Posts Tagged ‘Brown County’
Brown County seventh graders rally to win IESA girls basketball state championship
RIVERTON, Ill. — Steadily, the Brown County seventh grade girls basketball team chiseled away the deficit until taking control of its fate in the fourth quarter Thursday night. The Hornets outscored Spring Valley Kennedy 8-4 in the final quarter and rallied for a 31-28 victory in the Illinois Elementary School Association Class 7-2A state championship…
Read MoreBrown County, LaHarpe seventh grade girls basketball teams to play for IESA state titles
RIVERTON, Ill. — The Brown County seventh grade girls basketball team will play for a state championship after remaining undefeated with a pair of victories Saturday in the Class 7-2A state tournament. The Hornets will be joined in the title pursuit by LaHarpe, which advanced to the Class 7-1A championship game. Liberty fell a game…
Read MoreHornets optimistic about future despite feeling some growing pains in loss to Cougars
MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — It’s been said that yoga pants and small children do not lie. Neither do scoreboards. Winchester West Central’s 63-39 boys basketball victory over Brown County was every bit as decisive as the final point spread might indicate. So why wasn’t Brown County coach Jeff Bottorff upset? He admitted Friday night he…
Read MoreThree area seventh grade girls basketball teams will play in state quarterfinals Saturday
QUINCY — Three area seventh grade girls basketball teams are headed to their respective Illinois Elementary School Association state tournaments after winning sectional championships Wednesday night. Brown County won the Class 7-2A sectional at Virginia with a 37-33 overtime victory against Carthage. The Hornets, who improved to 24-0, will face Effingham St. Anthony (20-3) in…
Read MoreSounds of silence: Panthers regain proper mentality following tourney loss, steamroll Hornets
MT. STERLING, Ill. — The Central-Southeastern girls basketball team didn’t need a pep talk. In fact, Panthers coach Matt Long had not spoken a word to his team from the moment they left the gym after their 56-37 loss to Breese Mater Dei on Saturday in the Pana Thanksgiving Tournament championship to when they took…
Read MoreRatchet up the intensity: Brown County takes control by wearing down Central with defense
MT. STERLING, Ill. — Brown County boys basketball coach Jeff Bottorff feared a championship hangover. The Hornets entered Monday’s game against Camp Point Central fresh off of a Beardstown Tournament championship in which they defeated Winchester West Central — the reigning Class 1A state champion — in Saturday’s title game and won four games in…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Rivals square off on hardwood as Brown County boys, Central-Southeastern girls win
MT. STERLING, Ill. — The rivalry between Brown County and Camp Point Central took center stage Monday night with the Brown County boys basketball team winning 62-34 and the Central-Southeastern girls winning 59-26 in the head-to-head matchups. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey was courtside and put together this photo gallery:
Read MoreHornets make statement with strong fourth quarter against Cougars, win tourney championship
BEARDSTOWN, Ill. — The Brown County boys basketball team made a statement not only Saturday, but throughout Thanksgiving week. The Hornets defeated reigning Class 1A state champion Winchester West Central 55-50 on Saturday to capture the Beardstown Tournament title. “This was an opportunity to gauge where we’re at and get a statement win,” Brown County…
Read MoreResilient effort from Saukees leads to strong second half, tournament championship
MT. STERLING, Ill. — When his team’s 10-point lead evaporated, Pittsfield girls basketball Noah Mendenhall was able to see what kind of character his team has. It’s a resilient one. The Saukees limited Brown County to two field goals in the third quarter Saturday night, regaining the lead and then getting points from five different…
Read MoreCountdown to tipoff: Hornets intent on raising some hell with their defensive pressure
Coverage of the Brown County boys basketball team brought to you by: MT. STERLING, Ill. — The “40 Minutes of Hell” play style made famous by Nolan Richardson’s men’s basketball teams at the University of Arkansas — which contributed to three Final Fours in six seasons and a 1994 national championship — is seeing a…
Read MoreCountdown to tipoff: Hornets’ wealth of returnees, top-notch scorers will lead to success
Coverage of the Brown County girls basketball team provided by: MT. STERLING, Ill. — Kenzie Kassing expected her scoring prowess to translate to the high school level, but 21.9 points per game on 58 percent shooting and a school-record 43 points in a game as a freshman at Brown County? Kassing herself could not have…
Read MoreRecord-setting efforts of QHS’s Little, QND’s Scott earn IHSFCA all-state honors
