The Journal-News

For the second year in a row, and the first time as an individual, Camden Quarton is going to the IHSA Class 1A Cross Country State Finals. Quarton, pictured with Litchfield cross country Coach Jeremy Palmer, finished eighth overall in a talented field at the St. Joseph-Ogden Sectional in Champaign on Saturday, Oct. 29.

Last year Camden Quarton became the first Litchfield boys cross country runner to medal at state. Next Saturday, he’ll have the chance to become the second as well. Quarton and the … more

10/31/22

While senior Avery Pope (#2) celebrates on the court, Kierstyn Denney, Taryn Millburg (#22), Jazmin Seaton-Hobson (#12) and Coach Kimberly Denney celebrate from the bench after Lincolnwood scored the final point in their two-set win over Greenfield-Northwestern at the Lincolnwood Regional championship game on Oct. 27. The title was the Lancers' third straight regional crown and moved them on to the sectional semifinal against Mendon Unity on Monday, Oct. 31, in White Hall at 7 p.m.

Lady Lancers Live Up To Favorite Status

With a 32-3 record entering the regional tournament, wins over each of the other five schools in the regional and home court advantage for the first round of the postseason, the Lincolnwood High … more

10/31/22

The Hillsboro defense held Roxana to less than 300 yards of offense on Saturday, Oct. 29, but the Shells were just as good on the defensive end and escaped Sawyer Field with a 13-7 victory to move to the second round of the IHSA playoffs. Evan Wells scored one of Roxana's two touchdowns, but not on this play as he is tackled by Blaze Helton (#44), Elliot Lentz (#13), Landon Reincke (#20) and Jace Stewart (#12), with Jaben Compton also heading in to stop the Roxana running back.

Hiltoppers So Close Against Shells

Football can be a tantalizingly cruel sport for a fan to follow. The “We were so close” syndrome clearly applied to Hillsboro when the eighth-seeded Hiltoppers fell to the visiting … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 10/31/22

The College Report: Schreiber Making The Most Of Her Shot

Defensive soccer players do not get much of a chance to score goals. But, a midfielder is sort of a combination of an offensive and defensive player. They are the first line of defense, before the … more

10/31/22

Pitcher Matthew Ulrici snaps off a knee-buckler to batter Nolan Himes during the inaugural Camren’s Classic Wiffleball Tournament at Stan’s Field in Fillmore. The tournament, which was held in memory of the late Camren Neisler on Oct. 2, was the brainchild of Ulrici, who built Stan’s Field in honor of his late grandfather, Stan Toberman. Journal-News/Kyle Herschelman

Wiffle Ball Tournament Honoring Camren, Stan Is An Instant Classic

Major League Baseball may have the Fall Classic, but Montgomery County has an autumn institution of its own thanks to two lost loved ones who had a passion for the game of baseball. On Sunday, … more

10/31/22

With his first place finish at the Ironman in Crawfordsville, IN, on Oct. 23, Walshville racer Travis Lentz (above) clinched the championship in the 65cc (10-11) class for the Grand National Cross Country Series.

Lentz, Walker Secure GNCC Championships

With 11 competitors from the Journal-News Motorsports area, the Yamaha Racing Ironman in Crawfordsville, IN, was one of the bigger stops on the Grand National Cross Country Series for area riders. … more

10/31/22

Lincolnwood’s Tessa Funderburk (#3) and Nokomis’ Kinley Stolte (#4) converge above the net during the regional semifinal game in Raymond on Wednesday, Oct. 26. Funderburk led the Lancers in kills and service points as Lincolnwood advanced to Thursday’s championship game with a two set victory over the Redskins.

Third Time Charming For Lancers

They say that good things come in threes and for at least one Montgomery County team, that proved to be true on Wednesday, Oct. 26. For the third time this year the Lincolnwood and Nokomis … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 10/27/22

Hillsboro's Addison Lowe (#14) tries to tip a shot over the outstretched arms of Staunton's Kennedy Legendre during the first set of the South Central Conference clash on Tuesday, Oct. 25, at the Hillsboro Regional. Staunton would knock off the Toppers on their home court in two sets to advance to Thursday's regional championship against Breese Central.

Toppers Miss Chance To Beat 'Dogs

In 2002, the phrase “You come at the king, you best not miss,” was introduced into the lexicon by the character Omar from the HBO series The Wire. In essence, the meaning behind those … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 10/27/22

Backed by libero Alli Frerichs (#6), Litchfield's Annika Rhodes gets under a ball to set up the attack for the Purple Panthers during their regional quarterfinal game against Carlinville on Monday, Oct. 24. Litchfield rebounded from a 25-21 loss in the first set to win the second set 25-19, but fell to the Cavies in the rubber match, 25-20, to end their season.

Cavaliers Upset Lady Panthers

Unlike tournament play, during the regular season a team can absorb an early loss and still have the opportunity to play their way to a respectable finish, but such is not the case in the post … more

10/27/22

Nokomis’ Reaghan Jonas (#21) elevates over Ramsey’s Melody Otto (left) and Lillie Eddy to put down one of her four kills in the Lady Redskins’ two-set win over Ramsey at the regional in Raymond on Monday, Oct. 24.

