CSE’s Miller leads brigade of area girls players receiving all-state honors from IBCA

Central-Southeastern junior forward Lauren Miller received Class 2A first-team all-state honors from the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association. | Addi Zanger photo

QUINCY — Lauren Miller’s ability to create scoring opportunities for herself and her Central-Southeastern girls basketball teammates elevated her game to that of a first-team all-stater. The 5-foot-10 junior forward was named to the Class 2A all-state first team by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association, one of three CSE players to be honored by the…

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Brown County eighth graders continue lockdown defense, win IESA Class 2A state championship

The Brown County eighth-grade boys basketball team celebrates winning the Illinois Elementary School Association Class 2A state championship with Thursday's victory over Assumption Central A&M in Kankakee, Ill. | Submitted photo

KANKAKEE, Ill. — The trend continued and it led to a championship. The Brown County eighth-grade boys basketball team put the clamps on each of its opponents in the first quarter of each Illinois Elementary School Association Class 2A state tournament game, including Thursday night’s title tilt against Assumption Central A&M. The Hornets allowed just…

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Quincy Catholic, Brown County, Griggsville-Perry earn IESA state tournament berths this weekend

Members of the Quincy Catholic boys basketball team celebrate after receiving the sectional trophy following a 40-31 victory over Williamsville on Monday night. | Photo courtesy of Sarah Stegeman

Three local eighth-grade boys basketball teams have qualified for the Illinois Elementary School Association state tournaments this weekend in their respective classes. Quincy Catholic advances to the Class 8-3A state tournament after defeating Williamsville 40-31 on Monday in Williamsville. The Crusaders (17-3) will play at 10 a.m. Saturday at Tolono Unity High School against Downs…

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Quick transition: Central jumps into basketball season with victory over Brown County

Camp Point Central boys basketball coach James Barnett and the Panthers opened their season Monday with a 22-point victory over Brown County in Camp Point, Ill. | Muddy River Sports file photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

CAMP POINT, Ill. — Camp Point Central’s boys basketball team is far from a finished product, despite what Monday night’s 48-26 season-opening victory over Brown Country might suggest. In fact, the Panthers are not even close to what James Barnett envisions he will see later this season. “It’s going to take a while, probably until…

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Match-play mentality on back nine carries QND boys golf team to sectional championship

The Quincy Notre Dame boys golf team poses for a team picture after winning the Class 1A Auburn Sectional title Monday at Edgewood Golf Course in Auburn, Ill. | Submitted photo

AUBURN, Ill. — As the Quincy Notre Dame boys golfers made the turn Monday, the situation seemed pretty cut and dry. Beat Bloomington Central Catholic head-to-head and win a sectional championship. Raiders coach Brian Hendrian didn’t shy away from telling his golfers that. “We went out there and played it like a Ryder Cup format…

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Photo gallery: State-ranked Central makes homecoming memorable with victory

Camp Point Central quarterback Nick Moore, left, talks with officials before Friday night's game against Brown County in Camp Point, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

CAMP POINT, Ill. — A homecoming crowd, a rival coming to town and a victory. Life is pretty good if you’re the state-ranked Camp Point Central football team. The Panthers took care of business Friday night, beating Brown County 45-0 in a Western Illinois Valley Conference North Division game. Central, ranked third in Class 1A,…

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Anderson, Hornets ready to flex and muscle their way into playoff picture

Brown County senior defensive end/tight end Jack Anderson plans to turn his passing for weight lifting into a bodybuilding career. | Matt Schuckman photo

MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — Jack Anderson first ventured into the weight room with a specific purpose in mind. “I wanted to hit the gym to get stronger for basketball and football and sports in general,” he said. He rapidly found a more appealing aspect of working out. Anderson, a senior defensive end/tight end for the…

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QND’s Bunte, Pleasant Hill’s Lowe and Brown County’s Dunlap earn first-team all-state honors

