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By Erich Murphy Bingo Magic Sports Despite inclement weather most of the weekend, there was plenty of action taking place on the ball diamonds. Pontiac scored its first baseball win while Monmouth-Roseville also garnered a victory. West Central triumphed on the softball field. Pontiac Baseball At Jacksonville, Pontiac split a pair of games at the Future Champions Jamboree baseball event on April 4. The Indians opened with a 13-3 loss to PORTA. The Blue Jays scored early and p

By Erich Murphy Bingo Magic Sports Caden Castleman belted a three-run homer to help lead El Paso-Gridley past Pontiac in a nonconference baseball tilt Monday. Meanwhile, Lexington scored victories over Midland on the baseball and softball diamonds. Caden Castleman crosses the plate after belting a three-run homer against Pontiac. Castleman drove in four runs in the Titans’ 11-5 victory. Greeting Castleman are Blake Harris (25), Carson Dohman and Owen Adams (10).   (Erich Murp

By Erich Murphy Bingo Magic Sports Dwight posted three wins, United scored a won and tie and Monmouth-Roseville claimed its first victory in decisive fashion over West Central in area baseball from the weekend. Lexington had a tough southern trip but came home triumphantly. Dwight Baseball At Dwight, the Trojans held off a late rally to complete its Tri-County Conference sweep of Woodland with a 4-3 win at home on March 26. DTHS led 4-0 before the Warriors plated three runs i

By Erich Murphy Bingo Magic Sports West Central dominated in its game with Galesburg over the weekend. Dwight and Prairie Central each played three times and United had tough go in area softball play. West Central 13, Galesburg 1 At Galesburg, a seven-run first inning helped West Central derail the host Silver Streaks 13-1 in a no conference softball game on March 26. The Heat burned Galesburg for two more runs in the third and polished of the hosts with a four-spot in the fi

By Erich Murphy Bingo Magic Sports Dwight and Fieldcrest each experienced the joy of victory and the agony of defeat as they split their baseball and softball games Monday. Monmouth-Roseville and Lexington-Ridgeview also garnered wins on the diamond. Dwight 11, Fieldcrest 1 At Dwight, Taylor Heath spotted Fieldcrest a run in the top of the first, but her Trojans teammates scored twice in the bottom of the frame to lead Dwight to an 11-1 softball victory at DTHS. Lexi Watkins

West Central and Lexington-Ridgeview each took care of business decisively with a pair of run-rule victories on the first weekend of the 2026 high school softball season. West Central 12, Hall 1 At Jacksonville, West Central came out swinging by plating eight runs in the top of the first inning en route to a 12-1 drubbing of Spring Valley (Hall) at Future Champions Sports Complex. Becca Hinshaw led the game off with a two-base hit, and then five of the next Heat batters singl

Lexington and Monmouth (United) each scored two wins in the first weekend of prep baseball. Prairie Central and West Central each split a pair of contests while Monmouth-Roseville and WFC came up short in their only contests. Lexington 8, Clinton 0 At Clinton, Blaine Friedmansky belted two home runs and threw a scoreless inning in relief as Lexington cruised to an 8-0 nonconference victory over host Clinton on Friday. Friedmansky went yard in the second inning to give the Min

FAIRBURY — Although the game was played on Prairie Central’s field, the Hawks garnered a road win Thursday with a 7-4 decision over Dwight in conference play at PCHS. Faith Fields delivers a pitch for Prairie Central against Dwight Thursday. Fields struck out 10 in picking up the victory in the circle. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports) The victory was the lone triumph for the Bingo Magic Sports area teams on what was opening day for most of them. Prairie Central 7, Dwight 4

By Erich Murphy Bingo Magic Sports WILMINGTON — Although Pontiac suffered a 66-40 loss to Byron at the Class 2A Wilmington Supersectional on Monday, the Indians will still have their girls’ basketball dream season as a lasting memory. Jo Duck puts up a shot for Pontiac in supersectional play Monday at Wilmington. Duck scored a team-high 12 points for the Indians. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports) “In June, our goal was top two or maybe three in conference,” Pontiac head coac

Woodland has been enjoying quite a run this season. The Warriors have surpassed 20 wins, won a conference title and, on Friday, secured a regional championship for the first time in more than 35 years by knocking out Newark 57-38 at the Warrior Dome. Woodland joins Pontiac and Ridgeview as Bingo Magic Sports area teams to advance to the sectional level in boys’ basketball. Woodland 57, Newark 38 At Woodland, a fast start got the host Warriors rolling in the Class 1A Woodland

