The Journal-News

Litchfield freshman Annika Rhodes tries to slip a hit past the block of Hillsboro's Alayna McCario (#11) during the rivalry showdown on Thursday, April 8. Rhodes and the Panthers would win game one, 25-22, but McCario's Toppers got the win with back-to-back 25-20, 25-19 victories.

Whether Hillsboro was overlooking Litchfield due to their 0-8 record or the Panthers just came out firing on all cylinders with their biggest rival in town, Thursday’s volleyball game … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 4/12/21

Blaze Helton (#44), Hillsboro's leading rusher for the season, had blockers around him (#34 Jude Bertolino, #66 Carsen Maddaleno and #55 Brady Huber) as he carried the ball early in the fourth quarter at Mater Dei Saturday afternoon, April 10. The Knights would use 20 first quarter points to defeat the Toppers 34-0.

Toppers Fall To Knights

It wasn’t a good day in terms of the game’s result, but the trip to Breese in Clinton County could have been worse in several ways for Hillsboro’s football team and … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 4/12/21

Nokomis Audrey Sabol goes up for a kill during the Lady Redskins' victory over Mt. Olive on Wednesday, April 7.

Lady Redskins Drop 'Cats

After a loss on Tuesday, the Nokomis High School volleyball team bounced back on Wednesday, April 7, with a strong two-game win over Mt. Olive. The Redskins would take a pair of close games … more

4/12/21

Lancers Claim Win Over Future Teammates

It was a civil war in every sense of the word on Friday, April 9, in Morrisonville. Starting next year, the Lincolnwood and Morrisonville volleyball teams will be following the lead of the … more

4/12/21

Royer, Hatalla Push Panthers Past Lancers

Three second half goals tripped up Lincolnwood on Thursday, April 8, as the Lancers fell to North Mac 3-0. After a scoreless first half, the Panthers rallied behind the combo of Kaedyn Royer and … more

4/12/21

Toppers Triumph In Three

After gutting out a three-game win over Litchfield on April 8, the Hillsboro volleyball team found themselves in similar territory two days later on their home court. Taking on Beardstown, the … more

4/12/21

It was the opportunity of a lifetime for Hillsboro's Nathan Lynch, right, pictured with his brother, Evan. Lynch got the opportunity to compete in the Bristol Dirt Nationals, which drew 900 entries to the iconic concrete speedway that was covered in dirt for the March NASCAR race.

Bristol The Opportunity Of A Lifetime For Lynch

While Nathan Lynch is no stranger to racing, the third generation driver’s latest trip was a different kind of experience. In March, Lynch joined 900 other dirt track racers in competing at … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 4/11/21

Racing truly is a family affair for the Lynch Motorsports crew, with four of Art Lynch’s grandsons racing on the dirt tracks of Macon, Tri-City and Fayette County. Nathan, Evan and Brady Lynch and Justin Reynolds all followed in their grandfather’s footsteps, with cousin Jason Williamson and the Lynch’s father, Artie, helping out in the pits. In front, from the left, are Jason Williamson, Nathan Lynch and Artie Lynch. In the second row are Evan Lynch, Brady Lynch and Justin Reynolds.

Family First For Lynch Motorsports... And Hopefully Second And Third

Like gasoline through a fuel line, racing runs in Nathan Lynch’s blood. From racing go-carts as a kid to late models as a teen at Macon Speedway to piloting the 14N on tracks throughout the … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 4/11/21

Cinderella stories are great during tournament season, unless you're the one on the other end. While Victoria Francis (left) lost her bid to become an Olympian after losing to Kylie Welker (right), the 17-year-old 14th seed, Francis still had a phenomenal tournament at the Olympic Wrestling Trials on April 2-3, finishing in third place and earning a spot on the US National Team.

Francis Earns Spot On US National Team

One of the more intriguing part of sports, especially during tournament time, is the potential for upsets. In March Madness, nothing is more exciting than watching Cinderella upset one of the big … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 4/8/21

Nokomis’ Skylar Stewart puts up some resistance as Katelyn Payne of Lincolnwood gets under a ball during the intra-county squabble in Raymond on Tuesday, April 6. Payne and the Lancers would score their ninth win of the season with a 25-10, 256 victory over the visiting Redskins.

Lancers Defend Home Court Against Redskins

Tuesday’s match-up in Raymond featured two teams on the opposite ends of the confidence spectrum as Lincolnwood hosted Nokomis on April 6. The Lancers, winners of seven straight after … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 4/8/21

Hillsboro senior Jordan Jacobs sets up classmate Haley Major for a kill during the Toppers' two-game win over Carlinville on senior night, Monday, April 5.

