The Journal-News

First Win Earns Litchfield Spot In Third Place Game

It was a game of firsts for the Litchfield Lady Panthers and it was also a memorable night as Coach Rob Corso’s varsity squad showed marked improvement and recorded their first win of the … more

11/23/22

Pretzels Pull Away From Lancers In Opener

The Lincolnwood/Morrisonville boys basketball team opened up the season in New Berlin on Monday, Nov. 21, at the Gene Bergschneider Pretzel Classic. The tournament features some highly regarded … more

11/23/22

It was a night to celebrate Litchfield High School boys basketball on Saturday, Nov. 19, as the Panthers’ annual Purple and White Scrimmage kicked off the start of basketball season. New to the event this year, which was supported by McGraw Family Companies (McDonald’s, Hampton Inn and Nancy’s Pizzeria in Litchfield) and Pizza Man of Litchfield, was the LHS Alumni Game. With 14 cheerleaders and 24 alums, the event was a big success and plans are already underway to bring it back next year. Cheerleaders, in front, from the left, are Britney Murphy, Shamera Robinson, Kayla Blom and Jamaica Sellers. In the second row are Alexis Zeller, Lexi Vega, Kailea Dobrinich, Abby Kuehn, Alisha Heyerdahl, Alyssa Clements, Caitlin Magnuson and Brooke Gorowski. In the third row are Brittany Winans and Trisha Fenton. Players from the left are John Corso, Billy Beckham, Mike McGraw, Logan Treece, Kyle Saxby, Eric Barccum, Jackson Wilson, Nathan Divley, Kyle Bishop, Connor Simmons, Dylan Trecce, Rocky Giannuzzi, Alex Hull, Dale Vollentine, Rick Weatherford, Kevin Young, Greg Hires, John Odle, Tim Reynolds, James Odle, Anthony Robinson, Chase Lauderdale, Corbin Govaia and Jay Verstreater. This year's crop of Purple Panthers started their season on a high note on Tuesday, Nov. 22, with a 64-52 victory over Decatur St. Teresa at the Riverton Thanksgiving Tournament.

Litchfield Wins Opening Game

Litchfield tipped off the tournament on Tuesday night, Nov. 22, against the St. Teresa Bulldogs from Decatur. more

11/23/22

Win Gives Nokomis Spot In Litchfield Title Game

Another stellar defensive effort got the Lady Redskins off to a quick start on Monday, Nov. 21, at the Litchfield Thanksgiving Tournament. After giving up just two first quarter points against … more

11/23/22

The Nokomis High School volleyball team led the charge in remembering the late Ayden O’Malley in October as the Redskins raised $1,100 for AVM research. In front, from the left, are Hailey Engelman, Natalie Engelman, Den and Roz O’Malley, Audrey Sabol, Emily Cress and Addison Dangbar. In the second row are Libby Watson, Ella Huelson, Kennadie Johannsen, Grace King and Coach Megan Mehochko. In the third row are Camryn Engelman, Maddison DeWerff and Rilee Waterman. In the fourth row are Remi Tester, Becca Hill, Natalie Brownback and Presley Mehochko. In the fifth row are Kinley Stolte, Addison Glenn, Irene Vandenbergh and Reaghan Jonas. Not present for the photo was Lizzie Hill.

After AVM Awareness Month, Ayden’s Army Ready For First Noelle Fun Run/Walk Dec. 3

October was AVM (arteriovenous malformation) Awareness Month and the Nokomis Redskin volleyball team led the charge against the medical condition at Nokomis High School. Through a number of … more

11/23/22

THE COLLEGE REPORT • Eickhoff On Track In Cougar Country

To Alex Eickhoff, having fun at the sport you love plus outstanding teammates/coaches equals vast improvement. The former Hillsboro graduate, who traded his maroon and gold of the University … more

by Daniel Chamness | 11/23/22

Toppers Fall In Opener, Start Classic Saturday

The Hillsboro/Rochester basketball game played in Hillsboro last evening, Nov. 23, ended close to press time, with Rochester winning 60-45 over the Toppers. A recap of that game will appear in the … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 11/23/22

Six From County Land On All-MSM List

Montgomery County athletes took up six of the 19 spots on the MSM Conference all-conference volleyball team this year as Lincolnwood had four honorees and Nokomis had two. The Lancers tied for the … more

11/23/22

Nokomis senior Audrey Sabol smiles over at a jubilant Redskin bench after hitting a third quarter free throw for the 1,000th point of her high school career during the Redskins' 55-41 win over Vandalia on Nov. 18, at the Litchfield Thanksgiving Tournament.

