The Journal-News

Hillsboro's Jace Stewart dribbles through traffic during the fifth place game at the Rick McGraw Memorial Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 22, in Litchfield. The Toppers finished the 16-team tournament in sixth place, falling to Taylorville 66-34 in their final game.

by Ron Deabenderfer After defeating Greenville 66-54 in overtime in the Rick McGraw Invitational Basketball Tournament Friday evening, Jan. 20, to earn a spot in the fifth place game on Saturday, … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 1/24/22

Hillsboro senior Drake Vogel scored 21 points in the Toppers' 76-30 win over Ramsey on Wednesday, Jan. 19, which put the Toppers in the fifth place bracket at the Rick McGraw Memorial Invitational in Litchfield. Not only did Vogel's point total help even the Toppers' record to 1-1 in pool play, but it also pushed his career total over the 1,000 point milestone.

Pool Play Wraps Up At McGraw Invite

The first 12 games of the 2022 Rick McGraw Memorial Invitational have had a little something for everyone, including more than a fair share of close games. Five of the 12 games were decided by 10 … more

1/20/22

Hillsboro's Kayden Long shoots in against Highland's William Jones in the 138-pound match on Wednesday, Jan. 19, at Hillsboro High School. Jones was down 7-4 late in the first period when momentum shifted and he picked up a pin over Jones with six seconds left on the clock. Hillsboro went on to win the dual 42-22 over the Bulldogs.

Hillsboro Gets Win On Senior Night

It was senior night for the Hillsboro High School wrestling team on Wednesday, Jan. 19, as the Toppers welcomed Highland to town. Hillsboro would score a 42-22 win over the visiting Bulldogs, with … more

1/20/22

Hillsboro's Will Christian (#3) defends Gateway Legacy point guard Isaac Salas during the Toppers' opening game of the Rick McGraw Memorial Invitational on Monday, Jan. 17, in Litchfield. Christian had 11 points against the Lions, who would put together a strong second half to win 68-52.

Hiltoppers Fall To Lions At Litchfield

For the first quarter of play, Hillsboro’s boys were better on the scoreboard than their opponents from Gateway Legacy, a nonboundary (to an extreme) prep school based in St. Louis. The Toppers … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 1/20/22

Hiltoppers Take Two In Cavalier Country

The Hillsboro High School wrestling team picked up a pair of wins in Carlinville on Friday, Jan. 14, beating the Cavaliers 33-30 and Pittsfield 42-18. The Toppers would win five of the seven … more

1/20/22

Playing under circumstances unimaginable for most, Hillsboro High School junior Blaze Helton squares up for a free throw in the first half of the Toppers' opening game at the Rick McGraw Memorial Invitational on Monday, Jan. 17. Helton's father Troy, an IHSA official and fervent supporter of his children's athletic pursuits, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 16. A moment of silence was held in Helton's honor prior to Hillsboro's game against Gateway Legacy, which Hillsboro lost 68-52 (a full recap of the game will be in the Jan. 20 Journal-News). Words of support and condolence have poured in from all over the area, with Pana announcing on Monday that the admission from their girls basketball game on Jan. 18, against Lincoln, will go to the Helton family.

Upset In The Opener At Litchfield

With predicted winter weather less significant than feared, the 2022 Rick McGraw Memorial Invitational tipped off with a battle of Metro-East schools on Saturday, Jan. 15. Third seeded Triad and … more

1/18/22

Pana's Kiley Ladage (#40) and Rachel Holthaus (#13) put the squeeze on Hillsboro's Layne Rupert during the showdown for South Central Conference supremacy on Thursday, Jan. 13. Rupert would have 15 points despite the unrelenting defensive pressure of the Panthers, but Pana would improve to 21-1 overall with a 69-26 win over the Hiltoppers.

Panthers Pounce On Hiltoppers

Even though both teams had conference games later on this season, the match-up between Pana and Hillsboro on Thursday, Jan. 13, held heavy stakes in the race for the girls basketball South Central … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 1/18/22

Topper 'D' Vexes Vipers

Hillsboro’s boys basketball team ventured into a Viper pit Friday evening, Dec. 14, and emerged with a 53-40 victory built upon a solid defense, which forced 24 turnovers from the … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 1/18/22

Toppers Survive Late Rally By North Mac

Coaches sometimes experience the thrill of building a big lead and then the agony of watching that lead melt away in the space of 16 minutes of playing time in the same game. Hillsboro’s Kyle … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 1/13/22

Rams Knock Off Toppers In Shelbyville

The Hillsboro wrestling team traveled to Shelbyville on Tuesday, Jan. 11, to face off against the host Rams. The Toppers would win four of the seven contested matches, but gave up forfeits in three … more

