The Journal-News

Jude Bertolino (#34) snags a Zane Duff pass in the first quarter of Hillsboro's senior night game against Pana on Friday, April 16. Bertolino had two catches for 36 yards against the Panthers, who won 42-0.

Panthers Bring The Pain From Pana Friday

Pana brought a track team disguised by football pads and helmets Friday evening, April 16, when they came to Hillsboro’s Sawyer Field; they brought only three seniors, but the Panther … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 4/19/21

Toppers Take On Big Guns In Final Week

If nothing else, the Hillsboro High School volleyball team definitely didn’t take the easy way out in regards to their final few games of the 2021 season. Not only did the Toppers take on a … more

4/19/21

Soccer Toppers Win Season Finale

It isn’t often that a team knows exactly when their season will come to a close, but with this year’s boys soccer season, like most other IHSA sports, having no postseason, the Hillsboro … more

4/19/21

Soccer Toppers Clinch Share Of SCC

A day after dropping a 3-1 decision to a talented Beardstown group, a game the Toppers led 1-0 at the half, the Hillsboro High School boys soccer team traveled to Pana on Tuesday afternoon, April 13, … more

4/15/21

Hillsboro senior Emma Miller tries to slip a spike past the block of Pana during the Toppers’ final South Central Conference game of the season on Monday, April 12.

Pana Powers Past Lady Hiltoppers

A win against Pana has eluded the Hillsboro volleyball program for several years, but the Toppers were hopeful that 2021 would be the season that would come to an end. The scores for the two teams … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 4/15/21

Hillsboro's Ethan Lentz (#5) and Will Christian celebrate Lentz's goal against Carlinville, with Kennon Beecher (#11) coming to join the celebration. Lentz's goal would be the second of three Hillsboro would collect as the Toppers handed the Cavies a 3-0 loss, their first conference loss of the season.

Hiltoppers Rebound With Statement Win

Sometimes a tough loss can teach a team more about itself than any big win, and that was absolutely the case as the Hillsboro boys soccer team lost a heartbreaker in overtime last Tuesday at … more

4/12/21

Blaze Helton (#44), Hillsboro's leading rusher for the season, had blockers around him (#34 Jude Bertolino, #66 Carsen Maddaleno and #55 Brady Huber) as he carried the ball early in the fourth quarter at Mater Dei Saturday afternoon, April 10. The Knights would use 20 first quarter points to defeat the Toppers 34-0.

Toppers Fall To Knights

It wasn’t a good day in terms of the game’s result, but the trip to Breese in Clinton County could have been worse in several ways for Hillsboro’s football team and … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 4/12/21

Toppers Triumph In Three

After gutting out a three-game win over Litchfield on April 8, the Hillsboro volleyball team found themselves in similar territory two days later on their home court. Taking on Beardstown, the … more

4/12/21

Hillsboro senior Jordan Jacobs sets up classmate Haley Major for a kill during the Toppers' two-game win over Carlinville on senior night, Monday, April 5.

Lady Toppers Score Win On Senior Night

Monday night was senior night for the Hillsboro High School volleyball team and the Toppers gave the seven soon-to-be graduates a big reason to celebrate as they scored a two-game win over … more

4/8/21

Soccer Toppers Stumble At Gillespie

After enjoying a five game winning streak where the Toppers outscored their opponents a collective 18-1, the Hillsboro High School boys soccer team traveled to Gillespie Tuesday afternoon, April 6, … more

4/8/21

Topper quarterback Zane Duff (#7) found himself in a precarious situation Friday, April 2, as he looked for an escape route with a Carlinville linebacker pulling at his waist while three others closed in on him. Even so, Duff passed for 162 yards, including a 72-yard touchdown in the Toppers 23-14 loss to the Cavaliers.