QUINCY — The most prolific passer in the history of the Quincy High School football program and the most prolific tackler Quincy Notre Dame has ever produced share common ground. One of Camp Point Central’s most acclaimed two-way players shares it, too. They are back-to-back first-team all-state selections. QHS senior quarterback Bradyn Little received all-state…
Read MoreHornets see season end when Warriors score twice in two-minute span of fourth quarter
MT. STERLING, Ill. — Two minutes decided the outcome, but it doesn’t change what two and a half months revealed. That’s the character of the Brown County football players. And that’s why Tom Little had to pause, fight back tears and collect himself before talking about the postgame huddle with the Hornets following Saturday’s 16-0…
Read MoreFullerton hauls in Little’s TD pass to complete game-winning drive as Hornets pull off upset
GREENFIELD, Ill. — There was no way Tyce Fullerton was dropping this pass, not with what was at stake. Fullerton hauled in what turned out to be the game-winning 14-yard touchdown pass from Brown County quarterback Vince Little with three minutes left in the Hornets’ 18-16 upset of fifth-seeded Greenfield-Northwestern in the first round of…
Read MorePlayoff primer: Taking inside look at first-round matchups for Illinois prep football teams
QUINCY — The first round of the Illinois High School Association football playoffs provides lengthy road trips, rematches and the start of title defenses. Six area teams qualified for the postseason with four earning first-round home games. Here is a look at each of the six games on top for Muddy River Sports area schools.…
Read MoreMiller, Panthers to face Mustangs with chance to win regional title on home floor
CAMP POINT, Ill. — When pressed, Lauren Miller will somewhat begrudgingly pick a preferred sport. “Basketball is probably my favorite, but I also enjoy volleyball a lot,” she said. “I have a lot of friends on both teams.” And make no mistake, Miller, a 5-foot-10 all-state basketball player for Camp Point Central, is pretty good…
Read MoreTicket punched: Hornets fight way back to playoffs as running game chews up victory over Wolves
MT. STERLING, Ill. — Tyce Fullerton couldn’t stomach missing the playoffs again. In 2023, it was out of his control. A torn ACL kept the Brown County running back and linebacker out for the final seven games of the season. The Hornets finished the campaign 3-6 and failed to reach the postseason for the first…
Read MoreBombers finish second, Pirates beat Blue Devils in cross-river rematch at QHS Invitational
QUINCY — After more than 10 hours of volleyball, it’s only fitting that the final match of Saturday’s Quincy High School Invitational provided another three-set thriller. Macomb outlasted Freeburg 25-13, 21-25, 15-9 to earn second place in the tournament. The Bombers fell behind 5-3 in the third set after a long, grueling rally that lasted…
Read MoreHornets run roughshod over Tigers, inch closer to fighting for potential playoff berth
BEARDSTOWN, Ill. — The Brown County football team has put itself in position to chase a playoff berth. Nothing will be easy about getting to five victories. Following Thursday night’s 57-0 victory over Beardstown in Western Illinois Valley Conference North Division play, the Hornets need two more victories to become playoff eligible with three games…
Read MoreNiekamp’s big runs in Central’s victory over Brown County help him make case for more carries
MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — Kadin Niekamp is already thinking ahead to next season. Niekamp is admittedly salivating at the chance to move into the Camp Point Central football team’s offensive backfield on a full-time basis, but has no problem waiting his turn in a program that produces effective running backs in the same fashion Nabisco…
Read MoreReturn investment: Sefton’s TD to open second half propels Hornets to WIVC North victory
MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — About the time Brown County sophomore Jack Sefton was finishing off his touchdown return to open the second half, there was a distinct sound accompanying his 80-yard sprint to the end zone. With each step Sefton advanced toward the first kick return score of his career, the slow hiss of momentum…
Read MoreChargers rally to knock off Panthers as Lady Suns Classic rolls toward championship Saturday
AUGUSTA, Ill. — Kennedy Gunning’s reaction said it all. In a rematch of a three-set roller coaster that took place just nine days ago, Gunning delivered the game-winning kill for the Illini West volleyball team in a 20-25, 25-18, 15-11 victory over Camp Point Central in Lady Suns Classic pool play Thursday. Her subsequent celebration…
Read MoreCountdown to kickoff: Hornets will lean on depth, returning experience to make return to playoffs
Coverage of the Brown County football program is brought to you by: MT. STERLING, Ill. — For a Brown County football program that has won 65 percent of its games over the past two decades with 16 playoff appearances and a handful of conference titles, the way the 2023 season played out can be described…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Brown County’s Dylan Reische discusses nicknames and returning to postseason
