Sports | The Journal-News

As it's been all season, the senior and the freshman led the Litchfield boys cross country team at the Cumberland Sectional in Mattoon on Nov. 2. Running in the final race of his prep career, senior Kenny Traylor (#438) finished 75th in a time of 17:40, while freshman Nolan Engstrom ran a 17:41 and finished 77th.

Litchfield Cross Country Ends Season At Sectional

For the Litchfield High School cross country team, the Cumberland Sectional offered two things: the opportunity for one more race for four seniors and the chance for four more young runners to show … more

11/7/24

Several members of the inaugural Hillsboro High School volleyball team were recognized prior to the start of the Hillsboro volleyball game on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 50 years after their first game. From the left are Rhonda “Fred” Sanford, Sarah Hamby, Jody (Downs) Schnarre, Deb (Dalzotto) Compton, Nancy (Eickhoff) Lowe, Sherry (Smith) Terneus, Martha (Sewing) Johnson, Jeanne Winkler and Sue (Jagosh) Kunz.

First Topper Volleyball Team Recognized

On Tuesday, Oct. 22, the Hillsboro High School volleyball program recognized the three senior members of this year’s team. But Addison Lowe, Tatum Christian and Reagan Lentz weren’t the … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 11/7/24

While it was a trying season at times for the Hillsboro High School football team, the Hiltoppers are hopeful that they will be able to take those lessons and improve in 2025.

2024 A Tough Test For Topper Football

Statistics never tell the complete story of any team’s adventures in any sport in any season, but the tale of yards gained and yards surrendered in Hillsboro’s 2024 football season helps … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 11/7/24

From the left, Nokomis' Camryn Engelman, Addison Glenn, Grace King, Alivia Sabol and Remi Tester celebrate after the Redskins finished off their two-set win over Effingham St. Anthony in the regional championship game on the Bulldogs' home court on Thursday, Oct. 31. With the win, Nokomis moves on to the sectional in Farina, where they will play Father McGivney on Tuesday, Nov. 5, at 6 p.m.

Nokomis Claims Regional Crown

Prior to last year, Nokomis hadn't won a regional title in volleyball since the 2007 season. The Redskins' next postseason championship would come decidedly quicker. On Saturday, Nov. 2, the … more

11/4/24

Lincolnwood's Morgan Hampton receives a serve from Calhoun during the second set of the Lancers' regional championship match in Mt. Olive on Thursday, Oct. 31. Hampton and her teammates, including Tori Elvidge (#20) and Camryn Poggenpohl (#21), surprised the Warriors with their defensive efforts in the early going before falling to the visitors from Hardin 27-25, 25-19.

Warriors Survive Lancers' Best Shot

There are 230 teams in the IHSA Class 1A state series; all but one of them will lose before the state champion is crowned on Saturday, Nov. 16. With that in mind, it’s not as much … more

11/4/24

Nokomis' Drake Taylor (#23) fights his way through the Camp Point Central offensive line during the Redskins' playoff game in Camp Point on Saturday, Nov. 2. Taylor and the Nokomis defense held the Panthers to their second lowest rushing total of the season, but the defending Class 1A state champions were equally stout on the defensive end and moved on with a 34-6 victory.

Panthers Fight Off Redskins In Playoffs

Nokomis’ football season came to a close on Saturday, Nov. 2, but not before forcing the defending state champions from Camp Point Central out of their comfort zone a little bit. The 14th … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 11/4/24

Win Over Tigers Sends Lancers To Title Game

The Lincolnwood-Morrisonville volleyball team picked up their 31st win of the season and advanced to the championship game of the Mt. Olive Regional by virtue of their victory over … more

11/4/24

Lady Redskins Down Eagles For Third Time

There is truth to the adage that it’s hard to beat a good team three times, but it helps if you’re in the midst of the best season in the program’s history. After beating St. … more

11/4/24

Nokomis' Kinley Stolte had three kills and nine assists in the Redskins' 25-13, 25-7 regional quarterfinal win over Altamont on Monday, Oct. 28, that moved them on to the regional semifinal on Wednesday against St. Elmo/Brownstown. The Redskins would win that one, too, setting up a regional championship against the hosts from Effingham St. Anthony on Thursday, Oct. 31, at 6 p.m.

Redskins Returning To Title Game

Entering the regional tournament this week, the Nokomis volleyball team had already tied the program record for wins in a season with 30, matching their total from last year, when they went 30-7 and … more

10/31/24

After scoring a hat trick of his own in youth soccer, Cal Webb runs to congratulate his dad, Lincolnwood Soccer Coach Joe Webb after the Lancers’ regional win over Carlinville on Oct. 19. Webb resigned from coaching on Monday, Oct. 28, in part to spend more time with Cal and his younger brother Cohen, in the background.