Cavies Work Way Past Toppers

Those living along Hiltop Drive in Hillsboro might have feared an earthquake late Friday afternoon, April 2, but the shaking ground came not from pre-quake tremors but from the arrival of the … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 4/5/21

Nine-year-old Grace Herschelman wasn't able to make it to the Lincolnwood/Hillsboro INAD awareness game in her honor this year, but was their in spirit and in cardboard form. In front, from the left, are Justine Sellback, Sydney Glick, Jasmine Vickery, Lexie Millburg, Ally Devore, Reagan DeVaisher, Kylee Pastrovich and Olivia Hefley. In the middle row are Jayden Kuchar, Emme Weller, Jordan Jacobs and Maggie McClelland. In the back row are Desi Pitchfork, Haelee Damm, Avery Pope, Cassie Krager, Haley Major, Katelyn Payne, Alayna McCario Kaci Papin, Emma Miller and Layne Rupert.

Orange And Black Go Purple For Grace

Nothing has been normal about the 2020-2021 volleyball season this year, but on Saturday, April 3, the Lincolnwood and Hillsboro volleyball teams made sure that one of their traditions didn’t … more

4/5/21

It was senior night for the Hillsboro High School soccer team on Thursday, April 1, as the Toppers celebrated with a 1-0 win over Staunton. Seniors, with their parents, from the left are Nicole Woods, Colin Woods-Butler, Laura Butler, Fred Butler, Kellea Passariello, Frankie Passariello, Vito Passariello, Melody Riggs, Shaw Riggs and David Riggs.

Hiltoppers Grab Senior Night Win

After a trip to Roxana on Tuesday where the orange and black came away with a big 7-0 victory, and a short ride to Raymond on Wednesday netted them a narrow 2-1 win, the Hillsboro High School boys … more

4/5/21

Hillsboro’s Kaci Papin was a force at the net for the Toppers, putting down blocks (like the one above) and contributing kills to the Hillsboro attack, including the final two points of the Toppers two-game win over the Piasa Birds of Southwestern on Monday, March 29.

Lady Hiltoppers Clip Piasa Birds

With a 3-2 record and three straight wins to their credit, the Southwestern Piasa Birds looked to be a good test for the Hillsboro High School volleyball team going into their game on Monday, March … more

4/1/21

Hiltoppers Leave Shells Shocked

After a game on Saturday at Springfield Lutheran that saw the Toppers explode for seven goals en route to a decisive 7-0 victory over the host Crusaders, the Hillsboro High School boys soccer team … more

4/1/21

Hillsboro's Jace Tuetken (#12) worked his way into the end zone with passes from Zane Duff, then caught a two-point conversion pass as well, as Hillsboro bolted out to 14-0 lead over the Greenville Comets Friday, March 26. The Comets would regroup after that though, taking a 44-20 win in Hillsboro.

Comets Survive Toppers' Hot Start

For the first eight minutes of the Greenville/Hillsboro game at Sawyer Field on Friday evening, March 26, the comparatively young Toppers seemed superior to the more physical Comets, but then reality … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 3/29/21

Hillsboro's Matt Page elevates to get a head on the ball during the Hiltoppers' 1-0 win over Greenville on Wednesday, March 24. Page would score one of Hillsboro's seven goals on Saturday, March 27, as the Toppers improved to 5-2-1 with a 7-0 victory over Springfield Lutheran.

Soccer Toppers Topple Crusaders

After a crazy week started with a cancellation on Tuesday, a 1-0 victory at Greenville on Wednesday, and a postponement on Thursday, the Hillsboro High School boys soccer team came out more than … more

3/29/21

Hillsboro Volleyball Picks Up Third Win

After taking two losses in their first three games against South Central Conference competition, the Hillsboro High School volleyball team has won two straight to climb above .500 for the first time … more

3/29/21

Hillsboro Picks Up Second Win

The Hillsboro volleyball team squared off against Greenville on Tuesday, March 23, for their fourth straight date against a South Central Conference foe in as many games. Playing on the … more

3/25/21

County Players Earn SCC All-Conference

With the 2021 basketball season in the record books, coaches across Illinois have gathered either in person or virtually to bestow honors among the best of the best with this year’s … more

3/25/21