By Erich Murphy Bingo Magic Sports MANTENO — With sharpshooter Evan Wolfe still sidelined, Pontiac was in need of a long-range threat to help keep its season rolling. One stepped up at a crucial time Friday. Anderson Horning lines up his 3-point shot during Friday’s regional final game at Manteno. Horning his six 3-pointers and scored 18 points to lead the Indians to a 63-39 victory over PBL. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports) Anderson Horning drilled half a dozen 3-pointers

By Erich Murphy Bingo Magic Sports Pontiac won its girls’ basketball sectional semifinal game on Tuesday, and that was sweet. On Thursday, the Indians went one step farther in topping Manteno, which makes them elite. There is joy in the Chief City as Pontiac’s girls’ basketball team celebrates moments after winning the Class 2A Pontiac Sectional tournament Thursday. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports) By virtue of the 46-44 victory in the final of the Class 2A Pontiac Sectiona

El Paso-Gridley needed overtime to advance while Fieldcrest, Lexington and Woodland moved on as each posted wins Wednesday to advance to the regional championship round in their respective tournaments. Coming up short in regional semifinals included Prairie Central, Flanagan-Cornell and Dwight. Herscher Regional At Herscher, the best game of the night for the Bingo Magic Sports teams was this Class 2A battle between El Paso-Gridley and Prairie Central. The Titans were able to

By Erich Murphy Bingo Magic Sports MANTENO — At this point of the season, teams follow the simple mantra made famous by longtime Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis — Just win, baby! Amazin King of Pontiac goes in for two of his team-high 19 points in the Indians’ 48-41 Class 2A Manteno Regional semifinal win over Coal City. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports) That’s what Pontiac did Wednesday evening in the first semifinal game of the Class 2A Manteno Regional. The Indians took ca

By Erich Murphy Bingo Magic Sports There will be some history made Thursday should Pontiac win its game with Manteno. The Indians will establish a new program record for wins in a single season as well as winning the first sectional title in more than 45 years. Pontiac’s Morgan Dewald tries to bring the ball up the court in front of head coach Brad Harmon. ( Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports ) Pontiac reached this point when other rolled past Bishop McNamara 46-32 Tuesday in t

There were no big surprises regarding Bingo Magic Sports area teams as the like of Lexington, Woodland, Dwight, Monmouth-Roseville, Fieldcrest and Flanagan-Cornell came away with victories and a chance to play another day. Lexington’s Blaine Friedmansky looks to make a move against the Donovan defense in their Class 1A Lexington Regional quarterfinal game Monday at The Fort. Friedmansky scored 13 points as the minutemen won 84-22. ( Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports ) That othe

By Erich Murphy Bingo Magic Sports FAIRBURY — Pontiac didn’t make it easy on itself. Poor shooting and turnovers made things tough. But the Indians were able to overcome those problems to capture their first regional title in girls’ basketball in 18 years with a 38-35 win over Monticello Friday night. Trinity Miller takes a shot in the paint area Friday against Monticello. Miller scored 19 points to lead the Indians to their first regional title since 2008. ( Erich Murphy/Bin

Fieldcrest had a tough task at hand, while Dwight faced a familiar foe as both programs sought a regional championship on Thursday. Both teams saw their season come to an end after losing in the title round. Fieldcrest Regional At Minonk, host Fieldcrest knew its challenge was huge as the Knights faced top-seed and third-ranked Cissna Park in the final of the Class 1A Fieldcrest Regional. The Timberwolves claimed a 55-20 victory to advance to the Iroquois West Sectional. Ciss

Prairie Central’s senior boys’ basketball players won their final high school home game as the Hawks rolled past Beecher on Tuesday. Pontiac’s Senior Night celebration was dashed by a hot-shooting Sacred Heart-Griffin team. PTHS may still have an opportunity to play one more home game, but it will take four postseason victories to get back home. Prairie Central 75, Beecher 48 At Fairbury, led by a career-high scoring effort from Easton Friedman, all five seniors put up points

Fieldcrest’s girls scored a win on its home floor Monday while Dwight and Pontiac took care of business on the road as these teams advanced to regional championship games. Pontiac’s Celi Serna launches a 3-pointer against St. Thomas More defender Emerson Clark Monday. Serna scored 9 points in the Indians’ 51-20 win over the Sabers in regional play. ( Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports ) Bowing out of tournament play short of the title contests in the girls’ basketball postseason