Sports | The Journal-News

With sirens’ wail and flashing lights, the Litchfield High School football team had nothing better to do on a Saturday night than pick up their third victory of the season, evening their record to 3-3. After leading the Panthers onto the field during First Responder Appreciation Night, Kayden Bergman and the Litchfield defense ran the Miners into the ground, holding them to just one offensive touchdown in a 42-9 victory at Lloyd Hill Field.

Lloyd Hill Field was lit up on Saturday night, Oct. 5, as the Gillespie Miners and Litchfield Purple Panthers squared off in a South Central Showdown. Not many South Central Conference games are … more

10/7/24

The Hillsboro boys soccer team celebrated senior night against Pana on Thursday, Oct. 3, at the Hillsboro Sports Complex. Nine seniors and their parents were honored prior to the game, which the Toppers won 6-1. In front, from the left, are Mitchell Cunningham, with parents Ben and Amanda Cunningham; Brodie Clinard, with parents Duane and Deanna Clinard; Caleb Greenwood, with parents Cody and Kassie Greenwood; Nico Clark, with parents Maria and Jorden Clark; Brennan Harston, with mom Diantha Harston; Quinn Hunt, with parents Brandon Hunt, Amanda Slepicka and Mike Overmeyer; Aiden Meyers, with parents Tricia and Justin Meyers; Clayton Rufus, with parents Shauna and Cody Rufus; and Antonio Valentin, with mom Tiffany Vargas.

Soccer Toppers Clinch Share Of SCC Crown

After winning four straight South Central Conference titles, then finishing second to Litchfield last season, the Hillsboro High School boys soccer team claimed at least a piece of the conference … more

10/7/24

Nokomis’ Kadynn Petty turns the corner on a run during the Redskins’ home game against Arthur-Lovington-Atwood Hammond on Friday, Oct. 4. The Knights handed Nokomis their first loss of the season by a 26-8 final score.

Knights Knock Nokomis From Top Spot

Turnovers are one thing. Capitalizing on those turnovers is another. The Knights of Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond (ALAH) were able to do just that on Friday, Oct. 5, as they handed Nokomis a 26-8 … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 10/7/24

Hillsboro’s Amony Anderson ran for 102 yards, including one of the Toppers’ two touchdowns in Pana on Friday, Oct. 4. Despite Anderson’s success on the ground, Pana picked up a 48-14 win over the Toppers, who fell to 0-6 on the year.

Pana Picks Up Homecoming Win Over Toppers

The first quarter at Pana Friday night, Oct. 4, seemed like one of the longest in recent Hillsboro football history, not in terms of clock time but in terms of the toll on fan spirit. It was … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 10/7/24

Comet Corners Send Lancers To Loss Column

The Lincolnwood soccer team was in Greenville on Saturday, Oct. 5, for a match-up with the Comets. The Lancers would have plenty of chances in the game, but some bad bounces and good defensive play … more

10/7/24

Hillsboro senior Tycen Thacker, pictured with parents Stacy and Pam Thacker, was recognized before the Toppers’ final home match at the Hillsboro Country Club on Sept. 30. While Thacker’s home matches are in the books, he and teammate Colton Weiss are hoping to extend their season today, as they play in the Class 2A Anna-Jonesboro Sectional at Union County Country Club in Anna.

Topper Golf Picks Up Senior Night Win

Before the Hillsboro boys golf team teed off at Belk Park for the regional on Wednesday, Oct. 2, the Toppers had some business to take care of to start the week. On Monday, Sept. 30, senior … more

10/7/24

Litchfield Cross Country Hosts Home Meet

The Litchfield High School cross country team hosted their lone home meet on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at the Litchfield Country Club. The Panthers welcomed East Alton-Wood River to town, with Nokomis … more

10/7/24

Litchfield Soccer Wins Big, Loses Close

Over the last six games for the Litchfield-Gillespie boys soccer team, the outcome has had two options: win big or lose close. While the Panthers obviously prefer the former, both outcomes should … more

10/7/24

Lady Redskins Avenge Loss to Lady Toppers

Last week was the week for rematches from the Grace Tournament for the Hillsboro High School volleyball team. Before facing Lincolnwood in the championship of the Morrisonville Tournament on … more

10/7/24

The College Report: Huber Plays Best Ball To Finish Career

There is an old saying he saved the best for last. Dane Huber, a Hillsboro graduate and recent Illinois College graduate, not only had his best round of golf in the final round of his collegiate … more

10/7/24

With their 7-2 win over Greenville, the Hillsboro girls tennis team guaranteed themselves a winning record for the second straight season. In front, from the left are Lillian Kirn, Rylee Rogers, Reagan Voyles, Aly Leisure and Isabella Collins. In the back are Lexi Downey, Rylie Jones, Kylie Meyer, Zoey Spinner, Claire Matthews and Alexis Carlye.

