By Ben Cox
Photos provided
Area sports are beginning their transition. Winter sports are winding down with all the drama of postseason competition.
West Central claims Bluffs Regional
One of the week’s headline matchups came in Bluffs, where two familiar area programs collided for a regional crown. When the final horn sounded, it was West Central celebrating a 44-20 victory to claim the Bluffs Regional championship.
Ali Little led the way with 16 points, while Paisley Sturtevant added 10 as the Cougars controlled the tempo from start to finish.
The regional title represents a step forward for West Central, which last season fell in the semifinals to a Carrollton squad that went on to finish second in the state. This year’s Cougars now turn their attention to the Bunker Hill Sectional, where they will face Carlyle in a semifinal matchup at 6 p.m. on Feb. 24. Last year’s Class 1A state runner-up, Carrollton, also saw its season end this week. The Hawks fell Friday night to Nokomis in the bottom half of the 1A bracket.
For Triopia, the postseason road ended in Bluffs. The Lady Trojans finished the season 19-11 overall and tied for second place in the West Illinois Valley Conference (WIVC).
2A action: Plains advances, South County falls
In Class 2A, Pleasant Plains delivered one of the most decisive wins of the week, rolling past New Berlin-South County 56-11. The loss ended the Lady Vipers’ season, while Plains continued towards March Madness in Bloomington. New Berlin-South County finishes the season 19-13 overall.
PORTA A/C remains in the hunt after an impressive 46-32 victory over Macomb on the road. Winning in a hostile postseason environment is never easy, and PORTA’s defensive discipline and execution down the stretch proved critical.
Illinois School for the Deaf brings home hardware
A couple of weeks ago, the Illinois School for the Deaf (ISD) made the trip to Oklahoma for the GPSD Basketball Tournament—and returned home with medals, trophies and all-star honors.
The ISD boys team opened strong with a 62-24 quarterfinal win over Iowa. They fell in the semifinals to New Mexico, 34-17, before battling Kansas in the third-place game. Kansas edged Illinois 33-31 in a tight contest, but the effort secured a fourth-place finish in a competitive field.
Aaron Colbert and Orlando Chestner were named Boys All-Stars for their outstanding performances throughout the tournament.
The ISD girls team enjoyed a dominant run to the championship. Illinois opened with a 47-19 win over Kansas, followed by a 46-16 semifinal victory against New Mexico. In the title game, Illinois defeated Wisconsin 34-17 to capture the tournament championship.
Zaniah Greer and Celine Kuhn earned Girls All-Star honors, while the team also claimed first place in the Girls’ Free Throw Contest—showcasing both team and individual excellence.
Adding to the accolades, Covina Kuhn was named a Cheerleading All-Star, rounding out a highly successful trip for ISD athletics.
ISD and ISVI swimmers head to State
Postseason excitement isn’t limited to the hardwood. The pool will also feature strong local representation at the IHSA State Finals in Westmont. Illinois School for the Deaf standout Colin Kuhn continued to build on his already impressive resume. Competing at the IHSA Boys Swimming Sectional in Edwardsville, Kuhn finished first in all three of his events—the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle and 200-yard freestyle. Now a four-time IHSA State Qualifier, Kuhn advances to the IHSA State Finals in Westmont with significant momentum.
The Illinois School for the Visually Impaired (ISVI) will also be well represented at state. After competing in Edwardsville, four ISVI swimmers qualified in three events:
50-Yard Freestyle:
Darrin McKeag and Omar Lopez
100-Yard Freestyle:
Daniel Olsen and Peyton Teel
200-Yard Freestyle:
Daniel Olsen and Peyton Teel
Jacksonville wrestlers compete at State
Jacksonville High School sent two wrestlers back to the IHSA State Tournament this year.
Dashawn Armstrong (126 pounds) and Jordan Kholian (132 pounds) both earned return trips to state competition—an accomplishment in itself given the depth of talent across Illinois wrestling.
While both fell in their opening-round matches, reaching state and ranking among the Top 16 wrestlers in their respective weight classes is no small feat. The girls will get their shot this weekend.
Routt Catholic volleyball adds assistant coach
Looking ahead to fall sports, Routt Catholic High School Volleyball announced the addition of assistant coach Bella Powell.
A 2020 Routt graduate, Powell returns to her alma mater with extensive playing experience. After high school, she competed at Lincoln Land Community College while earning her associate degree. She later transferred to Tennessee Technological University, where she completed her bachelor’s degree while playing three more years at the collegiate level.
Powell currently serves as a graduate assistant for the indoor volleyball team at Tennessee Tech. She expressed excitement about returning home and giving back to the program that helped shape her athletic and academic journey.
Routt bowler caps historic careerRoutt Catholic High School senior
Avanel Jones wrapped up her standout bowling career at the IHSA Girls Bowling Sectional at Town and Country Lanes in Joliet.
Jones rolled games of 166, 135, 191, 147, 223 and 161 for a six-game series total of 1,013 pins. She placed 25th out of 117 competitors individually and finished 41st overall.
Her sectional performance caps one of the most accomplished careers in program history. Highlights include:
– Three-time Sectional qualifier
– Three-time Team MVP
– Two-time Team MIP
– 2025 Kegler Classic Champion
– Holder of numerous single-game and series records
Jones leaves Routt as the most decorated bowler in school history.
Illinois College: Thrillers and farewells
The regular season concluded in dramatic fashion for Illinois College basketball. The Illinois College men’s basketball team secured a 63-62 victory over Monmouth in Midwest Conference action at Sherman Gymnasium. With just 0.4 seconds remaining, Ty Lenhardt calmly drilled two free throws to seal the win. The Blueboys finished the regular season 12-13 overall and 9-7 in conference play. Late-game composure often defines seasons, and Lenhardt’s clutch performance provided a fitting close to the regular schedule.
The Illinois College women’s team delivered an 82-61 victory over Monmouth on Senior Day. The Lady Blues built a commanding first-quarter lead and never looked back. Seniors Amya Mayes and Jayln Patterson were honored prior to tip-off in the final game of the 2025-26 season. Illinois College closed the year at 12-13 overall and 8-8 in Midwest Conference play.
Despite uncooperative winter weather, Illinois College baseball and softball officially opened their seasons this past week. Recaps and highlights from those matchups will be featured in next week’s edition. Meanwhile, Illinois College track and field athletes head to Iowa for the Midwest Conference meet.