Lady Toppers Score Win On Senior Night

Monday night was senior night for the Hillsboro High School volleyball team and the Toppers gave the seven soon-to-be graduates a big reason to celebrate as they scored a two-game win over … more

4/8/21

Soccer Toppers Stumble At Gillespie

After enjoying a five game winning streak where the Toppers outscored their opponents a collective 18-1, the Hillsboro High School boys soccer team traveled to Gillespie Tuesday afternoon, April 6, … more

4/8/21

Litchfield's Carlee Harmon (17) and Becky Painter (18) watch as teammate Emma Walch puts a set near the net during the Panthers' game with Greenville on Monday, April 5. The Panthers would lose to the Comets in two, including a marathon 32-30 first game on Greenville's home court.

Lady Panthers Can't Play Spoiler On Senior Night

The Greenville Comets would pick up a win on senior night on April 5, but the Litchfield High School volleyball team didn’t make it easy for them. The Lady Panthers scrapped against the home … more

4/8/21

Lancers Fall In Shootout

Three of Lincolnwood’s first five soccer games this season have been decided by either one or two goals, but on Monday, the margin between a win and a loss was even smaller. After tying in … more

4/8/21

Jon Durbin rides it out after a jump at the Sunoco Race Fuel Spring Shootout Pro-Am at Lincoln Trail Motosports on Sunday, April 4. Durbin would take first in the Throwback class at the event, his first victory in two decades.

Durbin Scores Win At Lincoln Trail Pro-Am

Hillsboro’s Jon Durbin picked up a win in the Throwback class at the Sunoco Race Fuel Spring Shootout Pro-Am at Lincoln Trail Motosports on April 4, one of several area riders to make the trip … more

4/8/21

Zach Duff of Donnellson (left) was one of the of the big winners at the WFO Promotions hare scrambles in Chandlerville on Sunday, April 4, winning the Super Mini class and finishing atop the youth division.

Duff, Lentz, Walker Find Wins At Easter Hare Scrambles

A slew of riders from the area spent Easter in their favorite way possible, navigating the twists and turns of a hare scramble course. Two dozen competitors from the Journal-News Motorsports area … more

4/8/21

Area racers Trenton Kimbro (left) and Ryan Petroski will have to find some space in their trophy cabinet after racing at Midwest Motosports Club in Chandlerville on March 21. Kimbro took first in the Super Mini and 85cc Senior classes, plus second in the Schoolboy class, while Petroski was fifth in the 250 C class.

Kimbro Collects Wins At Chandlerville Moto

Chandlerville was the place to be for area several motocross racers on March 21, as the Midwest Motocross Club hosted the second event of the AMA District 17 schedule. Trenton Kimbro of Taylor … more

4/8/21

After missing last week due to injury, Nokomis running back Matt Hill made up for lost time as he scored three touchdowns in the Redskins' 41-0 victory over Carlyle on April 2.

Redskins Go Egg Hunting

Children all around Montgomery County were hunting Easter eggs this weekend, but in Nokomis, the Redskins were hunting for a different kind of egg... a goose egg, to be specific. After flirting … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 4/5/21

Topper quarterback Zane Duff (#7) found himself in a precarious situation Friday, April 2, as he looked for an escape route with a Carlinville linebacker pulling at his waist while three others closed in on him. Even so, Duff passed for 162 yards, including a 72-yard touchdown in the Toppers 23-14 loss to the Cavaliers.

Cavies Work Way Past Toppers

Those living along Hiltop Drive in Hillsboro might have feared an earthquake late Friday afternoon, April 2, but the shaking ground came not from pre-quake tremors but from the arrival of the … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 4/5/21

Nine-year-old Grace Herschelman wasn't able to make it to the Lincolnwood/Hillsboro INAD awareness game in her honor this year, but was their in spirit and in cardboard form. In front, from the left, are Justine Sellback, Sydney Glick, Jasmine Vickery, Lexie Millburg, Ally Devore, Reagan DeVaisher, Kylee Pastrovich and Olivia Hefley. In the middle row are Jayden Kuchar, Emme Weller, Jordan Jacobs and Maggie McClelland. In the back row are Desi Pitchfork, Haelee Damm, Avery Pope, Cassie Krager, Haley Major, Katelyn Payne, Alayna McCario Kaci Papin, Emma Miller and Layne Rupert.

Orange And Black Go Purple For Grace

Nothing has been normal about the 2020-2021 volleyball season this year, but on Saturday, April 3, the Lincolnwood and Hillsboro volleyball teams made sure that one of their traditions didn’t … more

4/5/21