‘Everything just started going downhill’: Unable to regain momentum, Titans fall to Bluejays

West Hancock junior forward Jadyn Climer rises for a shot during Tuesday's Class 2A Illini West Regional semifinal game against Petersburg PORTA in Carthage, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

CARTHAGE, Ill. — The first four minutes of Tuesday’s Class 2A Illini West Regional semifinal game against Petersburg PORTA were everything West Hancock junior forward Jadyn Climer and the Titans girls basketball team could have asked for. “The energy was up,” Climer said. “We were like, ‘This is going to be a good game.’” Then…

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Endurance test: Chargers outlast Bluejays by seizing momentum in third set of sectional victory

Illini West middle blocker Madalyn Boyer, center, and her teammates react to winning a point during the third set of Monday night's Class 2A sectional semifinal victory over Petersburg PORTA in Pleasant Plains, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

PLEASANT PLAINS, Ill. — Only four times in 37 matches leading up to Monday night’s Class 2A sectional semifinals had the Illini West volleyball team engaged in a three-set marathon. And only once had the Chargers won. “I was kind of worried about that,” Illini West coach Dakota Lafferty said. So when the Chargers lost…

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Photo gallery: Illini West to play for sectional volleyball championship after dispatching PORTA

Illini West's Josie Bryan, left, and Madalyn Boyer, right, put up a block during Monday night's Class 2A sectional semifinal against Petersburg PORTA in Pleasant Plains, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

PLEASANT PLAINS, Ill. — Madalyn Boyer said every play gives the Illini West volleyball team confidence, and throughout Monday night’s Class 2A sectional semifinal against Petersburg PORTA — especially the final two sets — confidence grew. The Chargers outlasted the Bluejays 22-25, 25-21, 25-18 to advance to the sectional title match against Pleasant Plains at…

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