Sports | The Journal-News

Hillsboro’ Jace Stewart tries to get a shot off over the outstretched hand of Lincolnwood’s Gabe Armentrout during the Toppers’ home game against the Lancers on Dec. 5. Stewart had 15 points and helped Hillsboro come back from two double digit deficits, but Lincolnwood escaped with a 60-57 win.

Lincolnwood Gets Rivalry Win In Hillsboro

It doesn't have conference or postseason implications, but the early season match-up between the Hillsboro and Lincolnwood-Morrisonville boys basketball teams may fit into the "must see" category if … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 12/7/23

Litchfield Girls Fall To South County

The Litchfield girls basketball team traveled to Waverly on Thursday, Dec. 14, to face the South County Vipers. The Panthers started out strongly, but fell to the home team 35-22 to fall to 2-11 on … more

12/18/23

Four Toppers Finish In Top Eight At PORTA

The contingent from Hillsboro picked up 10 wins and had four wrestlers placing in the top eight for their weight class at the Rex Avery Invitational on Saturday, Dec. 9, as the Toppers made their … more

12/21/23

Nokomis Wins County Clash At Carlinville Tournament

The Nokomis girls basketball team held Lincolnwood to six points or less in all four quarters as the Redskins moved to 2-0 at the Carlinville Holiday Tournament with a 49-16 win over the Lady … more

12/28/23

Stewart Qualifies For IKWF State

Landon Stewart of the Jr. Toppers Wrestling Club finished second in the 60-pound novice boys class at the IKWF South Sectional in Highland on Saturday, March 2, good enough to earn him a qualifying … more

3/7/24

Vandenbergh, Newman Lead Nokomis In Jacksonville

Nokomis senior Irene Vandenbergh helped the Redskins get off to a solid start to the track season on Thursday, March 14, as the second-year team competed in the Spoon River Indoor Invitational at … more

3/21/24

The Hillsboro High School volleyball team picked up their 20th win of the season on Tuesday, Oct. 10, beating Litchfield 25-20, 25-13. In front, from the left are Hanna Hughes, Amya Greenwood, Kennady Clayton, Reagan Lentz, Leah Satterlee and Head Coach Emily Zimmerman. In the back row are Sophia Blankenship, Ellie Miller, Kearstynn Davis, Tatum Christian, Addison Lowe, Emoree Shepard and Tyler Beard.

Hillsboro Gets 20th In Litchfield

The first nine days of October felt like a full month for the Hillsboro High School volleyball team as the Lady Hiltoppers sat stuck on 19 wins since the final day of September. The … more

10/12/23

Lincolnwood's Jacob Butler (#11) got the Lancers off to a quick start in Pleasant Plains on Friday, Oct. 13, scoring two goals in the first eight minutes of their regional semifinal against Lutheran. Butler's brace held up despite a goal midway through the second half by Lutheran's Noah Rodenburg as Lincolnwood moved on to the regional championship game on Tuesday, Oct. 17, at 4:30 p.m.

Lancers To Play Plains For Regional Crown

When Lincolnwood played Springfield Lutheran the first time in the 2023 season, neither team was able to score in the 80 minutes of regulation, but the lack of scoring … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 10/16/23

Panthers Put 6 On The Podium At PORTA

The Litchfield High School wrestling team put six wrestlers in the top eight and took ninth in the overall standings at the 32-team Rex Avery Invitational in Petersburg on Saturday, Dec. 9. … more

12/21/23

Hillsboro's #22, Tatum Christian, extends for a rebound over Auburn's #22, Karlissa Clark, during the Toppers' opening game at the Riverton Christmas Tournament on Thursday, Dec. 21. The Toppers beat the Trojans by one 47-46, one of their two wins at the tournament so far. Hillsboro will have the chance to go out on a win on as they play PORTA for third at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 28.

Hillsboro Girls To Play For Third At Riverton Tourney

It’s been a roller coaster for the Hillsboro girls basketball team at the Riverton Christmas Tournament as the Lady Hiltoppers went 2-2 in their first four games and will play for third on … more

12/28/23

Beckemeyer 2nd Grader Headed To State

Beckemeyer second grader Crosby Michaelis is headed to the IKWF State Tournament after finishing first in the South Sectional in Highland on Saturday, March 2. Michaelis, the son of Chad … more

3/7/24

Camden’s Crew Scramble To Be May 4

Family and friends of Camden Burke are making plans for the sixth annual “Crush for Camden’s Crew Golf Scramble” on Saturday, May 4, at the Indian Springs Golf Club in Fillmore. … more

3/14/24

Panthers Improve To 4-0 With Win

After Tuesday night, Litchfield-Mt. Olive baseball's four opponents this season were a combined 1-10, with the Panthers' foe on March 19, Taylorville, 0-2 on the season going into the game. … more

3/21/24

Hillsboro quarterback Jace Stewart ran elusively at Greenville on Friday, Sept. 1, but Comet defenders like Austin Wall (#43) made offense difficult for the Toppers in a 27-7 loss to the home team.

Comets Hold Off Hiltoppers

When the football Toppers traveled to Greenville Friday night, Sept. 1, the game against the Comets was exciting and fun to watch for the first quarter. Then the Greenville … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 9/5/23

Soccer Toppers Take Step Toward Title

The Hillsboro High School boys soccer team punched its ticket to its fifth straight IHSA regional title game Friday, Oct. 13, as the orange and black took on the Robinson Maroons at St Anthony and … more

10/16/23

Cavaliers Win Despite Lancers’ Best Efforts

The points weren’t there, but the effort was for the Lincolnwood-Morrisonville girls basketball team as the Lady Lancers took on a talented Carlinville squad on Monday, Dec. 18. The … more

12/21/23

Cavies Knock Off Lady Lancers Again

Lincolnwood’s first opponent after Christmas was their last one before the holiday as the Lady Lancers played Carlinville in their opening game of the Carlinville Holiday Tournament on Dec. 26. … more

12/28/23

Litchfield Middle School fifth grader Jayse Ellinger gets a lift from older brother Jayden after taking second at the IESA Vandalia Sectional on March 2. The younger Ellinger is hoping to finish higher at this weekend's state tournament than his older brother

Ellinger Qualifies For IESA State Tournament

There’s nothing like a sibling rivalry to add some motivation, or at least that’s the case for Litchfield Middle School fifth grader Jayse Ellinger. “If you ask Jayse Ellinger … more

3/7/24

Toppers Score Back-To-Back Wins

If the first five games of the season have told us anything about the Hillsboro softball team, its that the Toppers have the ability to score a lot of runs. Hillsboro has scored nine or more … more

3/21/24

Ray Wille, pictured on senior day at Lyon Collge with his parents, Brandon and Beth Wille, swapped colleges and sides of the football during his college career, in which he made an impact on his coaches and teammates both on and off the field.

The College Report: Wille’s Career Marked By Strength, Versatility

At 5-foot-11, 280 pounds, Hillsboro graduate Raymond Wille had the size to play either offensive or defensive line in college. The talent was there also. And so he did. His original college of … more

by Dan Chamness | 7/31/23