The Journal-News

Hillsboro's Griffin Hughes locks up Jerseyville's Cole Martinez during their 120-pound match on Tuesday, May 25, in Hillsboro. The back-and-forth match would go down to the final seconds, with Hughes shooting in for a takedown as time expired to secure a 10-8 victory.

It was senior night for the Hillsboro High School wrestling team on Tuesday, May 25, and one of the two honorees celebrated with a pair of wins as the Toppers took on Jerseyville and … more

5/27/21

Hillsboro Baseball Win Streak Continues

Cooper Law, also known as “Coop,” a HHS freshman whose primary responsibility for the 2021 varsity baseball team is to keep the pitch count for the Toppers as games progress, predicted a … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 5/27/21

After Hillsboro's Sophia Blankenship (right) was able to avoid the tag at second, Litchfield infielder Libby Lamb throws over to first to try her luck there during the match-up between the Panthers and Toppers on Monday, May 24. The game would be close through three innings, before Hillsboro scored seven in the fourth and fifth to come away with a 10-0 victory on their home field.

Seven Run Surge Lifts Hillsboro Over Litchfield

A three-run homer in the fourth inning by senior Haley Major gave Hillsboro some breathing room as the Hiltoppers defeated Litchfield 10-0 in five innings on Monday, May 24. The Toppers were up … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 5/27/21

Hillsboro's Ian Malloy dives into third base as Drew Hartzell reaches up to snag the attempt to prevent the Topper junior from picking up the extra base in the rivalry match-up on May 24. Malloy's acrobatics would come during a nine-run fourth inning by the Toppers, which turned a 3-1 advantage into a 12-1 contest that ended a half inning later by the mercy rule.

Toppers Make It 7 Straight With Win Over Panthers

Most likely neither team is happy with its offensive production in the latest Hillsboro/Litchfield baseball match-up at the Hillsboro Sports Complex on Monday, May 24, but the Toppers have to be … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 5/27/21

Litchfield's Alex Powell ties up Connor Park of Riverton during the Panthers' match with the Hawks on May 19. Powell would go on to get the win over Park by fall with six seconds left in the second period as the Panthers beat Riverton 46-12.

Panthers Get Senior Night Win Over Hawks, Toppers

It was senior night for the Litchfield wrestling team on Wednesday, May 19 as the Panthers welcomed Hillsboro and Riverton to Simmons Gymnasium. Seniors Will Carlile, Carter Powell, Aaron Roach … more

5/27/21

Litchfield Boys Win 13 Times At Home Meet

The Litchfield boys track team took first in 13 of the 16 events they entered on Wednesday, May 19, as the Panthers picked up 78 points to win a home meet against Greenville and Hillsboro. The … more

5/27/21

Panthers, Toppers Go 1-2 At Girls Track Meet

After Mother Nature washed out Litchfield’s attempts to host their meet on Tuesday, May 18, the Panthers were finally able to get on the track on Wednesday, May 19, as they welcomed Hillsboro … more

5/27/21

The intensity was evident from the start, as shown by the faces of Hillsboro's Kinley Richardson and Litchfield's Jordan Ramey when the two rivals squared off in Hillsboro on May 17. Hillsboro would control the ball for much of the contest, but Litchfield would control the scoreboard as they picked up a 3-2 win over the Toppers to hand Hillsboro their first conference loss of the season.

Lady Panthers Score Bragging Rights

With the postseason set to start on June 1, the Litchfield Lady Panthers are playing some of their best soccer of the season. This past week, the LHS girls improved to 7-2 after scoring a trio of … more

5/24/21

With purple ribbons and "eye black" the Hillsboro girls soccer team was one of the area squads to show their support for the late Grace Herschelman during their game on Saturday, May 22. The Toppers not only honored the Hillsboro 9-year-old who passed away on May 19 after battling infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy, but also picked up a win, with Layne Rupert scoring the go-ahead goal as time expired.

Toppers Score Last-Second Win In Game For Grace

The Hillsboro girls soccer would rebound from a loss to Litchfield on Monday with an 8-1 victory over Riverton on Friday, May 21, then won again on May 22, with a hard fought victory over Taylorville … more

5/24/21

Skins Score Six To Beat Toppers

A six-run seventh inning helped Nokomis erase a one-run deficit and come away with a 14-9 win over Hillsboro. The game was a slugfest almost from the start, with the two teams scoring in every … more

5/24/21

Hillsboro Takes Two From Nokomis In Diamond Double Dip

Those who attended the Nokomis at Hillsboro baseball doubleheader Saturday afternoon, May 22, could have been exposed to several types of entertainment. A girls’ soccer match began at 11 a.m.; … more

5/24/21

No Bass, No Big Deal For Toppers

“They caught a lot of fish, just not the right species,” Hillsboro Bass Fishing Coach Dennis Loskot said about the Toppers weekend at the IHSA State Tournament at Carlyle Lake on May … more

5/24/21

Hiltoppers Snap Slide With Win Over Hawks

Coming off a tough loss on Thursday to the Roxana Shells, the Hillsboro Toppers girls soccer team needed a big bounce back win on Friday May 21, in an away, non-conference game against the Riverton … more

by Seth Watson | 5/24/21

Four Score And Toppers Win War With Greenville

Topper baseball fans who traveled to Greenville Thursday afternoon, May 20, may still be pinching themselves to be sure they didn’t just dream about Hillsboro scoring four runs in the top of … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 5/24/21

Toppers Run Unbeaten Streak To Nine

The Hillsboro girls soccer team edged closer to double digit wins this week with a pair of victories over Gillespie and Greenville, in addition to a tie with North Mac sandwiched in between as they … more

5/17/21

Late Runs Push Toppers Past Trojans

Two teams with similar records and similar pitching woes met when Auburn came to Hillsboro for a nonconference game Friday afternoon, May 14; the Trojans reportedly had one experienced arm … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 5/17/21

Lincolnwood Tops Hillsboro In Pitcher's Duel

Paige Rainwater twirled a seven-inning, 14-strikeout gem on Saturday, May 15, to give the Lincolnwood softball team a 4-1 victory over Hillsboro in Raymond. Rainwater gave up just four hits, none … more

5/17/21

Homers Help Sink Lady Hiltoppers At Staunton

The Hillsboro softball team would face some homer happy competition on May 13 and 14 as Staunton and Rochester combined for four bombs in their wins over the Toppers. Playing in Staunton, the … more

5/17/21

With the help of defenders Vanessa Compton (left) and Melissa Rufus (#12), Hillsboro goalie Avery Walden was able to collect a shutout in the Toppers' 2-0 victory over Athens on Monday, May 10. That victory, and one the next night against Springfield Lutheran, improved Hillsboro's record to 6-1 on the season.

New 'D' Leads Toppers To Two Wins

A new defensive scheme seems to be paying off for the Hillsboro girls soccer team as the Lady Hiltoppers allowed just one goal in two wins to start the week. Both victories came on the road as the … more

5/13/21

Hillsboro's Owen Anderson prepares to take a cut at a Lane Funnemann offering in the seventh inning of the Toppers' home game against Pana on Monday, May 10. Hillsboro would put up a fight against the Panthers, but a late three-run surge helped Pana come away with a 6-2 win.

Late Runs Push Pana Past HHS

Statistical improvements for Hillsboro High’s baseball team were apparent Monday evening, May 10, as the Toppers hosted the Pana Panthers in a South Central Conference baseball game -- until … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 5/13/21