarter finals of the Lady Hawk … more

1/29/24

As the Barbie movie taught us, “Pink goes with everything,” and on Sunday, Jan. 21, pink went with Topper basketball and a good cause. The teams of the Hillsboro Sports Association sported pink accessories for their games with Pana St. Pats on Sunday, as they raised $4,500 for the family of Rachel Beckett, who is fighting breast cancer.

Hillsboro Goes Pink To Ball For Becketts

The orange and black of the Hillsboro Sports Association basketball teams had a splash of added color for their games on Sunday, Jan. 21, against Pana St. Pats, as the two communities came together … more

1/25/24

Lincolnwood’s Jared Klein goes baseline past Pawnee’s Cory Banister during the second half of the Lancers’ home game on Tuesday, Jan. 23. Klein had 11 points and was 5-of-6 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter to help Lincolnwood sew up the 49-37 win over the Indians.

Lancers Run Past Pawnee For MSM Win

The Lincolnwood-Morrisonville boys basketball team was able to shake off the rust after an 11-day layoff due to weather and pick up their 10th victory of the season on Tuesday, Jan. 23, as the … more

1/25/24

Guarded by Calvary's Kaleb "Chubs" Larson, Litchfield senior A.J. Odle looks for an open teammate during the first half of the Panthers' home game on Tuesday, Jan. 23. Odle had 24 points to lead all scorers on Tuesday, but a three by Larson in the final five seconds gave Calvary a 58-55 win.

Chubs Comes Up Big Against Panthers

Tuesday nights are made for hardwood battles and Simmons Gym in Litchfield hosted one on Jan. 23, when the Calvary Saints met the Purple Panthers. When these two teams meet, defense has not been … more

1/25/24

Taylorville's Mazie Fleming was a big obstacle for Madi Jenkins and the Litchfield girls basketball team during their game on Tuesday, Jan. 23, in Panther Gym. The 6'3" Fleming had 14 points in the first half, helping her team to double up the Panthers, 50-25.

Lady Tornadoes A Super Storm In Litchfield

On pace for back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time in almost 10 years, the current edition of the Taylorville girls basketball team has caused plenty of problems for opponents in the recent … more

1/25/24

Litchfield Wrestling Second At Strength Of The South Tourney

The Litchfield-Mt. Olive wrestling team went 2-0 in their pool and finished second in the Strength of the South dual team tournament on Saturday, Jan. 20, as they improved to 16-12 on the season. … more

1/25/24

Four Hiltoppers Medal At Rocket Invite

Despite some adverse circumstances and solid competition, the Hillsboro High School wrestling team put four wrestlers on the podium at the Rocket Invite in Rochester on Saturday, Jan. 20. Senior … more

1/25/24

Lady Lancers Advance In Consolation Round

The Lincolnwood-Morrisonville girls basketball team held Granite City to single digits in three of the four quarters as they advanced to the next round of the Lady Hawk Invitational in Carrollton … more

1/25/24

Eagles Escape Toppers In Rematch

When Bethalto Civic Memorial’s Eagles visited Hillsboro Tuesday night, Jan. 23, Topper pride was on the line. The Eagles had defeated the home team by twenty points exactly a week before in the … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 1/25/24

Lady Hiltoppers Fall To Highland

The good news for the Hillsboro girls basketball team is that they no longer have to go to Highland, at least not until next year maybe. The Lady Hiltoppers played on the Bulldogs’ home … more

1/25/24