1/13/22

Gillespie's Mia Brawner blocks Ally Schnarre's path to the basket during the second half of Hillsboro's home game against the Miners on Tuesday, Jan. 4. The Toppers outscored Gillespie 31-10 in the first half en route to a 55-27 victory. Journal-News/Kyle Herschelman

Hiltoppers Roll Past Gillespie For SCC Win

The Hillsboro girls basketball team scored early and often in a rare Tuesday conference game as they defeated Gillespie 55-27 on Jan. 4, in Hillsboro. Guard Layne Rupert stayed hot for Hillsboro … more

1/6/22

Home Sweet For Explorers In Victory Over Hillsboro

The Alton Marquette high school gym is a unique place in which to watch a high school basketball game. When one steps in the doors, he is very close to the playing floor. The ceiling is infamous for … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 1/6/22

Surrounded by Purple Panthers, Carson Saathoff to the left, Keenan Powell to the right and Victor McGill behind, Hillsboro's Gavin Matoush goes up for a shot during the championship game of the Carlinville Holiday Tournament on Thursday, Dec. 30. Matoush finished with 19 points and six rebounds in Hillsboro's 79-65 win over Litchfield. He, Powell and McGill all made this year's all-tournament team, along with Matoush's teammates Drake Vogel and Will Christian.

Hiltoppers Take Title Over Panthers At Carlinville

A full house in the Big House (the main gym in Carlinville High School) had to be satisfied with the thirty-two minutes of shoot-and-score basketball action as they watched Hillsboro defeat … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 1/3/22

Hillsboro's Sierra Compton (#4) and Alex Frailey (#34) both go up for a rebound during the Toppers' game against Auburn on Thursday, Dec. 30. Frailey would have 14 points and eight rebounds in Hillsboro's 42-30 win over the Trojans, which gave them fifth place in the 16-team Riverton Christmas Classic.

Lady Hiltoppers Fifth At Riverton

The good news for Auburn in the fifth place game at the Riverton Christmas Classic was that they held Hillsboro to 20 fewer points than the Toppers scored in their 62-49 win over the Trojans on Dec. … more

1/3/22

Hillsboro's Magnus Wells drives forward into Olympia's Nolan Yeary during their match at Abe's Rumble on Thursday, Dec. 30. Wells went on to pin Yeary at the 1:47 mark of the match, one of eight wins for the Topper senior at the Springfield tournament.

Toppers Finish Out Abe's Rumble With Win

After a rough start to the 58-team Abe’s Rumble dual team tournament in Springfield on Wednesday, Dec. 29, the Hillsboro High School wrestling team rebounded and ended their time in Springfield … more

1/3/22

Toppers Slip Past Oilers To Earn Shot At Carlinville Title

Based on the evidence prior to the last Red Pool game at the Carlinville Holiday Tournament, the outcome for Hillsboro appeared iffy. Both teams were 2-0 entering the game on December 29, … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 1/3/22

2021-22 Holiday Basketball Tournaments

Wondering where your favorite high school team is hooping it up this holiday season? Don't worry. We have you covered below. Riverton Christmas Girls Tournament Pool A: Auburn, Mt. … more

1/2/22

It's Hillsboro Versus Litchfield For The Title

It's been five years since the Hillsboro boys basketball team last won the championship of the Carlinville Holiday Tournament. For Litchfield, it's been a little bit longer, with the Purple Panthers' … more

12/30/21

Hillsboro's Blaze Helton (#34) tries to go up and under for two during the Toppers' 89-38 victory over Gillespie in their opening game of the Carlinville Holiday Tournament on Monday, Dec. 27.

Top Seeded Toppers Take Down Gillespie

If the mission in front of the Hillsboro Hiltoppers was to defend their number one seed in the Carlinville Holiday Tournament when they opened play on Monday, Dec. 27, their 89-38 victory over … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 12/30/21

Hillsboro's Addison Lowe eyes her free throw attempt during the Lady Hiltoppers' game against PORTA on Tuesday, Dec. 28, at the Riverton Christmas Classic. Lowe would score seven points in the Toppers' 64-56 defeat, their only loss in three games in pool play. The 2-1 record put Hillsboro in the fifth place pool, where they defeated Riverton on Wednesday and will play Auburn on Thursday, Dec. 30.

Hillsboro Girls To Play For 5th

Two blowouts and a close loss to a good PORTA squad put the Hillsboro girls basketball team in the fifth place bracket at the Riverton Christmas Classic, held Dec. 27-30 on the Lady Hawks’ home … more

12/30/21