Sabol Hits Milestone In Skins' Win

The Nokomis High School girls basketball team opened up play at the Litchfield Thanksgiving Tournament on Friday, Nov. 18, and scored a milestone and a 55-41 win over Vandalia to move to 3-0 on the … more

11/21/22

Rochester's Emma Dixon challenges the layup attempt from Hillsboro's Meagan White during the morning session of the Taylorville Thanksgiving Tournament on Saturday, Nov. 19. Dixon had 15 points in Rochester's 58-41 win over Hillsboro, who bounced back to beat Jacksonville in their second game of the day.

Lady Toppers Pick Up First Win

After a 0-4 start to the season, against a quartet of teams already a combined 10-1 on the season, the Hillsboro High School girls basketball team were able to shake off some of their early season … more

11/21/22

Litchfield's Hailey Rentz skirts Carlyle defender Raelyn Harris to find an open teammate during the Panthers' opening game of the Litchfield Thanksgiving Tournament. Carlyle's tenacious defense held Litchfield to just 15 points as the defending champions won 56-15 over the home team.

Carlyle Too Much For Panthers

A persistent and agitating ball press was the catalyst to a 56-15 Carlyle win over the Litchfield Lady Panthers in opening round play of Litchfield’s six-team tournament. Nokomis beat the … more

11/21/22

Redskins Snap Skid Against Toppers

Almost eight years after their last win over Hillsboro, the Nokomis High School girls basketball team ended a nine game losing streak against the Toppers on Wednesday, Nov. 17, with a 50-48 victory … more

11/21/22

Brownstown Spoils Panther Home Opener

It was the home season opener for the Litchfield Lady Panthers on Nov. 17 but Brownstown had little sentimentality for their hosts as the Lady Bombers defeated the purple and white 47-33. After … more

11/21/22

Toppers Tip Off Tuesday

One sure sign of the end of the fall and the beginning of the winter is colder weather; another is the return of the high school basketball season. The fans of Hillsboro boys’ basketball will … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 11/21/22

Big Goals On The Horizon For Litchfield

“We were an eight seed,” has been echoed throughout Simmons Gym since Nov. 7. An echo by outsiders but a motto or motivational tool from the insiders. The insiders, the 29 Litchfield … more

11/21/22

Members of the Litchfield Middle School seventh grade girls basketball team, in front, from the left, are Emma Estell, Kinley Hemken, Charlotte Reyes, Kayleigh Morgan and Sammie Rieke. In the back are Jada Carroll, AJ Jarman, Lynzie Reid, Mckenna Harmon, Allison Belusko, Jennah Longwell, Emma Weidner and Adia Melchert.

Litchfield Seventh Grade Earns Top Seed, Will Face Hillsboro Tuesday In Divernon

With a record of 19 wins and just two losses (to Staunton 19-14 and Nokomis 21-18), the Litchfield Middle School seventh grade girls basketball team earned the top seed at the Auburn Junior High … more

11/21/22

In front of the Lincolnwood faithful at the Lancer basketball preview night on Friday, Nov. 11, Mike Meisner and Alan Poggenpohl, both of Raymond, were told they will be part of the newest class of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Pictured above are Matt Millburg, Steve Dilley, Denny Held, Wayne Angle, Mike Meisner, Alan Poggenpohl, Verne Pinkston and Blake Lucas. Held, Angle and Pinkston are also enshrined in the IBCA Hall of Fame.

Poggenpohl, Meisner Named To Hall Of Fame

Be it as players, coaches or officials, Alan Poggenpohl and Mike Meisner have been associated with the game of basketball for nearly their entire lives. Now, the two Raymond residents are being … more

11/17/22

Litchfield's Emma Walch tries to track down Hailey Engelman of Nokomis during the county rival game on Tuesday, Nov. 15. Engelman led Nokomis with 17 points in the Redskins' 51-19 win over the Purple Panthers.

Redskins Club Purple Panthers In Debut

It was a rough season opener for the Litchfield Lady Panthers as they traveled to Nokomis Tuesday evening, Nov. 15, and absorbed a 51-19 loss. While neither team established much of a threat on … more

11/17/22

Central Shoots Past Hillsboro In Opener

If fans of the Hillsboro girls basketball program were expecting an easy opponent to open their season, they soon found out that wouldn’t be the case when the Lady Hiltoppers tipped things off … more

11/17/22

Lincolnwood’s Haelee Damm pops a three over Bunker Hill’s Taytem Brooks (#1) and Julianna Scroggins (#13) during the Lancers 41-21 win over the Minutemaids on Monday, Nov. 14. The Lancers have 11 threes in their first two games, with six against Bunker Hill and five in a 45-35 loss to Illini Central on Nov. 15.

Lady Lancers Open Season With A Win

From 0-21 to 1-12 to 4-22, the progression of the Lincolnwood High School girls basketball program has been a deliberate one, but if the Lady Lancers’ first two games are any indication, … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 11/17/22