Redskins Roll Past Rams In Regional Quarterfinal

The Ramsey High School volleyball team had no answer for Nokomis on Monday, Oct. 24, as the Lady Redskins advanced to the regional semifinal in Raymond. The Redskins and Rams have run in the same … more

10/27/22

Mohawk Basketball To Host Food Drive, Tipoff

The Mohawks and Lady Mohawks are used to driving to the hoop, but on Friday, Oct. 28, the Morrisonville-Lincolnwood Junior High basketball programs will be doing a different kind of driving. The … more

10/27/22

Lincolnwood's Ian Keller attempts to knock the ball away from Williamsville's Drew Farnsworth during the sectional semifinal game in Virden on Wednesday, Oct. 19. The Bullets broke a scoreless halftime tie in the first minute of the second period to spark a 5-0 victory over the Lancers and advance to Saturday's sectional championship against Sacred Heart-Griffin.

Second Half Shoots Bullets Past Lancers

The postseason came to an end for the Lincolnwood High School soccer team on Wednesday, Oct. 19, as the Lancers fell to Williamsville 5-0 on a cold, clear night in Virden. The game was the epitome … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 10/24/22

Zane Duff looks for an open receiver as Litchfield's Caiden Lamb bears down on the Hillsboro quarterback during the week nine clash between the two rivals on Oct. 21, in Litchfield. Duff ran for 100 yards and passed for 72 more in the Toppers' 48-36 come-from-behind victory over the Purple Panthers.

Toppers Come Back To Beat Panthers

In a game with more pivotal moments than a marching band provides during a halftime performance, Hillsboro outlasted an outmanned (in terms of number of available players) Litchfield Purple Panther … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 10/24/22

The Litchfield girls cross country team took fifth at the Shelbyville Regional on Saturday, Oct. 22, earning themselves a berth in next Saturday's sectional in Champaign. From the left are Myka Fenton, Darby Braasch, Alex Gasperson, Delanie Ulrich, Emma Diveley and Joelle Hughes.

Lady Panthers, Quarton Advance To Cross Country Sectional Meet

With three runners in the top 25, the Litchfield Lady Panthers were one of seven teams to make it out of the Shelbyville Cross Country Regional at Dacey Trail on Saturday, Oct. 22. Freshman Darby … more

10/24/22

Members of the Hillsboro High School volleyball team celebrate their win over Pana on Thursday, Oct. 20, their first against the Panthers in at least 11 years. The win also guaranteed the Toppers a winning record this year and clinched second place in the South Central Conference.

Lady Toppers Take Out Pana To Secure Second In South Central

A lot rode on the Hillsboro volleyball team’s game on Thursday, Oct. 20. With a 15-14 overall record, a win would guarantee that the Toppers would finish over .500 for the seventh time in eight … more

10/24/22

Nokomis running back Brenton Lyons shakes off the tackle attempt of Dupo's Colton Skaggs during the Redskins' final game of the season on Oct. 21, in Nokomis. Lyons had 168 offensive yards and three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving), but the Tigers managed to score in the final 15 seconds to escape with a 36-30 victory.

Tigers Dash 'Skins Hopes For Week 10

The stakes were simple, but astronomically high in Nokomis on Friday, Oct. 21, when the Redskins squared off against Dupo. With both teams at 4-4, the winner would most likely earn a spot in this … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 10/24/22

Panthers Falter In Final Week Of Season

Three losses in three straight days was not exactly the way Coach Kari Dragoo envisioned the last week of the regular season would unfold, but the week has come and gone and the focus of the … more

10/24/22

Redskins Fourth At Pawnee

The Nokomis High School volleyball team went 3-2 in their five matches at the Pawnee Tournament on Saturday, Oct. 22, picking up wins over the host school, Edinburg and Altamont, while falling to … more

10/24/22

The Hillsboro High School girls tennis program held their end-of-the-year banquet on Monday, Oct. 10, at the Abbey on Broad in Hillsboro. Team members, in front, from the left, are Meriem Bizid, Chloe Martincic, Zoey Spinner, Aly Leisure, Ryder Hoover, Sally Mattson, Paige Lucykow and Jesse Balla. In the back row are Alexis Carlyle, Annabelle Wright, Brookelynn Hopley, Melissa Bell, Aubrey Reincke, Sara Milanos, Avery Reynolds, Claire Matthews, Reagan Voyles, and Rylie Jones.

Tennis Toppers Celebrate End Of Regular Season

The Hillsboro High School girls tennis team ended the season with a 7-9 record, a second place finish at the South Central Conference Tournament, and an eighth place finish at sectionals. A buffet … more

10/24/22

Tennis Toppers End Season At Sectionals

The Hillsboro girls tennis team traveled to Centralia on Oct. 15, for the Class 1A girls tennis sectional. The Toppers finished eighth at the tournament, with the day highlighted by a victory from … more

10/24/22