Quincy Notre Dame sophomore left-hander Caitlin Bunte was named to the Class 2A all-state first team after hitting .620 with 10 home runs and compiling a 16-5 record with a 1.95 ERA. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Quincy Notre Dame sophomore Caitlin Bunte led a trio of area softball players who earned first-team all-state honors from the Illinois Coaches Association. Eight others received second- or third-team honors. Bunte, a left-handed pitcher and outfielder, was named to the Class 2A first team, while Pleasant Hill junior pitcher McKinley Lowe and Brown…

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Muddy River Showcase Spotlight: Brown County’s Katey Flynn

Brown County guard Katey Flynn earned honorable mention all-state honors last winter while guiding the Hornets to a single-season school-record 31 victories. | Photo courtesy Scott Bemis

The Muddy River Showcase featuring 40 of the area’s top senior basketball players from Illinois and Missouri takes place June 17 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game begins at 4 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 6 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door. MOUNT STERLING, Ill. —…

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A Wink and a knock: Raiders celebrate Senior Day with enjoyable effort in shutout of Hornets

Quincy Notre Dame senior right-hander Mason Winking delivers a pitch during the first inning of Monday's game against Brown County at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — With the way their class schedule works, a majority of the seniors on the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team typically hit the field for practice shortly after 1:30 p.m., giving them the opportunity to squeeze every ounce of enjoyment from every day together. “This is their time,” QND coach Rich Polak said. So…

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Photo gallery: QND baseball team celebrates Senior Day with all 10 seniors in lineup

Quincy Notre Dame senior third baseman Brady Kindhart, right, and his mother, Karmon, left, lead the QND senior baseball players and their moms in a dance prior to Monday's game against Brown County at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame baseball team did more than recognize its 10 seniors prior to Monday’s game against Brown County at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. The Raiders saw those seniors and their moms dance. The senior moms choreographed a dance, which they did on the turf infield following the introduction of the…

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JWCC Prairie State Profile: Brown County softball team looks for experience to lead to more postseason success

Brown County's Cyrah Dunlap, right, is one of four seniors the Hornets will rely on heavily in their pursuit of a third consecutive Class 1A regional championship. | Photo courtesy Scott Bemis

MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — Graduation hit the Brown County softball team relatively hard, taking away eight players who contributed to back-to-back Class 1A regional championships. By no means should that suggest the cupboard is bare. Buoyed by the return of starting pitcher Taryn Moorman, the twin tandem of Katey and Klare Flynn and versatile Cyrah…

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Havana’s physical play slows Brown County in season-ending loss in sectional title game

Havana's Taryn Wickman, right, attempts to knock the ball away from Brown County's Katey Flynn during Thursday night's Class 1A sectional championship game in Abingdon, Ill. | Photo courtesy Scott Bemis

ABINGDON, Ill. — Dave Phelps tried to highlight the Brown County girls basketball team’s laundry list of accomplishments this season during his postgame speech Thursday night. Those aren’t easy to see through tears. A record-setting 31-win season and the second Sweet 16 appearance in program history came to an end in the Class 1A Abingdon…

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Photo gallery: Brown County’s historic season ends in sectional championship game

Brown County's Gracie Hedden, right, drives past Havana's Hannah Hodgson during Thursday's Class 1A sectional championship game at Abingdon, Ill. | Photo courtesy Scott Bemis

ABINGDON, Ill. — The physical play of the Havana girls basketball team kept Brown County from finding any offensive rhythm Thursday night and resulted in a 40-34 loss in the Class 1A Abingdon Sectional championship game. The Hornets end their historic season with a 31-4 record. Mount Sterling photographer Scott Bemis captured the action in…

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Flip the switch: Halftime adjustments, resilient attitude carry Hornets into sectional title game

Brown County guard Katey Flynn, right, sizes up the Elmwood defense during Tuesday night's Class 1A sectional semifinal in Abingdon, Ill. | Photo courtesy Scott Bemis

ABINGDON, Ill. — No one actually reached for the panic button. “We kind of hovered over it a little bit,” Brown County girls basketball coach Dave Phelps said. What kept the Hornets from hitting it is what made Tuesday night’s second-half rally possible. They never lost faith in each other. A nine-minute scoring drought in…

