‘I’m glad we could get one for her’: Saukees grind out win in first game since Ramsey’s death

By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer | February 15, 2025
Pittsfield junior guard Taylor Graham shoots a free throw during the fourth quarter of Friday's game against Western in Barry, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

BARRY, Ill. — Taylor Graham had no doubt he got some heavenly help to allow his pivotal free throw to rattle in. “It definitely felt like it,” Graham said. “To be honest, out of the hand, I thought I missed it.” That free throw, which came with 13.6 seconds left and gave the Pittsfield boys…

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Schuckman: Sending thank you letter to Reese Ramsey for impacting our lives in positive way

By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor | February 12, 2025
Pittsfield freshman guard Reese Ramsey passed away after being involved in a three-vehicle wreck outside of Pittsfield on Tuesday night. | Matt Schuckman photo

Editor’s note: Tuesday night, Pittsfield freshman Reese Ramsey, the leading scorer on the Saukees girls basketball team that finished the regular season with a 24-4 record, passed away after she and two teammates were involved in a three-vehicle wreck on Highway 106. Both teammates are currently hospitalized. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman wrote this…

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Saukees stop Titans’ second-half run, extend lead back to double digits in Shootout victory

By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor | February 9, 2025
West Hancock guard Grace Grothaus brings the ball up the court while being defended by Pittsfield's Reese Ramsey during Saturday's game in the KHQA/American Family Insurance Superfan Shootout at The Pit. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — An 18-point halftime lead steadily dwindled to four points by the start of the fourth quarter. Yet, the Pittsfield girls basketball team never panicked. “I like how we never felt like, ‘Oh, my gosh, they’re coming back,’” senior forward Madison Frieden said. “I felt we were pretty level-headed.” A Frieden layin with four…

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‘We got up and kept working’: Even in loss, Saukees prove they belong in conversation among state’s best

By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer | January 14, 2025
Pittsfield girls basketball coach Noah Mendenhall high fives Sophie Gengler as she comes to the bench during Monday night's game against Quincy Notre Dame at Voshall Gym in Pittsfield, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Pittsfield girls basketball coach Noah Mendenhall knows one result does not define a season. But in the Saukees’ case, one game could provide a snapshot of a team’s potential. On Monday, the state-ranked Saukees rallied from a 41-30 third quarter deficit against Quincy Notre Dame, the No. 2 team Class 3A, to…

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Saukees keep undefeated record intact after historic title run at Lady Tiger Classic

By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer | December 31, 2024
Pittsfield's Lila Simon, left, and Madison Frieden hoist the championship trophy the Pittsfield girls basketball team won with Monday night's 53-40 victory over West Hancock in the championship game of the Beardstown Lady Tiger Classic in Beardstown, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

BEARDSTOWN, Ill. — For the first 41 years of the Beardstown Lady Tiger Classic, the Pittsfield girls basketball team had never so much as reached the championship game. Now, in the 42nd edition, the Saukees have a tournament title to their name, and they will ring in the new year with a zero still in…

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