Win Guarantees Toppers A Winning Season

Despite the absence of two key players, the Hillsboro High School girls tennis team picked up their second win over a South Central Conference rival on Thursday, Oct. 3, as they defeated Greenville … more

10/7/24

Toppers Score SCC Win

The Hillsboro High School volleyball team evened their conference record to 2-2 on the season with a 25-21, 25-14 win over Southwestern. Playing on their home court, the senior duo of Addison … more

10/7/24

Lincolnwood's Bryce Cowdrey pumps his fist after sinking a 15-foot putt for birdie on the par-5 18th hole at Timber Lakes Golf Course in Staunton on Wednesday, Oct. 2. The shot gave Cowdrey a 73 for the Mt. Olive Regional, good for medalist honors by one stroke over Metro-East Lutheran's Ryan Suhre. For video of the putt, go to www.thejournal-news.net or The Journal-News Facebook page

Birdie Gives Cowdrey Top Spot At Staunton

Lincolnwood’s Bryce Cowdrey is just a sophomore, meaning that his high school golf career is still in its infancy. But whatever comes next for Cowdrey, his final shot at the regional in … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 10/3/24

Panther Trio Moves On To Sectional Tournament

Sometimes people feel as if a higher power is looking out for them. Wednesday was not one of those days for the Litchfield boys golf team. Alton Marquette (324), Metro-East Lutheran (332) and Father … more

10/3/24

Lincolnwood’s Ella Jenkins, at right, works to get the ball past Litchfield’s Megan Lee on Sept. 30, as Lincolnwood picked up their 16th win this season.

Lady Lancers Dig Up Win Over Panthers

The Lincolnwood and Litchfield volleyball teams met up for the first time this season on Monday, Sept. 30, with both teams sporting pink in support of breast cancer awareness. The Panthers took it to … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 10/3/24

Regional Rounds Put Two Rams In Sectional Tourney

Stephen Hawking once said, “Half of the battle is just showing up.” Those words never rang truer than at the IHSA Class 1A Mt. Olive Regional on Wednesday, Oct. 2, at Timber Lakes Golf … more

10/3/24

Nokomis' Natalie Brownback goes up for a kill against Lincolnwood Kierstyn Denney during the showdown between the two MSM Conference leaders on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Brownback and the Lady Redskins picked up a three set win over Denney and the Lancers, improving to 4-0 in the MSM.

Win Keeps Nokomis On Top In MSM

It was close, it was loud and it had meaning. In other words, it was everything you wanted from a rivalry game when Nokomis and Lincolnwood met up in Raymond on Tuesday, Oct. 1, with someone set to … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 10/3/24

With Coach Jim Luckett looking on, Hillsboro senior Tycen Thacker chips on to the green on the eighth hole at Belk Park Golf Course in Wood River at the Class 2A Roxana Regional on Wednesday, Oct. 2. Both Thacker and teammate Colton Weiss finished in the top ten at the regional to move on to next Monday's sectional in Anna.

Hillsboro's Thacker, Weiss Bounce Back At Regionals

Hillsboro’s Tycen Thacker and Colton Weiss both shot 3-over-par 39s on the back nine at Belk Park to secure their spots in the sectional on Monday, Oct. 7. Playing in the IHSA Class 2A Roxana … more

10/3/24

It was senior night for the Hillsboro High School girls tennis team as the Toppers took time to honor three of their own on Monday, Sept. 30, during their match with Vandalia. Zoey Spinner, Aly Leisure and Sara Milanos were 3-0 on the day, with Spinner and Leisure winning the number one and number two singles, then teaming up to win the number one doubles, while Milanos partnered with Reagan Voyles to pick up a win in the number three doubles match. From the left are Victoria Spinner, Zoey Spinner, Matthew Spinner, Damon Leisure, Aly Leisure, Chrissy Leisure, Angelo Milanos and Sara Milanos.

Toppers Score Seventh Win On Senior Night

Monday, Sept. 30, was senior night for the Hillsboro girls tennis team and the Tennis Toppers celebrated with a 7-2 victory over Vandalia, with the three seniors going 3-0. The Toppers picked up five … more

10/3/24

Lady Lancers Advance Two To Golf Sectionals

Two members of the Lincolnwood-Morrisonville golf team are headed to sectionals after playing in the Class 1A Williamsville Regional at The Rail in Sherman on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Senior Anna Jones and … more

10/3/24