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Photo gallery: Brown County advances to Class 1A sectional championship

The defensive pressure applied by Brown County's Ashlee Markert, center, and the Hornets limited Elmwood to five points in the third quarter of Tuesday night's Class 1A Abingdon Sectional semifinal in Abingdon, Ill. | Photo courtesy Scott Bemis

ABINGDON, Ill. — The Brown County girls basketball team overcome a rough first half offensively by scoring 19 points in the third quarter and pulling away from Elmwood for a 47-35 victory in Tuesday night’s semifinals of the Class 1A Abingdon Sectional. Mount Sterling-based photographer Scott Bemis captured action and shared this photo gallery with…

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Quincy Catholic, Brown County claim third-place trophies at IESA seventh-grade state basketball tournaments

Front row from left: Josh Brenner, Austin Genenbacher, Jake Pyatt, Kage Cook and Deacon Bliefnick. Back row from left: head coach Tom VanderBor, Brennan Venvertloh, Carson Reyburn, Rowan Stegeman, Kaden Marth, Tripp Flesch, Kyle Thompson and assistant coach David Adam. Absent was Reece Schertel. | Photo courtesy of Ben Marth

The Quincy Catholic and Brown County seventh-grade boys basketball teams both captured third place at their respective Illinois Elementary School Association state tournaments on Thursday night. Quincy Catholic led from the start and rolled to a 42-22 victory over Abingdon-Avon in the third-place game of the Class 3A tournament at El Paso-Gridley High School. The…

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Illinois girls basketball state rankings: Four area teams sit in top five in final regular-season poll

Brown County coach Dave Phelps and the Hornets check in at No. 3 in the final Class 1A regular-season state poll. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

Here are the girls prep basketball polls with rank, team, first-place votes, record and total points. Class 4A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Fremd (4) 27-2 65 1 2. Bolingbrook (1) 24-3 62 2 3. Alton (1) 27-1 56 4 4. Geneva (1) 24-3 55 3 5. Kenwood 25-4 39 5 6. O’Fallon 27-4 33…

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Brown County, Griggsville-Perry win eighth grade boys basketball regional titles

QUINCY — A pair of area eighth grade boys basketball teams won Illinois Elementary School Association regional championships Thursday night. Brown County captured a Class 2A regional crown with a 47-34 victory over Liberty at Mendon. The Hornets (26-1) advance to Monday’s sectional against Colchester West Prairie (21-5) in Colchester. Griggsville-Perry won a Class 1A…

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Illinois girls basketball state rankings: QND, CSE, Brown County, Unity all remain in polls

Central-Southeastern's Lauren Miller and the Panthers have moved to No. 6 in the Class 2A state poll. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

Here are the Illinois girls prep basketball polls with rank, team, first-place votes, record, total points and previous ranking. Class 4A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Fremd (3) 24-2 55 2 2. Bolingbrook (2) 22-3 51 4 3. Geneva (1) 21-3 50 3 4. Alton 25-1 48 1 5. Kenwood 23-4 33 8 6. O’Fallon…

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Quincy Catholic, Brown County seventh grade boys teams claim sectional championships

Quincy Catholic's Rowan Stegeman (50) kisses the Class 3A sectional plaque after Monday's victory over Athens. | Submitted photo

QUINCY — Two area seventh grade boys basketball teams advanced to the elite eight of the Illinois Elementary School Association state tournament series by winning sectional championships Monday night. Quincy Catholic held on to defeat Athens 35-29 in the Class 3A sectional title game at Warrensburg-Latham High School, while Brown County hammered West Prairie 54-18…

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Illinois girls state basketball rankings: Brown County, Unity sit back-to-back at Nos. 4 and 5

Brown County coach David Phelps has guided the Hornets to the No. 4 spot in this week's Associated Press Class 1A state poll. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

Here are the girls prep basketball polls with rank, team, first-place votes, record, total points and previous ranking. Class 4A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Alton (7) 24-0 79 2 2. Fremd 22-2 69 3 3. Geneva (1) 19-3 59 4 4. Bolingbrook 21-3 58 1 5. Normal Community 23-2 37 6 6. Whitney Young…