Coverage of the Brown County football program is brought to you by: MT. STERLING, Ill. — Dylan Reische gives the Brown County football team’s offensive line an experienced anchor at center and some personality. Anyone nicknamed “Chili” is bound to have character, right? Reische joined Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman on the tailgate of…
Read More‘The timing was right’: Bottorff takes over as Brown County boys basketball coach
MT. STERLING, Ill. — Retirement is coming at the perfect time for both Jeff Bottorff and the Brown County boys basketball program. The vice president of quality and training at DOT Foods since 2006, Bottorff will step away as a full-time employee at the end of May. Although he intends to continue serving as a…
Read MoreHornets take advantage of Blue Devils’ miscues in late innings to secure victory
MT. STERLING, Ill. — Beating a Class 4A program gave the Brown County baseball team a major boost heading into next week’s Class 1A regional. Vlad Rebarcak scored in the bottom of the sixth inning when Quincy High School was unable to turn an inning-ending double play, and Hornets pitcher Eli Staton finished a complete…
Read MoreCSE’s Miller leads brigade of area girls players receiving all-state honors from IBCA
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…
Read MoreBrown County eighth graders continue lockdown defense, win IESA Class 2A state championship
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…
Read MoreQuincy Catholic, Brown County eighth-grade boys basketball teams to play for IESA state titles on Thursday
The eighth-grade boys basketball teams from Quincy Catholic and Brown County will play for state championships on Thursday night after both won two games on Saturday. Quincy Catholic (19-3) will play at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Tolono Unity High School against Metamora (27-1) for the Class 8-3A title. The same teams met last year in…
Read MoreQuincy Catholic, Brown County, Griggsville-Perry earn IESA state tournament berths this weekend
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…
Read MoreQuick transition: Central jumps into basketball season with victory over Brown County
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…
Read MoreCentral-Southeastern girls clamp down defensively in fourth quarter to fend off Brown County
CAMP POINT, Ill. — This was not pretty by any stretch of the basketball imagination. “But we found a way to win when things were not going well,” Matt Long said. “I’ll compliment our girls for being able to do that.” Long, beginning his 31st year as Central-Southeastern girls coach, saw his club pull out…
Read MoreMatch-play mentality on back nine carries QND boys golf team to sectional championship
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…
Read MorePhoto gallery: State-ranked Central makes homecoming memorable with victory
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,…
Read MoreAnderson, Hornets ready to flex and muscle their way into playoff picture
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…
Read MoreQND’s Bunte, Pleasant Hill’s Lowe and Brown County’s Dunlap earn first-team all-state honors
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…
Read MoreBunch punctuates Blue Devils’ rally with walk-off single in victory over Hornets
QUINCY — The Quincy High School baseball team was the one putting together a late-inning rally this time. Blake Bunch singled with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh Thursday as Blue Devils walked off with a 3-2 victory over Brown County at the QHS field. The Blue Devils lost twice earlier in…
Read MoreMuddy River Showcase Spotlight: Brown County’s Katey Flynn
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. —…
Read MoreA Wink and a knock: Raiders celebrate Senior Day with enjoyable effort in shutout of Hornets
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…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND baseball team celebrates Senior Day with all 10 seniors in lineup
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…
Read MoreRobinson leads Bombers to one-run victory over Hornets in season opener
MACOMB, Ill. — A state-ranked showdown to open the prep softball season came down to the final at-bat just like everyone hoped it would. Macomb’s Kaitlyn Robinson scored the tying run in the bottom of the sixth inning and then worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning to preserve a 4-3 victory over Brown County. The Bombers…
Read MoreJWCC Prairie State Profile: Brown County softball team looks for experience to lead to more postseason success
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…
Read MoreHavana’s physical play slows Brown County in season-ending loss in sectional title game
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…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Brown County’s historic season ends in sectional championship game
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…
Read MoreFlip the switch: Halftime adjustments, resilient attitude carry Hornets into sectional title game
