Sports | The Journal-News

Lincolnwood’s Ella Jenkins, at right, works to get the ball past Litchfield’s Megan Lee on Sept. 30, as Lincolnwood picked up their 16th win this season.

The Lincolnwood and Litchfield volleyball teams met up for the first time this season on Monday, Sept. 30, with both teams sporting pink in support of breast cancer awareness. The Panthers took it to … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 10/3/24

Regional Rounds Put Two Rams In Sectional Tourney

Stephen Hawking once said, “Half of the battle is just showing up.” Those words never rang truer than at the IHSA Class 1A Mt. Olive Regional on Wednesday, Oct. 2, at Timber Lakes Golf … more

10/3/24

Nokomis' Natalie Brownback goes up for a kill against Lincolnwood Kierstyn Denney during the showdown between the two MSM Conference leaders on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Brownback and the Lady Redskins picked up a three set win over Denney and the Lancers, improving to 4-0 in the MSM.

Win Keeps Nokomis On Top In MSM

It was close, it was loud and it had meaning. In other words, it was everything you wanted from a rivalry game when Nokomis and Lincolnwood met up in Raymond on Tuesday, Oct. 1, with someone set to … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 10/3/24

With Coach Jim Luckett looking on, Hillsboro senior Tycen Thacker chips on to the green on the eighth hole at Belk Park Golf Course in Wood River at the Class 2A Roxana Regional on Wednesday, Oct. 2. Both Thacker and teammate Colton Weiss finished in the top ten at the regional to move on to next Monday's sectional in Anna.

Hillsboro's Thacker, Weiss Bounce Back At Regionals

Hillsboro’s Tycen Thacker and Colton Weiss both shot 3-over-par 39s on the back nine at Belk Park to secure their spots in the sectional on Monday, Oct. 7. Playing in the IHSA Class 2A Roxana … more

10/3/24

It was senior night for the Hillsboro High School girls tennis team as the Toppers took time to honor three of their own on Monday, Sept. 30, during their match with Vandalia. Zoey Spinner, Aly Leisure and Sara Milanos were 3-0 on the day, with Spinner and Leisure winning the number one and number two singles, then teaming up to win the number one doubles, while Milanos partnered with Reagan Voyles to pick up a win in the number three doubles match. From the left are Victoria Spinner, Zoey Spinner, Matthew Spinner, Damon Leisure, Aly Leisure, Chrissy Leisure, Angelo Milanos and Sara Milanos.

Toppers Score Seventh Win On Senior Night

Monday, Sept. 30, was senior night for the Hillsboro girls tennis team and the Tennis Toppers celebrated with a 7-2 victory over Vandalia, with the three seniors going 3-0. The Toppers picked up five … more

10/3/24

Lady Lancers Advance Two To Golf Sectionals

Two members of the Lincolnwood-Morrisonville golf team are headed to sectionals after playing in the Class 1A Williamsville Regional at The Rail in Sherman on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Senior Anna Jones and … more

10/3/24

Hiltoppers Head To Pana

Topper football fans who follow their team to Pana this Friday, Oct. 4, have a chance to enjoy the loudest, most visible scoreboard in the South Central Conference; it’s complete with fireworks … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 10/3/24

Late Goal Puts Athens On Top Of Lincolnwood

It was the same score, but a different outcome for the Lincolnwood soccer team when they faced Athens for the second time this year on Monday, Sept. 30. After beating the Warriors 2-1 at the Kickoff … more

10/3/24

Nokomis' Nolan Herpstreith did his best Superman impression en route to his second touchdown of the day during the Redskins' game against Tri-County on Saturday, Sept. 28. Herpstreith racked up 144 yards on just 11 carries, while teammate Daryl Evans (#22) had 86 more yards and four touchdowns in Nokomis' 51-0 victory over the Titans that moved them to 5-0 on the season.

Five Up, Five Down For Nokomis

Since week one’s relatively conservative 27-10 victory over Arcola, the Nokomis football team has become a creature of habit. Snap-Run-Score-Tackle-Repeat. Through five weeks, the Redskins have … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 9/30/24

Hillsboro's Elijah Patton scrambles to try to avoid Litchfield's Max Leitschuh (#44) during the Hiltoppers' home game on Friday, Sept. 27. Leitschuh and the Panther defense held Hillsboro to 185 yards of offense in a 28-0 shutout that boosted Litchfield's record to 2-3.