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Frantic finish boosts Central-Southeastern to championship of Lady Panther Classic

The Central-Southeastern girls basketball players celebrate with the championship plaque after winning the 30th Lady Panther Classic with a 36-32 victory over Brown County on Saturday night in Camp Point, Ill. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

CAMP POINT, Ill. — It’s never over til it’s over. Somehow, the Central-Southeastern girls basketball team emerged Saturday night with the championship of the 30th Lady Panther Classic. CSE’s 36-32 victory over Brown County was fueled by a frantic final 1 minute, 47 seconds that saw the Panthers score 10 of the game’s closing 13…

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Hornets end frustrating skid against Mustangs, earn spot in Lady Panther Classic title game

The Brown County girls basketball players celebrate at the end of their 47-43 victory over Unity on Thursday night in the semifinals of the CSE Lady Panther Classic in Camp Point, Ill. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

CAMP POINT, Ill. — Similar script, different ending. Much, much different. The Brown County girls basketball team put the brakes on a five-game losing streak to Unity when the Hornets pulled off a surprising 47-43 come-from-behind victory Thursday night in the semifinals of the 30th Lady Panther Classic at Central High School. Brown County, ranked…

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Photo gallery: Semifinals of CSE Lady Panther Classic set up epic championship game

Central-Southeastern guard Brilyn Lantz, left, fends off Illini West's Rylee Reed during Thursday night's semifinal in the CSE Lady Panther Classic. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

CAMP POINT, Ill. — The Brown County girls basketball team handed Unity consecutive losses for the first time this season, while Central-Southeastern continued its winning ways as both teams battled their way into the championship game of the CSE Lady Panther Classic. Brown County, ranked fifth in Class 1A, knocked off second-ranked Unity 47-43 in…

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Illinois girls basketball state rankings: QND stays atop Class 2A, Unity and Brown County in top five

Senior guard Blair Eftink and the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team continue to be the No. 1-ranked team in Class 2A. | Matt Schuckman photo

Here are the Illinois girls prep basketball polls with rank, team, first-place votes, record and total points: Class 4A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Geneva (5) 14-2 72 2 2. Fremd (2) 17-1 67 1 3. Bolingbrook (1) 14-1 62 4 4. Alton 17-0 61 6 5. Normal Community 18-0 38 5 6. Maine South…

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QJHS, Brown County to play for eighth grade girls basketball state titles, Pittsfield to vie for third

Two area eighth grade girls basketball teams will play for Illinois Elementary School Association state titles, while a third will battle for third place. Quincy Junior High School and Brown County advanced to their respective championship games by winning twice Saturday, while Pittsfield suffered a five-point loss in the semifinals. QJHS opened with a 39-10…

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The Rundown: Solid debut for Hannibal girls, Pittsfield boys win opener, WIU women earn first victory

Hannibal girls basketball coach Shawn Gaines talks to the Pirates during a timeout in Monday's season opener against Bowling Green at Korf Gym in Hannibal, Mo. | Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

QUINCY — Kicking off Thanksgiving week with a flurry of activity as the Illinois boys basketball season got underway Monday night and the Missouri teams joined in the fun. Oh, college basketball season is in full swing, too. Here are some of Monday’s highlights … • The Hannibal girls basketball team won Shawn Gaines’ debut…

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Trio of area’s best Illinois football players receive all-state honors from coaches association

Central senior running back/linebacker Isaac Genenbacher, right, was one of three area players named to the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association all-state teams. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

QUINCY — Three area football players have been named to the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association all-state teams, while seven others picked up honorable mention all-state plaudits. Central senior running back/linebacker Isaac Genenbacher, Brown County senior fullback/linebacker Colby Wort and Macomb junior wide receiver JT Jeter were first-team all-state selections. Genenbacher has been a…

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Mustangs finish with flourish to sweep Hornets and advance to Class 1A sectional

