Sports | The Journal-News

Panthers Clinch Share Of SCC

The 2013-14 season was the last time Litchfield hoisted the South Central Conference crown in boys basketball as they shared the title with the Greenville Comets. Prior to that the Purple Panthers … more

2/12/24

Hillsboro’s Zander Wells tries to turn Cooper Miller of Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley during their preliminary match at the IHSA Class 1A State Wrestling Tournament in Champaign on Feb. 15. Wells was down 9-3 to Miller going into the third period when he took down the Falcons’ 165-pounder and earned the pin at the 4:17 mark of the match.

Wells’ Senior Season Comes To End At State

Of the 116 wrestlers who started the Class 1A postseason in the 165-pound weight class, only 16 were able to make it to state. Of those 16, half lost, with half of that number losing for a second … more

By Kyle Herschelman | 2/20/24

Hillsboro's Kearstynn Davis (left) and Litchfield's Chloe Law (right) go up for a 50/50 ball during the third place game at the Panther Classic in Litchfield on Saturday, March 30. After losing to Hillsboro twice last year, the Lady Panthers scored a 2-1 victory over the Toppers, with Law scoring the go-ahead goal in the second half.

Panthers Top Hillsboro For Third

Last year, the Hillsboro and Litchfield girls soccer teams were slated to play for the championship of the 2023 Panther Classic, before Mother Nature put the kibosh on those plans. This Saturday, … more

4/1/24

Carlinville quarterback Noah Byots tries to elude Litchfield's Isaiah Johnson (#1) on the rain-soaked turf at Carlinville High School during the week one South Central Conference match-up between the Panthers and Cavaliers. The Litchfield defense managed to put some pressure on Byots and the Cavies, but Carlinville did the same on the other end, picking off four passes, posting four sacks and holding Litchfield to two scores in a 37-12 week one victory.

Cavaliers Storm Past Litchfield In Week One

After coming off a 6-4 campaign a year ago that saw the Purple Panthers end their postseason drought, Litchfield looked to carry over that success on Friday, Aug. 30, as they started the 2024 season … more

9/3/24

After setting school records in rushing yards, touchdowns and points scored, A.J. Sypherd was selected to the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Class 3A all-state team.

Sypherd Earns All-State Honors

After a record-breaking senior season, Litchfield’s Adam “A.J.” Sypherd earned one more accolade recently as he was named to the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association … more

11/20/23

Litchfield-Mt. Olive infielder Alyssa Aubuschon scoops a grounder during the Panthers' game with Greenville on Friday, March 29. The hosts held the Comets to just three runs, but a stellar outing from Greenville's Kaitlyn Lurkins silenced Litchfield's bats and gave the visitors a 3-1 win.

Lady Panthers Beat Rams, Fall To Comets

The Litchfield-Mt. Olive softball team picked up their second win of the season on Wednesday, March 27, as they defeated Ramsey 13-4 on the Rams’ home field. The two teams were tied at 0-0 … more

4/1/24

Hillsboro's Elias Baney (#24) attracted plenty of attention, whenever he field a kickoff during the Toppers' season opener against North Mac in Virden on Aug. 31. The speedy Panthers held Loskot to 11 yards on two returns and kept the Topper offense in check during a 34-6 victory on their home turf.

Storms Only Delay Panthers Win Over Toppers

What a difference a day makes goes an old lyric. To the fans of the Hillsboro High football team and their North Mac counterparts, that was true last weekend; to the two teams who met at the … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 9/3/24

The Lincolnwood-Morrisonville girls basketball program honored two four-year players on senior night on Thursday, Feb. 8, prior to the Lady Lancers’ game against Mt. Olive in Raymond. From the left are Taryn Millburg, with parents Justin and Beth Millburg, and Chelsie Anderson, with parents George and Vickie Anderson.

Lancers Avenge Loss To Mt. Olive

The Lincolnwood-Morrisonville girls basketball team hit seven threes to avenge an earlier loss to Mt. Olive as they defeated the Lady Wildcats 35-27 in the season finale on Thursday, Feb. 8. It … more

2/12/24

Hillsboro’s Cheyenne Harston (#30) and Kamryn Langston look for the steal against Gillespie’s Erika Gill during the regional championship game in Virden on Feb. 16. The Miners jumped out to a seven-point first quarter lead en route to a 59-45 victory over the Lady Hiltoppers for their first regional title since 2012.

