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Like the girls’ team, El Paso-Gridley’s boys pulled off an upset of state-ranked Dee-Mack in Heart of Illinois Conference play Friday. Woodland and Prairie Central also garnered victories in their respective leagues. EPG 67, Dee-Mack 61 At El Paso, a fourth-quarter rally lifted El Paso-Gridley past state-ranked Dee-Mack 67-61 in Heart of Illinois Conference play Friday. For the combined EPG boys and girls programs, it was the second upset of the Chiefs in as many nights. Dee-

By Erich Murphy Bingo Magic Sports TOLONO — Pontiac entered Friday’s game against host Tolono (Unity) with a chance to do something that hadn’t been done in program history in more than 20 years — win a conference championship. The Indians’ hopes of bringing home that hardware were dashed as the Rockets posted a 77-65 victory in the Illini Prairie Conference finale for both teams. Cayden Masching tries to take a shot with the left hand against the defense of Tolono’s Carter S

It’s hard to generate better momentum heading into the postseason than bumping off a top-ranked team in the state. But that’s what happened for El Paso-Gridley as the Titans upset Dee-Mack Thursday night. Monmouth (United), Dwight and Tri-Point also garnered victories in regular-season finales. EPG 48, Dee-Mack 39 At El Paso, although Dalia DeJesus didn't play, Class 1A top-ranked Dee-Mack is still a tough challenge for any team. El Paso-Gridley head coach Sarah Webster had h

By Erich Murphy Bingo Magic Sports Pontiac’s girls’ basketball senior members combined for 42 points in leading the Indians to a 65-34 victory over Herscher Thursday. It was Senior Night and Morgan Dewald, Jo Duck, Grace Lanning and Trinity Miller were recognized before the game. PTHS head coach Brad Harmon started the quartet in their final regular-season game, and they were able to lead the way from the start. They combined for 12 of the Tribe’s 19 points in the first quart

DWIGHT — Kayden Wood saved his best for last as he led a balanced Dwight attack in the fourth quarter that lifted the Trojans to a 66-60 nonconference boys’ basketball victory over Wilmington on Wednesday. Dwight found itself trailing its former Interstate Eight Conference rival by seven points heading into the final eight minute-period. The Wildcats were up 49-42 and had momentum after outscoring DTHS 24-16 in the third frame. The Trojans responded with their own 24-point ef

El Paso-Gridley and Prairie Central each claimed conference wins on their home floors, while Dwight and the PC girls came up short in non league contests Tuesday. Prairie Central 53, Monticello 36 At Fairbury, Prairie Central is finding its groove at the right time as the Hawks won their fourth game in the last five outings with a 53-36 victory over Monticello in an Illini Prairie Conference tilt. Defense was the key as Prairie Central opened with a 12-2 advantage after the o

By Erich Murphy Bingo Magic Sports A win over state-ranked Tolono (Unity) on Friday will give Pontiac the Illini Prairie Conference championship outright. It’s been awhile since the Indians claimed a league crown. Pontiac, which is ranked 14th last week, overpowered 19th-ranked St. Joseph-Ogden, 73-51, to get into a position to play for the league title. “I’m proud of our guys and excited for them to go out and get the opportunity to play for the conference,” Starker said. Am

Prairie Central garnered a nonconference win at home and Dwight scored a road victory in rare Monday games for the boys. Meanwhile, El Paso-Gridley secured a Heart of Illinois Conference decision at home in girls’ basketball. In other contests, Fieldcrest topped Woodland in boys’ hoops, but the FHS girls fell to Normal (U-High). Prairie Central 83, Olympia 27 At Fairbury, the host Hawks came firing by dropping 32 points on Olympia in the first quarter on the way to an 83-27 v

Fieldcrest and El Paso-Gridley fell behind early in their respective games Saturday, and neither were able to complete comebacks in nonconference contests. Midland 62, Fieldcrest 38 At Varna, host Midland jumped out to a comfortable lead in the first quarter and went on to post a 62-38 victory over Fieldcrest in girls’ basketball play. The Timberwolves jumped out to a 21-6 lead in the first quarter and increased the margin to 36-17 by halftime. Fieldcrest fell behind 55-31 he

By Erich Murphy Bingo Magic Sports Super sub Evan Wolf did what he does best — shoot the rock — as the junior helped lead Pontiac to a 66-60 victory over Prairie Central in an Illini Prairie Conference boys’ basketball contest Friday at PTHS. Griffin Tredennick of Prairie Central gets double teamed by Pontiac’s Amazin King, left, and Evan Wolf. ( Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports ) Wolf is Mr. Instant Offense for the Indians as was witnessed against the Hawks. He hit two 3-poin

