Muddy River Showcase Spotlight: Unity’s Kyra Carothers

By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor | May 9, 2023
Three-sport standout Kyra Carothers will represent Unity in the Muddy River Showcase, taking place June 17 at John Wood Community College's Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

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. MENDON, Ill. — A…

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Havana speeds up Unity girls to pull off upset in Class 1A regional championship game

By BEN MARTH | February 17, 2023
Kyra Carothers scored 16 points for Unity in Thursday night's Class 1A regional championship game at Havana. | File photo by David Adam

HAVANA, Ill. — The style the Unity girls basketball team prefers to play was a mirror image of how they were defended on Thursday. “We speed people up a lot, and tonight, we got sped up,” Mustangs coach Brad Begeman said. Havana, ranked No. 9 in the final Associated Press Class 1A poll, forced 15…

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Blazing start helps top-seeded Unity claim Lady Tiger Classic for first time in school history

By David Adam, MRN Editor | December 30, 2022
Unity's Sophia Shaffer, left, drives on Brown County's Ashlee Markert during the championship game of the Beardstown Lady Tiger Classic on Thursday night in Beardstown, Ill. | David Adam photo

BEARDSTOWN, Ill. — Unity’s Kyra Carothers would have rather been anywhere else this week than the Beardstown Lady Tiger Classic. “If I’m really honest with you, I dread this tournament,” she said. “It’s right after Christmas, and I just I want my break and blah, blah, blah.” Carothers also knows how much Unity coach Brad…

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Spotting top-ranked Brimfield 14-point lead on its home court too much for Unity girls to overcome

By David Adam, MRN Editor | February 25, 2022
Unity's Kyra Carothers goes between Brimfield's Ellie Doe, left, and Sophie Bedell during Thursday night's Class 1A girls basketball sectional championship game at Brimfield High School. Carothers finished with 15 points in the game. | David Adam

BRIMFIELD, Ill. — Unity girls basketball coach Brad Begeman knew his team needed to play well early to prove it belonged on the same court as No. 1-ranked Brimfield and take the home crowd out of the game. The first eight minutes, however, couldn’t have gone any worse. Brimfield forced No. 7 Unity into nine…

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