Titans use third-quarter blitz to bury Golden Eagles, gain momentum for matchup with Bullets

West Hancock forward Nolan Gooding puts up a shot over a Mercer County defender during Wednesday night's game at Red Rogers Gymnasium in Hamilton, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

HAMILTON, Ill. — The West Hancock boys basketball team’s second-half plan was quite simple — put Mercer County away. The Titans went on a 9-2 run in the first three minutes of the second half and outscored the Golden Eagles 26-11 in the third quarter to run away with a 69-31 victory Wednesday night at…

Read More

Illini West’s Bentzinger, Liberty’s Gimm, West Hancock’s Gooding finish with state track medals

Illini West senior Ian Bentzinger runs in the 100-meter dash finals at the Class 1A boys state track and field championships Saturday at O'Brien Stadium in Charleston, Ill. | Photo courtesy Clark Brooks, PhotoNews Media

CHARLESTON, Ill. — Ian Bentzinger’s legacy will be a spot among the top sprinters in Illini West history. That’s a storied list. The senior captured two state medals Saturday at the Class 1A boys state track and field championships at Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Stadium, finishing fourth in the 100-meter dash and fifth in the…

Read More