The Journal-News

Hughes, Papin Take Top Five In Comet Country

Hillsboro’s Hanna Hughes and Kaci Papin both finished in the top five in their respective events at the 17-team Greenville Invitational on Saturday, April 2, leading the way for the young Lady … more

4/4/22

Greenville's Michael Wilson (left) and Hillsboro's Brodie Clinard take off from the starting line in the 3200 meter race at the Greenville Invitational on Saturday, April 2.

Wells Takes Discus Title At Greenville Invitational

The Hillsboro boys track team scored a ninth place finish in the 17-team field at the Greenville Invitational on Saturday, April 2, picking up five top six finishes, including one invite … more

4/4/22

Sophomore Hannah Hughes finished third in the 100 meter hurdles on Tuesday, March 29, as Hillsboro hosted Carlinville, North Mac and Gillespie at Sawyer Field. Hughes' finish was one of eight top three finishes for the Hillsboro girls team, coached by Son Clayton.

Topper Track Takes It Outside

The Hillsboro boys and girls track teams were in the friendly confines of Sawyer Field on Tuesday, March 29, as they hosted North Mac, Carlinville and Gillespie in the first outdoor meet of the … more

3/31/22

Riggs Homers In Toppers Win Over Staunton

What began as a not-bad-for-baseball day in Staunton turned out to be so cold that even the geese were flying south during the fifth inning Monday evening, March 28, when Hillsboro ventured onto the … more

3/31/22

Panthers, Hiltoppers Win Tourney Openers

The opening round of this year’s Panther Classic Girls Soccer Tournament snuck in under the radar as wet weather held off to let Litchfield host the first two games on Monday, March 28. The … more

3/31/22

Tornadoes Slip Past Hillsboro In Seventh

A two out single by Taylorville’s Reece Brockelsby kept Hillsboro from a chance at their first win of the season on Tuesday, March 29, as the Tornadoes edged the Toppers 8-7 in Christian … more

3/31/22

Hillsboro High School senior Drake Vogel hit six threes and a game-high 30 points to take MVP honors in the boys' game at the 18th Annual Carlinville Rotary Club All-Star Basketball Classic. Vogel and the East All-Stars scored a record 140 points in their 140-90 win over the West All-Stars.

Vogel Nets 30, MVP Honors At Carlinville

There was plenty of scoring in Carlinville on Sunday, March 27, at the 18th Annual Carlinville Rotary Club All-Star Basketball Classic, with one Montgomery County player standing out on the … more

3/31/22

Litchfield senior Cameron Crow competed in two events at the Illinois Top Times Indoor Championship on March 25-26, placing second in the 400 meters and fourth in the high jump.

County Competes At Top Times

Some of the best in the state were in Bloomington on March 25-26, for the Illinois Top Times High School Track and Field Indoor Championship, including six from Montgomery County. Litchfield … more

3/28/22

Toppers Fall To Midgets, Hornets

Hillsboro’s baseball team found less than a warm welcome on the field when they ventured south on Rt. 127 to Nashville March 26 to play a game each against two powerhouse squads, last … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 3/28/22

Unearned Runs Haunt Hiltoppers

Somehow through the wet weather, the Hillsboro High School softball team was able to squeeze in a game against Greenville on Friday, March 25, on the Comets’ home field. The Comets used 10 … more

3/28/22

Hillsboro senior Abbi Schreiber sends a cross to the far post just before Metro-East Lutheran's Rhiannon Lazella can get a foot on the ball during the Toppers' home game on Monday, March 21. Schreiber had two goals for the Toppers and helped maintain Hillsboro's lead in the second half as the hosts beat the Knights' 7-1 to improve to 2-0 on the season.

Hiltoppers Knock Out Knights At Home

Hillsboro wasn’t the first to score in their game against Metro-East Lutheran at the Hillsboro Sports Complex on Monday, March 21, but the Lady Toppers definitely visited the back of the net … more

3/24/22

Errors Costly To Toppers In No-Hitter

North Mac pitcher Kayla Gillespie allowed five base runners, but held Hillsboro hitless as the Lady Hiltoppers fell to the Panthers 11-1 in five innings on Monday, March 21. Gillespie walked three … more

3/24/22

Joined by his family and high school coaches, Hillsboro senior Dillon Smail made his decision to play baseball for St. Charles Community College official on Wednesday, March 16, at the Hillsboro High School gym. Seated with Smail are his parents, Donovan and Carrie, along with his sister, Chloe. In the back, from the left, are Hillsboro Baseball Head Coach Kyle McBrain and Assistant Coach Mike Rappe.

Hard Work Lands Smail At St. Charles

In last year’s regional championship game in Pana, Hillsboro’s final baseball game of the 2021 campaign, you could see the type of player Dillon Smail is by his face... and his hair... … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 3/24/22

Hillsboro's Kinley Richardson (#32) celebrates after scoring the Lady Hiltoppers' third goal in their season opener on Friday, March 18, at North Mac. Layne Rupert (far left) assisted on Richardson's goal and scored two of her own as Hillsboro beat the Panthers 3-1 to start the 2022 campaign.

Toppers Victorious In Season Opener

With five all-conference honorees and 11 wins in 18 games, it’s hard to classify last year’s Hillsboro High School girls soccer season as anything less than a success, especially with the … more

3/21/22

Roster Set For All-Star Carlinville Game

The top 58 boys and girls’ basketball seniors from South Central Illinois will be playing in the 18th Annual Carlinville Rotary Club All-Star Basketball Classic, presented by Prairie Farms … more

3/21/22

Mills Ketching On Quick In Hillsboro

Last Friday’s baseball game scheduled against the St.Elmo/Brownstown co-op team was rained out; this afternoon’s (Monday, March 21) contest at Bunker Hill is junior varsity only. The … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 3/21/22

Nokomis' Elijah Aumann (left) and Hillsboro's Drake Vogel (right) both earned special mention recognition for this year's Illinois Basketball Coaches Association all-state teams.

Aumann, Vogel Earn All-State Nods

Two Montgomery County basketball players were among those honored by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) recently as members of the group's 2021-22 all-state teams. Nokomis junior … more

3/21/22

Hillsboro native Paige Cullison, daughter of Steve and Becky Cullison, will be inducted into the Illinois College Athletics Hall of Fame Friday, April 8, in Jacksonville. A four-year letter winner in softball, Cullison still holds several records at IC, including total bases, stolen bases and runs scored in a career.

Cullison Headed To IC Athletics Hall Of Fame

The Illinois College Athletics Department has announced its class of 2022 Hall of Fame inductees. Nine individuals, including Hillsboro native Paige Cullison, will be honored at the Sports Hall of … more

3/17/22

Lincolnwood senior Shelby Hattenbach slides home safely in front of Hillsboro catcher Sophia Blankenship during the Montgomery County clash on Monday, March 14. Hattenbach’s run was the first of three for the Lancers, who defeated the Toppers 3-1 at the Hillsboro Sports Complex.

Lady Hiltoppers Dodge Wet Fields, But Can't Solve Lancers' Rainwater

While there may have been a little rust showing for the Hillsboro and Lincolnwood softball teams as they opened up the 2022 season on Monday, March 14, there wasn’t a lot of downside on the … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 3/17/22

Papin, Wells Eye Return To State As Season Starts

After finishing second in the high jump IHSA Class 2A State Track Meet last fall, Hillsboro senior Kaci Papin picked up right where she left off when the Toppers traveled to Principia College in … more

3/17/22