Girls’ Basketball Heats Up in Conference Tournaments
The Lincoln Prairie Conference tournament is in full swing, and the action is intensifying as teams battle it out for top honors. In a thrilling matchup, the Sullivan Redskins (15-6) dominated the Cerro Gordo/Bement Broncos (7-15) with a resounding 53-25 victory on their home turf. Aeralyn Thrasher was on fire, sinking 19 points to lead the charge, while Elin Watkins chipped in with eight points, and Lyla Wright and Devon Richardson each added six points to the tally. The Broncos’ Maggie Petty put up a valiant effort with 10 points, but it wasn’t enough to stem the tide.
Other Notable Matches
In non-tournament action, the Unity Hawks (10-13) fell short against the Prairie Central Rockets (17-2) in a nail-biting 50-48 Illini Prairie Conference contest. Addi Donley and Lexi Donovan were the standout performers for the Hawks, with 12 points and four steals, and 10 points and five steals, respectively. Meanwhile, the Rantoul Eagles (12-12) soared to a 50-35 win over the St. Thomas More Sabers (3-19), securing their third victory in four games. The St. Joseph-Ogden Spartans (14-6) also notched a win, defeating the Monticello Sages (12-11) 54-47, with Katie Ericksen scoring a game-high 18 points.
Underdog Victories and Thrilling Finishes
In another exciting matchup, the Uni High Illineks (8-8) edged out the Bloomington Cornerstone Cyclones 39-28 in an East Central Illinois Conference game. Chizara Onyemere and Mariam Mostafa stole the show, combining for 35 points and leading their team to a hard-fought win. The Illineks’ dominance in the third quarter, outscoring the Cyclones 15-4, proved to be the turning point in the game.
Boys’ Wrestling: GCMS/Fisher Dominates Westville
The Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/Fisher wrestling team made a statement with a resounding 75-5 victory over Westville. The team’s impressive performance was capped off by wins from Julian Rodriguez (106 pounds), Bentley Fields (113), Gage Martin (126), and Camden Brucker (132), among others. Westville’s Ethan Miller secured a solitary win at 190 pounds, but it was a day to forget for the home team.
Boys’ Swimming and Diving: Urbana Takes Double Dual Meet
The Urbana boys’ swimming and diving team emerged victorious in a double dual meet against Mahomet-Seymour and Charleston at the Urbana Indoor Aquatic Center. Max Kooper took top honors in the one-meter dive with a score of 269.75, while James York won the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 6:04.44. Mahomet-Seymour’s Adam Varga, Emmett Kearns, Matthew Kirby, and Hamzah Rauther all secured individual wins in their respective events, making for a thrilling competition.