The Unity volleyball team won the Class 1A Unity Regional championship with a 25-11, 25-21 victory over Brown County on Thursday night in Mendon, Ill. | Submitted photo

MENDON, Ill. — Maybe, just maybe, the Unity volleyball team needed a wake-up call. The Mustangs, who won the first set against Brown County with relative ease Thursday night, eventually needed a fast-and-furious finish in round two to deliver a knockout punch. “I think we got a little ahead of ourselves after that first game,”…

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Photo gallery: Unity, Brown County advance to regional volleyball championship

The Unity volleyball team swept Western in two sets Wednesday night in the semifinals of the Class 1A Unity Regional in Mendon, Ill. | Photo courtesy Max Bennett

MENDON, Ill. — The Unity volleyball team launched its pursuit of a Class 1A state tournament berth with a flurry. Brown County did the same. Now the two must go head-to-head to see who survives. The Mustangs and Hornets won Class 1A Unity Regional semifinals Wednesday night in straight sets, propelling them to the regional…

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Schuckman: Brown County, Central show how electric, energetic healthy rivalries can be

Central wingback Isaac Genenbacher, center, gets up after catching a touchdown pass in front of Brown County's Angel Duarte during the second quarter of the Panthers' 30-0 victory Friday night in Mount Sterling, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — The Nest deserved a little TLC. The Brown County football team hadn’t played at home since its Week 1 victory over Calhoun when it was one of the first teams in the state to take the field, opening on a Thursday night. In the three weeks since, the Hornets’ all-natural grass…

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If you’re happy and you know it: QND volleyball players’ enjoyment shows in dominant results

From left to right, Quincy Notre Dame's Addison Van Hecke, Abbey Schreacke and Faith Kientzle celebrate a point during Thursday night's match against Brown County at The Pit. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Pit is their happy place. To see how true that is, take a gander at the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball players during warmups or pregame introductions. Smiles and laughter overtake everyone. “We love to be here,” senior outside hitter Laela Hernandez-Jones said. “We love games. We love getting to perform what we’re…

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JWCC Prairie State Profile: Brown County’s Wort relishes experiencing memorable moments

Brown County's Colby Wort, right, has been a three-sport standout and emotional, vocal leader for the Hornets. | Photo courtesy Scott Bemis

MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — The roar of the Harley Davidsons. The swaying of the crowd. The green and white banners everywhere. How could a Brown County football player not be energized coming out of the locker room and running into such an environment? “It is the greatest thing ever,” said Colby Wort, the Hornets’ senior…

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Hornets hit stride on opening drive, capture unique season opener with dominant effort

Brown County fullback Colby Wort, left, takes the handoff from quarterback Angel Duarte and looks for room to run during Thursday night's season opener against Calhoun in Mount Sterling, Ill. | Photo courtesy Scott Bemis

MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — The oddity of starting the high school football season one night earlier than nearly every other team in the state seemed to fade once kickoff neared. “It was a little bit weird,” Brown County senior wingback Cole Behymer said. “Overall, it kind of felt the same to me whenever I was…

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Hornets’ Blakeley, Raiders’ Miller pick up all-state accolades from IHSBCA

Brown County's Gabe Blakeley, left, and Quincy Notre Dame's Dalton Miller were named to the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association all-state teams. | Matt Schuckman photos

QUINCY — It’s only fitting the final two area baseball teams left standing in the Land of Lincoln were honored with spots on the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association all-state teams. Brown County senior center fielder/pitcher Gabe Blakeley and Quincy Notre Dame junior first baseman/pitcher Dalton Miller were named to the Class 1A and…

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QND’s Cornwell earns first-team all-state, six area softball players receive second-team honors

Quincy Notre Dame senior third baseman/pitcher Eryn Cornwell was named to the Class 2A all-state first team by the Illinois Coaches Association. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Despite a shoulder injury that now has her prepping for surgery, Eryn Cornwell remained a force in the middle of the Quincy Notre Dame softball team’s lineup. Her production resulted in receiving Class 2A first-team all-state honors from the Illinois Coaches Association. QND freshman Caitlin Bunte was a second-team selection, while five area…