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…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Brown County advances to Class 1A sectional championship
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…
Read MoreQuincy Catholic, Brown County claim third-place trophies at IESA seventh-grade state basketball tournaments
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…
Read MoreIllinois girls basketball state rankings: Four area teams sit in top five in final regular-season poll
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…
Read MoreBrown 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…
Read MoreIllinois girls basketball state rankings: QND, CSE, Brown County, Unity all remain in polls
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…
Read MoreQuincy Catholic, Brown County seventh grade boys teams claim sectional championships
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…
Read MoreIllinois girls state basketball rankings: Brown County, Unity sit back-to-back at Nos. 4 and 5
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…
Read MoreFrantic finish boosts Central-Southeastern to championship of Lady Panther Classic
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…
Read MoreHornets end frustrating skid against Mustangs, earn spot in Lady Panther Classic title game
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…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Semifinals of CSE Lady Panther Classic set up epic championship game
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…
Read MoreIllinois girls basketball state rankings: QND stays atop Class 2A, Unity and Brown County in top five
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…
Read MorePlucking the Ducks: Brown County overwhelms Havana to earn spot in Beardstown title game
BEARDSTOWN, Ill. — Obviously, the victory itself was important for the Brown County girls basketball team. The 50-29 win Wednesday night over Havana moved the Hornets into the finals of the 40th Lady Tiger Classic at Beardstown High School while improving their record to 14-1. But of equal significance was how Brown County’s victory materialized.…
Read MoreQJHS, 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…
Read MoreThe Rundown: Solid debut for Hannibal girls, Pittsfield boys win opener, WIU women earn first victory
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…
Read MoreTrio of area’s best Illinois football players receive all-state honors from coaches association
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…
Read MoreMustangs finish with flourish to sweep Hornets and advance to Class 1A sectional
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,”…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Unity, Brown County advance to regional volleyball championship
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…
Read MoreBrown County junior high baseball team takes second at state tournament
EAST PEORIA, Ill. — Baseball teams in Brown County had quite a year. In June, the Hornets finished second at the Class 1A state baseball tournament, winning the first state trophy in any sport in Brown County High School history. Then Saturday, the Brown County junior high team duplicated the feat. Playing in the Class…
Read MoreSchuckman: Brown County, Central show how electric, energetic healthy rivalries can be
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…
Read MoreIf you’re happy and you know it: QND volleyball players’ enjoyment shows in dominant results
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…
Read MoreJWCC Prairie State Profile: Brown County’s Wort relishes experiencing memorable moments
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…
Read MoreHornets hit stride on opening drive, capture unique season opener with dominant effort
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…
Read MoreHornets’ Blakeley, Raiders’ Miller pick up all-state accolades from IHSBCA
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…
Read MoreQND’s Cornwell earns first-team all-state, six area softball players receive second-team honors
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…
Read MoreMuddy River Showcase: Brown County’s Fullerton uses skill set to be playmaker, leader in all sports
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…
Read More‘We hit them right at ’em’: Hornets see state title aspirations snuffed out by Cardinals’ defense
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.…
Read MoreSchuckman: Support of Brown County community helps Hornets see journey and legacy matter more than final outcome
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…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Brown County baseball team takes second at Class 1A state tournament
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…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Brown County baseball team celebrates memorable season
MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — The Brown County baseball team reached historic heights during the 2022 season. The Hornets went 28-5, setting the program’s single-season record for victories. They won the first sectional title in program history and became the first team in any sport at Brown County to reach a state final four. After finishing…
Read MoreChampionship dreams: Hornets wriggle out of seventh-inning jam, win state semifinal
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…
Read MoreHornets finish off Blakeley’s record-setting victory with faith, belief in each other
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…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Brown County beats Ottawa Marquette in Class 1A baseball state semifinals
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…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Brown County baseball coach Jared Hoots talks historic postseason run
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…
Read MoreBrown County pours heart and soul into supporting its state-bound baseball team
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…
Read MoreNo interfering with history: Hornets snuff out Hawks’ seventh-inning threat to reach state finals for first time ever
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…
Read MoreBrown County pitcher’s bulldogged nature guides Hornets to program’s biggest victory ever
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…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Brown County beats Carrollton in Class 1A baseball super-sectional
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…
Read MoreStandalone: Brown County’s Hoots and Wort celebrate super-sectional victory
Blakeley, Hornets move step closer to championship dreams with sectional semifinal victory
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…
Read MoreFifth-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…
Read MoreMoorman, Hornets keep magical season moving forward with regional championship
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…
Read MoreRegional championship gives Henry, Brown County’s seniors perfect sendoff
MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — Mason Henry’s last day as a high school senior received the perfect punctuation. Moments after exiting Brown County High School for the last time as a student, the left-hander pitched the Hornets baseball team to a Class 1A regional championship — on his home field, no less. Henry was in complete…
Read More20/20 vision: Raiders win 11th straight game to reach 20-victory plateau
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,…
Read MoreLaw-abiding outcome: Hornets score three times in ninth inning to hand Raiders first loss
QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame softball team fought the Law and the Law won. With two outs in the top of the ninth inning Wednesday and Brown County having already scored once in the frame to take the lead, the Raiders chose to intentionally walk Karsyn Moorman after a passed ball allowed both runners…
Read MoreArea Distributors Area Player of the Week: Brown County’s Gabe Blakeley
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…
Read MoreJensen Woods Camp is ready for Spring and Summer
What would you do if your daughter told you that all the summer camps she wanted to attend were full? Well, back in 1962, Everett Jensen donated 40 acres of his own land to the Central Illinois Conference of Methodist Churches to solve his daughter’s problem. Thus, Jensen Woods Camp was born. Located in Brown…
Read MoreDuck hunting: Brown County girls ramp up defensive pressure to beat Havana, win regional title
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…
Read MoreQuick start, suffocating defense carry Hornets into Thursday’s regional championship
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…
Read MoreIllinois girls basketball state rankings: QND heads into postseason No. 1 in Class 2A
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…
Read MoreCrim: Pursuit of success and regional glory strengthens bond between Brown County’s Flynn twins
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…
Read MoreMustangs, Chargers to renew acquaintances once again, this time for title of CSE Classic
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…
Read MoreCentral-Southeastern Classic: State-ranked teams roll through first two games
CAMP POINT, Ill. — The three state-ranked teams in the Central-Southeastern Classic field showed why they are so highly regarded with a pair of victories apiece on the tournament’s opening day. The host school showed it belongs in the conversation, too. Illini West, ranked fourth in Class 2A and the tournament favorite after winning the…
Read MoreSpringfield Lutheran ends Brown County’s magical season in sectional title match
GREENFIELD, Ill. — The pride poured out in Katie Berens’ tears, hugs and appreciation for everything the Brown County volleyball team accomplished. Words were a little harder to come by in the wake of a season-ending loss. “There probably aren’t the right words to describe it,” Berens said after the Hornets lost 22-25, 25-20, 25-13…
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