Webb Steps Down As Lancer Soccer Coach

After 12 years at the helm of his alma mater’s soccer program, Joe Webb is stepping down as head coach at Lincolnwood High School. Webb, who is the Principal at Raymond Grade School, was an … more

10/31/24

Lincolnwood’s Jazmin Seaton-Hobson goes up for a tip at the net during the Lancers’ regional quarterfinal against Bunker Hill on Oct. 29, in Mt. Olive. The Lancer senior had seven kills, matching Kierstyn Denney for the team lead in Lincolnwood’s 25-15, 25-17 victory.

Lancers Win Battle Over Bunker Hill

The last time the Lincolnwood-Morrisonville volleyball team didn’t advance to the regional championship game, the current crop of seniors were in sixth grade. On Wednesday, the Lancers extended … more

10/31/24

Toppers Save Best For Last Against 'Birds

The Toppers not only played their best offensive game in the last tilt of the season, they saved the best of their best for the last quarter, when they outscored Piasa Southwestern 20-0. Of course … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 10/31/24

Litchfield's Lexi Logan goes up for a block against Greenville's Amya Miller during the regional quarterfinal in Litchfield on Monday, Oct. 28. The Panthers knocked off the Comets in two sets to move on to Tuesday's semifinal, where they fell to Staunton 25-17, 25-14.

Panthers Get Past Comets, Fall To Staunton

The Litchfield High School volleyball team saw their season come to an end on Tuesday, Oct. 29, with a loss to Staunton in the regional semifinal, but the Purple Panthers were able to squeeze in one … more

10/31/24

Hillsboro’s Kearstynn Davis (#10) and Shelbyville’s Jaycee Brinkoetter meet at the net during the regional semifinal in Litchfield on Tuesday, Oct. 29. Davis had three kills in the game, but Brinkoetter and the Rams came away with a 25-17, 27-25 victory to move on to Thursday’s regional championship against Staunton.

Rams Slip Past HHS

For the second year in a row, the Shelbyville Rams ended Hillsboro’s season earlier than the Toppers hoped as the Rams defeated the Lady Hiltoppers in two sets at the Class 2A Litchfield … more

10/31/24

Redskins To Go West For Football Playoffs

On Saturday night, Oct. 26, 256 high school football teams, stretching from the great white north of Northern Illinois to the fertile plains of Little Egypt in the southern part of the state, had … more

10/28/24

Litchfield's Rilynn Younker ran a personal best time of 21:32.4 at the Shelbyville Regional on Oct. 26, and earned a qualifying berth to next Saturday's sectional at Lake Land College in Matoon.

Personal-Best Time Earns Younker Shot At Sectionals

Litchfield sophomore Rilynn Younker ran a new personal best and finished 21st overall at the cross country regional at Forest Park in Shelbyville on Saturday, Oct. 26, earning a ticket to next … more

10/28/24

Litchfield senior Kenny Traylor ran a 17:10.14 at the regional in Shelbyville on Saturday, Oct. 26, to finish 18th overall and help the Panthers to a sectional qualifying spot for the Cumberland Sectional on Nov. 2.

Litchfield Boys Earn Spot In Sectional

The Litchfield boys cross country team put two runners in the top 20 at the Shelbyville Regional on Saturday, Oct. 26, and out-pointed South Central Conference foe Staunton for the seventh and final … more

10/28/24

Nokomis Duo Saves Best Times For Regional Runs

The Nokomis cross country team wrapped up a successful season on Saturday, Oct. 26, at the Class 1A Shelbyville Regional at Forest Park. Nokomis’ two runners at the regional both set new … more

10/28/24

Hillsboro's Kamdin Civitate has a firm grasp on Southwestern's Blake Rimbey during the Toppers' season finale in Hillsboro on Oct. 25. The Piasa Birds barely escaped Sawyer Field with a victory, winning 41-40 over the Hiltoppers.

Toppers Shoot It Out With Southwestern

Continued from 9A This time, to Piasa’s surprise, Patton sent the kickoff into the Birds’ endzone for a touchback. Hillsboro’s defense had to reclaim the ball during the next … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 10/28/24

Litchfield's Caiden Lamb hangs tight to Vandalia's Kohnor Depew, despite getting a helpful hand from the Vandal receiver during the game on Friday, Oct. 25, in Litchfield. DePew had six receptions for 162 yards and two touchdowns as the Vandals picked up a 54-25 victory over the Purple Panthers.

Vandals Push Past Panthers In Week Nine

Continued from 9A The defense was a bright spot throughout the quarter as they stood strong on several plays by the Vandals. Kayden Bergman was part of a few of those plays as he pulled down an … more

10/28/24