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Muddy River Showcase: Brown County’s Fullerton uses skill set to be playmaker, leader in all sports

Brown County's Tate Fullerton used his talent, leadership to help guide the Hornets to winning seasons in football, basketball and baseball. Photo courtesy Scott Bemis

The inaugural Muddy River Showcase is taking place June 18 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The Illinois vs. Missouri format for senior prep basketball players will feature a girls game at 3 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 5 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door and all seating is general…

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‘We hit them right at ’em’: Hornets see state title aspirations snuffed out by Cardinals’ defense

The captains of the Brown County baseball team accept the second-place team trophy after losing to Louisville North Clay 12-4 in the Class 1A state championship game Saturday at Dozer Park in Peoria, Ill. Matt Schuckman photo

PEORIA, Ill. — These weren’t Texas leaguers, nubbers or Punch-and-Judy pokes coming off the bats of the Brown County baseball players. “There weren’t a lot of balls hit soft,” first baseman Mason Henry said. “Every ball was hit on the screws.” Too often, though, they were within the reach of the Louisville North Clay outfielders.…

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Schuckman: Support of Brown County community helps Hornets see journey and legacy matter more than final outcome

The Brown County baseball team poses for pictures with its Class 1A second-place state trophy Saturday at Dozer Park in Peoria, Ill. Matt Schuckman photo

PEORIA, Ill. — Disappointment lingered, but only for so long. By the time the Brown County baseball players cleaned up their dugout and made their way to the grassy berm in the right-field corner, the green-clad wave of Hornets fans who had invaded Dozer Park on Saturday were ready to fete their conquering heroes. The…

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Photo gallery: Brown County baseball team takes second at Class 1A state tournament

From left to right, Brown County's Sam Carr, Colby Wort and Mason Henry take the field during lineup introductions before the Class 1A state championship game Saturday at Dozer Park in Peoria, Ill. Matt Schuckman photo

PEORIA, Ill. — The traffic along Highway 24 between Peoria and Mount Sterling was steady late Saturday afternoon. After all, most of Mount Sterling made the trek to River City in order to watch the Brown County baseball team play for the Class 1A state championship. Although the Hornets lost 12-4 to Louisville North Clay…

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Championship dreams: Hornets wriggle out of seventh-inning jam, win state semifinal

Brown County left-handed reliever Mason Henry reacts to the final out in the Hornets' 2-1 victory over Ottawa Marquette in Friday's Class 1A state semifinal at Dozer Park in Peoria, Ill. Matt Schuckman photo

PEORIA, Ill. — The tension gripping the Brown County baseball team’s dugout and its legion of fans in the stands apparently wasn’t being felt by those on the field. “I was calm the entire time,” shortstop Colby Wort said. “I had my whole belief in our pitchers and our fielders.” Hornets center fielder Gabe Blakeley’s…

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Hornets finish off Blakeley’s record-setting victory with faith, belief in each other

Brown County right-handed starter Gabe Blakeley delivers a pitch during Friday's Class 1A state semifinal against Ottawa Marquette at Dozer Park in Peoria, Ill. Matt Schuckman photo

PEORIA, Ill. — After a bunt single loaded the bases with one out in the top of the seventh inning, Ottawa Marquette freshman center fielder Julian Alexander thought the Crusaders had put Brown County in a precarious spot. He even told Hornets shortstop Colby Wort so. “I thought it was pretty funny,” Wort said. “He’s…

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Photo gallery: Brown County beats Ottawa Marquette in Class 1A baseball state semifinals

Brown County coach Jared Hoots, left, celebrates the end of an inning with catcher Eathan Howell and pitcher Gabe Blakeley during Friday's Class 1A state semifinal against Ottawa Marquette at Dozer Park in Peoria, Ill. Matt Schuckman photo

PEORIA, Ill. — The Brown County baseball team snared the lead in the first inning, extended it in the third inning and never relinquished it in beating Ottawa Marquette 2-1 in the Class 1A state semifinals Friday at Dozer Park. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman captured the atmosphere and action on and off the…