Purple Panthers Shut Down Toppers

Football is a game of momentum, and occasionally momentum comes in the strangest forms. Litchfield perhaps didn’t need momentum to down Hillsboro as the Toppers tried valiantly to defend their … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 9/30/24

With a block and a team-high ten kills, Nokomis' Mackenzie Mehochko (#11) loomed large against Tri-City on Thursday, Sept. 26, as Nokomis blew past the Tornadoes 25-6, 25-10.

Lady Redskins Flatten MSM Foe Tri-City

The Nokomis Lady Redskins made short work of Tri-City on Thursday, Sept. 26, as they defeated the Tornadoes 25-6, 25-10. While the margin of victory was impressive, how the Redskins won their 17th … more

9/30/24

Litchfield, Hillsboro Prepare For Girls Golf Postseason

After playing in the South Central Conference Tournament on Tuesday, Sept. 24, the Litchfield and Hillsboro girls golf teams were together again on Sept. 25 and 26 for meets in Pana and Vandalia. On … more

9/30/24

Topper Golf Takes First At Taylorville

A lot changed between the initial date for the Taylorville Invite on Aug. 15 to the day the tournament was actually played on Sept. 26. Due to the rain on Monday, the tournament was one of two at … more

9/30/24

Rams Golf Wraps Up Regular Season

Nokomis’ Bryce Gillock took medalist honors at Ramsey Lake Golf Course on Wednesday, Sept. 25, helping the Ramsey-Nokomis boys golf team to a 163-179 victory over Vandalia on Sept. 25. Gillock … more

9/30/24

Hillsboro's Brady Stritzel (#25) and Nico Clark (#3) meet up at the feet of Riverton's Jaxson Miller (#20) during the Toppers' game on the Hawks' home field in Riverton. Clark had three goals in Hillsboro's 6-1 victory, their 11th in a row.

Soccer Toppers Make It 11 In A Row

Fresh off a huge 9-0 against North Mac on Thursday, the Hillsboro High School boys soccer team traveled to Riverton Saturday morning for a non-conference tilt against the Hawks. For the … more

9/30/24

Win Keeps Lancers Unbeaten In MSM

A showdown between the last two undefeated teams in MSM Conference play looms on Tuesday, Oct. 1, as Lincolnwood will host Nokomis in Raymond. But to get to the point where that game still had title … more

9/30/24

Bulldogs Hold On To Knock Off Litchfield

The Litchfield volleyball team put a scare into Staunton on Tuesday, Sept. 24, before falling to the four-time defending champions in two sets, 25-19, 25-21. The two teams were tied 15 times … more

9/30/24

Lancers Bounce Back With Win Over Riverton

The Lincolnwood soccer team snapped a five-game losing streak on Friday, Sept. 27, as they defeated Riverton/Tri-City 2-1 in Riverton. Lincolnwood’s first goal came early in the second … more

9/30/24

Members of the Lincolnwood and Hillsboro soccer teams take a group photo with the family of Grace Herschelman following the second annual Grace Cup game between the two rivals. After finishing in a tie last year, Hillsboro won this year’s game by a 4-0 final score to take possession of the Grace Cup traveling trophy.

Grace Cup Goes To Toppers In 2024

There are two sides of the Lincolnwood/Hillsboro soccer rivalry. There is the feel good side. It’s the side that sees two teams come together to compete for the Grace Cup, a traveling … more

9/26/24

Litchfield's Brody Dykema looks for an opportunity to get the ball away from Hillsboro's Will Yeske during the South Central Conference clash in Litchfield on Tuesday, Sept. 24. The Toppers scored twice in the first half and three more times in the second to pick up a 5-1 win over the Panthers.

Win Keeps Hillsboro In SCC Title Hunt

The Hillsboro/Litchfield boys soccer game on Tuesday, Sept. 24, was as close to a must-win in terms of the South Central Conference title race. The Toppers entered the game with eight straight … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 9/26/24