Season Ends In Regional Championship

A strong start in both the first and second halves helped Gillespie score their first regional championship since 2012 on Friday, Feb. 16, as the Miners defeated Hillsboro 59-45 in the title game at … more

2/20/24

Lincolnwood Holds Hawks To One Hit

Jonah Elvidge struck out 13 and allowed just five base runners in a seven-inning one-hitter as the Lincolnwood-Morrisonville boys shut out Carrollton 6-0 on Friday, March 29. The Hawks’ … more

4/1/24

Ramsey-Nokomis Knocks Off Altamont

The Ramsey-Nokomis boys golf team picked up a win over Altamont on Friday, Aug. 30, as they defeated Altamont 191 to 198 at the St. Elmo Golf Course. Bryce Gillock took medalist honors for the match, … more

9/3/24

Lincolnwood's Taylor Lush muscles through Maryville Christian defenders Rayley Smith (#10) and Kerstin Howell (#25) during the Lancers' final pool play game at the Nokomis Fall Tipoff on Friday, Nov. 17. Lush had four points in the Lancers' 32-26 win over the Lions, their second victory of the season.

Lady Lancers Fourth At Nokomis

The Lincolnwood-Morrisonville girls basketball team went 1-2 and finished fourth in the inaugural Nokomis Fall Tipoff this past weekend, evening their record to 2-2 on the season. The … more

11/20/23

It was senior night for the Hillsboro girls basketball team as the Lady Hiltoppers took time to honor Sophia Blankenship and Aubrey Evans, on Thursday, Feb. 8. Pictured above, from the left, are Blankenship, with parents Cody Hodges and Gabe Blankenship, and Evans, with parents Katie McDonald and Reginald Evans.

Comets Battle Back To Beat Toppers

The regular season finale between Hillsboro and Greenville on Thursday, Feb. 8, is a pretty good example of what the South Central Conference has been in girls basketball any year. With four teams … more

2/12/24

Toppers End March With Busy Stretch

Hillsboro’s baseball team played a pitching-staff-testing five games in four days as Easter approached ( a sixth game was played on Monday, March 25; it was a win over Staunton reported in … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 4/1/24

Hillsboro's Nico Clark (center) had three of the Toppers' nine goals in their 9-0 short-game win over Taylorville on Wednesday, Aug. 28, in Hillsboro. The Toppers opened play up in the highly competitive Four Corners Classic in Williamsville on Monday, Sept. 2, losing a 1-0 heartbreaker to the host school. They'll play again tonight, Sept. 3, against Pleasant Plains at 6:30 p.m.

Toppers Blow Past Tornadoes In Opener

The Hillsboro High School boys soccer team got off to a great start in the opening game of their 2024 campaign as the orange and black downed the Taylorville Tornadoes 9-0 Wednesday night, Aug. 28, … more

9/3/24

Cavies Spoil Diveley's Big Game On Senior Night

Litchfield may not have won on senior night, Thursday, Feb. 8, but it wasn’t due to a lack of effort or the performance of their lone senior. Emma Diveley, daughter of Charles and Shannon … more

2/12/24

Birds Fly Past Purple Panthers In Season Finale

Heading into the postseason, what better way to prepare for the big games ahead than to have a big game to finish the season. For Litchfield, that big game took place in Piasa on Thursday, Feb. 16, … more

2/20/24

Nokomis' Addison Glenn (right) and Valmeyer's Kierstin Miller (left) go up for a free ball during the sectional semifinal in Nokomis on Oct. 30. Glenn led Nokomis with 15 kills, but Miller and the Pirates escaped with a three-set win to advance to the sectional final.

Redskins, Pirates Put On A Show

On Nov. 1, 2007, the Nokomis and Valmeyer volleyball teams met up in the semifinal of the Trico Sectional in Campbell Hill. Both teams were under .500 at the time, but records don’t mean as … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 11/2/23

Litchfield Learning At Waverly

The 2023-24 season is going to be a learning process for the Litchfield girls basketball team and their new head coach, Evan Malloy. While the Panthers are still in search of their first win this … more

11/20/23

The Duff Boys Racing Team picked up some hardware and an addition to their wardrobe on Saturday, Jan. 27, at the AMA District 17 banquet in Ottawa. The trio finished the 2023 racing season with top five finishes in the standings in 13 classes in the District 17, Full Gas Sprint Enduro and Fox Valley Off-Road series.

Duff Boys Kick Off 2024, Celebrate 2023

Donnellson brothers Zach and Cooper Duff kicked off the 2024 racing season at Woods Night at Megatraxas indoor course in Mendota on Jan. 20. Cooper Duff took the top spot in the 85cc/Super Mini … more

2/12/24