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Schuck on a Truck: Brown County baseball coach Jared Hoots talks historic postseason run

Brown County coach Jared Hoots and the Hornets will appear in the Class 1A state final four this weekend at Dozer Park in Peoria. Matt Schuckman photo

MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — The Brown County baseball team will be making the program’s first appearance in the state final four Friday when it faces Ottawa Marquette at 10 a.m. at Peoria’s Dozer Park in the Class 1A state semifinals. Hornets coach Jared Hoots sat down with Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman for an…

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Brown County pours heart and soul into supporting its state-bound baseball team

The Brown County baseball players ride a fire truck down Main Street in Mount Sterling on Wednesday night to celebrate their Class 1A state final four berth. Matt Schuckman photo

MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — A slow drive down Main Street on Wednesday night — the way the posted speed limit intends it — allowed onlookers and gawkers to witness what community spirit truly is. Outside Hagel 1891, a modern American cuisine restaurant located next to Dorothy’s Market in the historic Hagel building, had green and…

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No interfering with history: Hornets snuff out Hawks’ seventh-inning threat to reach state finals for first time ever

Brown County baseball coach Jared Hoots, left, and starting pitcher Colby Wort celebrate after the final out was recorded in the Hornets' 4-3 victory over Carrollton in Monday's Class 1A super-sectional at Lincoln Land Community College's Claude Kracik Field. Matt Schuckman photo

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Everyone in the Brown County baseball team’s dugout and those on the field could see Carrollton’s Grant Pohlman looming in the on-deck circle and casting a rather sizable shadow over the Claude Kracik Field grass. “We knew he was coming up and we knew what he had done to us,” Hornets catcher…

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Brown County pitcher’s bulldogged nature guides Hornets to program’s biggest victory ever

Brown County right-handed starter Colby Wort delivers a pitch during Monday's Class 1A Springfield Super-Sectional against Carrollton at Lincoln Land Community College's Claude Kracik Field. Matt Schuckman photo

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Brown County baseball coach Jared Hoots struggled a little to come up with an apt description for Colby Wort’s effort. “He is a competitive animal,” Hoot said. “Whatever adjective you want to use, go for it. The slang would be a dog. Some people say a competitive fire. I don’t know what…

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Photo gallery: Brown County beats Carrollton in Class 1A baseball super-sectional

Brown County's Gabe Blakeley, left, celebrates with his teammates after scoring the game's first run in the top of the first inning against Carrollton in the Class 1A Springfield Super-Sectional at Claude Kracik Field. Matt Schuckman photo

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Brown County baseball team made history Monday, beating Carrollton 4-3 in the Class 1A Springfield Super-Sectional at Lincoln Land Community College’s Claude Kracik Field to advance to the state final four for the first time ever. The Hornets are guaranteed to bring home the first state trophy in school history. Muddy…

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Blakeley, Hornets move step closer to championship dreams with sectional semifinal victory

Brown County's Gabe Blakeley drove in two runs and pitched six innings in the 5-4 victory over Lewistown in the Class 1A sectional semifinals Thursday in Jacksonville, Ill. Photo courtesy Martha Blakeley

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Gabe Blakeley merely said out loud what the rest of the Brown County players were thinking to themselves. When the time arrives for the Hornets to leave the baseball field for the final time this spring, they want to be carrying one thing with them. “The state championship trophy,” Blakeley said. Thanks…

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Fifth-inning outburst enables Ducks to fly past Hornets and into sectional championship game

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Karsyn Moorman waited, then delivered.  The Brown County softball team’s left-handed-hitting first baseman drilled a two-run single after Havana made a pitching change in the second inning to give the Hornets a 5-0 lead in Wednesday’s Class 1A Jacksonville Routt Sectional semifinal. The Hornets were in a position to avenge their lone…

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Moorman, Hornets keep magical season moving forward with regional championship

Brown County pitcher Taryn Moorman allowed just six singles in a 10-0 victory over Western on Friday in the Class 1A regional championship in Mount Sterling, Ill. Submitted photo

MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — As usual, Taryn Moorman was in complete control. That should not have come as a surprise, considering what she had already accomplished during her junior season as the ace of the Brown County softball team. “Taryn throws strikes,” Brown County coach David Woodruff said. “She also works quickly and never gets…

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20/20 vision: Raiders win 11th straight game to reach 20-victory plateau

Quincy Notre Dame center fielder Ben Kasparie drove in four runs in Monday's 12-3 victory over Brown County in Mount Sterling, Ill. Matt Schuckman file photo

MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — The ability to produce in every spot in the order is what has made the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team a 20-win season. A never-say-die attitude has done the same for Brown County. Monday, glimpses of both were evident. The Raiders sent 11 batters to the plate in the second inning,…

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Area Distributors Area Player of the Week: Brown County’s Gabe Blakeley

Brown County senior Gabe Blakeley and the Hornets are off to a 7-0 start with Blakeley hitting .519 after going 7 for 10 in his last three games. Submitted photo

MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — Gabe Blakeley’s success and the 7-0 start for the Brown County baseball team are going hand-in-hand. In his last three games, Blakeley has gone 7 for 10 with five runs scored, four RBIs and three doubles as the Hornets outscored their opponents 38-2 in that stretch. That included a 4-for-4 effort…

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Duck hunting: Brown County girls ramp up defensive pressure to beat Havana, win regional title

The Brown County girls basketball team won the Class 1A Lewistown Regional by beating Havana 58-29 Saturday. Submitted photo

LEWISTOWN, Ill. — The Brown County girls basketball team turned up the defensive heat to cook the Havana Ducks. The Hornets limited Havana to just three made field goals in the first half and scored 18 consecutive points during a six-minute stretch overlapping the second and third quarters Saturday afternoon to roll to a convincing…

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Quick start, suffocating defense carry Hornets into Thursday’s regional championship

Brown County coach Dave Phelps has the Hornets on the verge of a 30-win season and a Class 1A regional championship. Matt Schuckman photo

LEWISTOWN, Ill. — The second-seeded Brown County girls basketball team scored the first 10 points of the fourth quarter to extend its lead to 20 points and finish off a 63-41 victory over sixth-seeded Lewistown in Monday’s semifinals of the Class 1A Lewistown Regional. Ahead 43-33 entering the fourth quarter after managing just eight points…

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Illinois girls basketball state rankings: QND heads into postseason No. 1 in Class 2A

Quincy Notre Dame guard Blair Eftink, left, and the Raiders will head into the postseason as the No. 1-ranked team in Class 2A. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — In the final state rankings before the Illinois girls basketball postseason begins, not much changed for the area teams. Quincy Notre Dame remains ranked No. 1 in Class 2A and Illini West is No. 3, although the Chargers are now tied with Pana, which is enjoying a 29-1 season and has not lost…

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Crim: Pursuit of success and regional glory strengthens bond between Brown County’s Flynn twins

Brown County's Flynn twins — Klare on the left, Katey on the right — have guided the Hornets to a Class 1A state ranking with the goal of winning a regional championship. Matt Schuckman photo

MOUNT STERLING, Ill. – Katey and Klare Flynn, identical twins born one minute apart and virtually inseparable since, are best friends off the basketball court. “It helps that we’re around each other all the time,” said Klare, who entered the world second. “We’re like the same person. We like all the same things. We do…

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Mustangs, Chargers to renew acquaintances once again, this time for title of CSE Classic

Unity coach Brad Begeman gives Caroline Knox a hug after she made two free throws with 3.7 seconds remaining in regulation to beat Brown County 46-45 in the semifinals of the CSE Classic on Thursday night in Camp Point, Ill. Matt Schuckman photo

CAMP POINT, Ill. — Here we go with round three. Caroline Knox did her part to make it happen with two clutch free throws. The Illini West girls basketball team’s defense held up its end of the equation. Now, two state-ranked foes will meet for the third time in 17 days and the second time…

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