It was Doug’s Lexington Minutemen getting the better of Brian’s Flanagan-Cornell Falcons in a battle of the Yoder brothers at The Fort on Friday. The win pushes Lexington to the 20-win plateau for the season. Fieldcrest also protected the home court in a Heart of Illinois Conference win over Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley. El Paso-Gridley came up short in an overtime decision at Eureka, while Dwight and Woodland claimed wins in Tri-County Conference play. Monmouth-Roseville fell t

TeriLynn Timmerman had a huge scoring night in leading Fieldcrest to a come-from-behind victory over Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley in Heart of Illinois Conference girls’ basketball Thursday. El Paso-Gridley hit a dry spell late in falling to Eureka in HOIC play Thursday and West Central lost to Stark County in Lincoln Trail play Wednesday. Also on Wednesday, Dwight’s boys handled Putnam County in a Tri-County Conference tilt at John Kresl Memorial Gymnasium. Fieldcrest 59, GCMS 5

By Erich Murphy Bingo Magic Sports FAIRBURY — Pontiac put together a huge run in a span of slightly more than 4 1/2 minutes in the first half that vaulted the Indians into the lead in their Illini Prairie Conference girls’ basketball game against host Prairie Central. PTHS was challenged the rest of the way but left town with a 64-51 victory and a league title. Pontiac’s Grace Lanning tries to maintain control of the ball as Anna Cutrell of Prairie Central tries to slap it aw

In midweek scheduling setup for the Illini Prairie Conference, Pontiac and Prairie Central were able to play a home-and-home boys and girls set Tuesday night with each claiming victories at home and on the road. Pontiac’s girls took care of business at home against Monticello while the guys won on the Sages’ home floor. Prairie Central claimed the boys’ contest at home against Rantoul while ladies claimed a league win against the Eagles at RHS. Pontiac’s Trinity Miller gains

Myli Ehrhardt registered a double double, including matching a career-high in scoring to lead El Paso-Gridley to a 59-46 victory over Olympia in nonconference girls’ basketball Monday. Ehrhardt dropped 33 points on the Spartans, matching her career-best. She also collected 10 rebounds on the night. The single-game scoring record in the EPG girls’ program history is 38 points from Kindi Bullard in a December 2008 game against Fisher. Behind Ehrhardt, the Titans jumped out to a

Pontiac was able to remain unbeaten in Illini Prairie Conference play with a victory at home over Paxton-Buckley-Loda in a rare regular-season boys’ basketball Thursday contest. Meanwhile, Ivory Bryant stepped in for an injured Macy Gochanour and helped rally Fieldcrest past El Paso-Gridley on Senior Night for the FHS girls. Pontiac’s Amazin King, left, and Anderson Horning trap Jack Wesslund of Paxton-Buckley-Loda in the backcourt in their game Thursday. ( Erich Murphy/Bingo

Top-seed Woodland was able to pull away late for a 59-51 victory over fifth-seed Dwight to advance to the championship game of the Tri-County Conference tournament Wednesday. Nolan Price guided the Warriors (15-6) with 23 points. He drilled seven 3-pointers to push his season total to 90. He is third on the career list with 200, just one behind Kyle Voytko (201 from 2015-18) and 17 behind the all-time WHS leader and current head coach Connor Kaminke (217 from 2008-11). The ga

Pontiac and Prairie Central capture road wins in Illini Prairie Conference boys’ basketball, while Lexington and El Paso-Gridley claim wins in Heart of Illinois play Tuesday night. And, Dwight nabbed a victory in the Tri-County Conference tournament. Pontiac 45, Rantoul 36 At Rantoul, Pontiac’s defense was the difference as the Indians overcame a poor shooting night in topping host Rantoul 45-36. The highlight was PTHS shutting out the Eagles in the fourth quarter. Trailing 3

El Paso-Gridley triumphant in boys’ and girls’ contests; Hayes reaches milestone El Paso-Gridley captured a Heart of Illinois Conference victory in girls’ basketball play on Monday, while the EPG boys scored a nonconference win over Delavan in a makeup contest from December. Braden Hayes reached a scoring milestone in the boys’ victory. In other action, Fieldcrest handled Lexington in a Heart of Illinois girls’ contest and the West Central girls fell to Knoxville. EPG 53, Fis

El Paso-Gridley’s boys’ and girls’ basketball teams came away with a pair of victories as the Titans hosted the consolation finals contests of the McLean County Tournament Saturday. The EPG boys outlasted Lexington to place third while the girls topped rival Fieldcrest for a fifth-place finish. EPG 80, Lexington 71 Braden Hayes set a new career high of 35 points in single-game scoring as he led El Paso-Gridley to third place of the McLean County Tournament. He scored 10 point