Sports | The Journal-News

Wyatt Pence (left) and Doug Graham were the last two standings in this year’s club championship tournament at the Litchfield Country Club, which wrapped up on Tuesday, Oct. 24. Just one hole separated the two friends at the end of the day as Graham won 1-up over Pence to win his first club title.

After 40 Years, Club Title A Sweet Win For ‘Shug’

It took 40 years and four attempts in the final match, but Doug “Shug” Graham finally captured his first Litchfield Country Club club championship on Tuesday, Oct. 24. Graham … more

11/2/23

West Central's Baylee Littig tries to wrestle possession away from Nokomis' Cloey Dirks during the regional semifinal game in Concord on Tuesday, Feb. 13. Dirks had a team-high 11 points for the Lady Redskins, but a tough second quarter stretch that carried over into the third proved costly for Nokomis, whose season came to an end with a 53-37 loss to the Cougars.

Nokomis' Special Season Comes To An End Early

Unless you’re one of the lucky few who hoists a state championship trophy, every season ends too early. That was the case for the Nokomis girls on Tuesday, Feb. 13, as they saw their campaign … more

2/15/24

Litchfield’s Bella Lueken watches from third base as Lincolnwood pitcher Taryn Clarke prepares to bring her delivery to the plate in the sixth inning of the game in Litchfield on Monday, April 8. Clarke only allowed two earned runs in the game, but Litchfield picked up a 5-1 win over the visitors from Montgomery County’s panhandle.

Purple Panthers Hold Off Lincolnwood

Litchfield’s Laynie Wyatt struck out 10 and held Lincolnwood to three hits as the Lady Panthers scored a 5-1 win over the Lancers. The only blip for the Panthers came in the second inning, … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 4/11/24

Litchfield's A.J. Odle shot a 2-over-par 37 to help the Panthers to a 151 on their home course and a win over Vandalia, Lincolnwood, Gillespie and Taylorville on Tuesday, Aug. 29.

Panthers Go Low At Home

After having a pair of matches canceled last week due to the heat, the Litchfield boys golf team hit the links on their home course on Tuesday, Aug. 29, with Vandalia, Gillespie, Taylorville and … more

8/31/23

Soccer Toppers Get Big Win At North Mac

After a hard fought tilt against the Greenville Comets on Tuesday that took just about all of the allotted 80 minutes to decide, the Hillsboro High School boys soccer team traveled to North Mac … more

9/18/23

Hillsboro's Mitchell Lowe brings the ball down the floor during the Toppers' game on Tuesday, Feb. 13. Lowe joined fellow seniors Jace Stewart, Adrian Harston and Elliott Lentz in senior night festivities before the game, then celebrated with his teammates after the game as the Toppers defeated the Piasa Birds 49-43.

Hillsboro Boys Knock Off Piasa Birds

It hadn’t happened before this season, so Feb. 13 was a red letter day for a Hillsboro’s boys’ basketball program as the young men swept a triple header from the visiting Piasa … more

2/15/24

Nine-Run Third Keeps Hawks Unbeaten

A nine-run third inning blew open a one-run game as the Carrollton Lady Hawks defeated Lincolnwood-Morrisonville 13-0 on Tuesday, April 9. Lincolnwood was down just 1-0 going into the third, … more

4/11/24

Zander Wells, one of Hillsboro’s dynamic duo Friday night, compiled 238 rushing yards on 10 carries against Gillespie. One of his backfield partners, Dylan Lessman, gained 234 yards on 10 carries as the Toppers scored 62 points, 45 more than the Miners in the win on Sept. 15.

Dynamic Duo Major Problem For Miners

Defensive coordinators on all levels of football know its imperative to have two cornerbacks who can “set the edge,” keep the opposing players from breaking down … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 9/18/23

Doug Taylor (left) defeated John Martin on Oct. 17, to win the inaugural Litchfield Country Club senior club championship. Taylor and Martin were the final two in the 12-player tournament, which began in June.

Taylor Wins Inaugural Senior Club Championship

Doug Taylor took the win in the inaugural Litchfield Country Club senior club championship on Tuesday, Oct. 17, beating out John Martin for the top spot. Taylor and Martin competed in an 18-hole … more

11/2/23

Nokomis' Natalie Brownback (#12) shadows Chloe Law (#5) as the Litchfield sophomore brings the ball down the court in the season opener for both teams on Tuesday, Nov. 14. Sporting a mask due to a broken nose suffered during volleyball, Brownback played like a super hero in the first half, scoring 12 of her 14 points to give the Lady Redskins a 33-9 halftime lead en route to a 62-16 victory over the Purple Panthers.

Nokomis Knocks Off Litchfield In Debut

Thirteen different players combined for 70 points when the Litchfield and Nokomis girls basketball teams opened up the 2022-23 season on Nov. 15 in Nokomis. One year later, just three of those … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 11/16/23

Lincolnwood Boys Hold Off Tigers At Home

The Lincolnwood-Morrisonville boys basketball team held Greenfield-Northwestern to almost half of its scoring average as they beat the 18-win Tigers 38-27 on Tuesday, Feb. 13, in Raymond. With … more

2/15/24

County Tournament Set For This Saturday

All eight Montgomery County baseball and softball teams will be in the same locale on Saturday, April 13, as the Hillsboro Sports Complex hosts the Montgomery County Baseball and Softball … more

4/11/24

CENTER AND GUARD • The Grace Cup Returns

Soccer was always Grace and I’s thing. Her Uncle Daniel got her first soccer ball for her just a few days after she was born. She used to dribble around the ottoman in our living room, with … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 9/18/23

North Mac Hands Litchfield First SCC Loss

After all the ups and downs for the Purple Panthers, it would not be complete without a speed bump in the last week of the season. Needing just one win in their last two games to be the outright … more

2/15/24

Newman Nokomis' First Boys MSM Track Champ

Last year, the Nokomis boys track team competed in their first MSM Conference Meet. This year, the Redskins secured their first conference champion. Senior Saint Newman ran a season-best 11.4 in … more

4/11/24

Lady Redskins Still Perfect In 2023

The Nokomis Lady Redskins continued their strong start to the season with a pair of wins over St. Elmo/Brownstown and Gillespie on Aug. 28 and 29. Both wins were in two sets as the Lady Redskins … more

8/31/23

With the help of blockers like Daryl Evans (#22) and Hunter Arkebauer (#53), Nokomis running back Nolan Herpstreith was able to run for 211 yards on just 21 carries on Friday, Sept. 15, as the Redskins defeated Cerro Gordo-Bement 46-7 to improve to 2-2 on the season.

Redskin Running Game Bust Broncos

Three weeks into the 2023 season, Nokomis wasn’t where they wanted to be. So going into week four’s game against Cerro Gordo-Bement, Coach Paul Watson took a step back. “After three … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 9/18/23

Lady Lancers Stop Minutemaids In Opener

The Lincolnwood-Morrisonville girls basketball team held Bunker Hill to just five field goals in the season opener for both teams on Monday, Nov. 13, as they defeated the Minutemaids 33-24. … more

11/16/23

Nokomis Blows Past MSM Foe Tri-City

The good news for Tri-City was that they were able to take advantage of the opportunities that the Nokomis defense gave them on Feb. 13, and hit seven threes against the Redskins. The bad news … more

2/15/24

Lady Hiltoppers Score Third SCC Win

The top of the food chain in the South Central Conference still awaits, but for now, it’s so far, so very good for the Hillsboro girls soccer team. For the third straight game, Hillsboro … more

4/11/24