By Ben Cox
Photos submitted
March has arrived with the winter sports season winding down and spring athletics beginning to take shape across the area. Several local teams wrapped up memorable postseason runs in basketball, while others are already shifting focus to the next season.
West Central’s season ends at super-sectional
The postseason run for the West Central girls basketball team came to an end on March 2 at the Pleasant Plains Super-Sectional, where the Cougars fell to a strong Brown County squad 51-39.
Brown County, which had already defeated West Central earlier in the season by a 65-43 margin, relied heavily on its size and physicality from the opening tip. The Lady Hornets established control early and maintained that advantage throughout the contest.
West Central’s star player Ali Little battled through adversity in the game. The junior standout suffered a hip injury early in the contest but continued to play through the pain. Despite the setback, Little still managed to produce a game-high 23 points, leading all scorers and keeping the Cougars within striking distance for much of the game.
In the end, Brown County’s physical presence proved too much to overcome, bringing West Central’s season to a close.
The Cougars finished the year with an impressive 27-9 record. The 27 victories matched the total posted by the program’s 2016–17 squad and capped off one of the most successful seasons in recent program history.
Brown County continued its impressive postseason run into the IHSA Class 1A State Tournament. The Lady Hornets opened state tournament play on March 5 in Bloomington-Normal, where they faced Mt. Pulaski. In a tightly contested matchup, Brown County battled into overtime before eventually falling 47-40.
Despite the disappointment of the semifinal loss, Brown County quickly regrouped and delivered a strong performance in the third-place game. The Lady Hornets defeated Rockford Christian 59-47 at CEFCU Arena to secure the third-place trophy.
The finish capped an outstanding season for Brown County, which ended the year with a 32-4 record—one of the best marks in program history. Perhaps even more promising for the program is the fact that the entire roster is expected to return next season. Brown County junior standout Kenzie Kassing and West Central junior Ali Little were also named to the Class 1A All-State First Team.
Jacksonville’s historic run ends in sectionals
The Jacksonville High School Crimsons boys basketball team saw their postseason journey come to an end on March 4 in Waterloo, falling to East St. Louis 82-50 in a sectional semifinal matchup. East St. Louis established control early with a dominant 24-5 run that put Jacksonville in an immediate hole.
The Crimsons struggled to slow down the Flyers’ offensive attack, and the early deficit proved difficult to overcome. The Crimsons reached the sectional round for the first time in 26 years, marking a significant accomplishment for the program. Jacksonville concluded the season with a 23-9 overall record, a campaign that will be remembered as one of the program’s most successful in the recent decade.
Routt makes history with first sectional title
Another Jacksonville team made history on March 6. The Routt Catholic High School Rockets captured the first sectional championship in the school’s boys basketball history with a thrilling 49-45 victory over Western Illinois Valley Conference rival Brown County in Nokomis.
The game featured standout performances from the Mossman brothers. Senior Bryson Mossman led the Rockets with 23 points, while his younger brother, Nolan Mossman, added 13 to help secure the win. The victory not only delivered Routt its first-ever sectional title but also marked the team’s 30th win of the season—a new school record.
With the win, the Rockets advanced to the Jacksonville Super-Sectional, where they lost to Goreville 60-43 at The Bowl on March 9.
Junior high volleyball postseason hopes alive
Several area elementary and junior high schools are continuing their postseason play in volleyball, with multiple teams advancing to sectional competition. In 7th Grade Class 1A, both Virginia Elementary and Carrollton’s St. John’s Elementary have earned spots in sectionals, representing their schools and communities on the regional stage.
Meanwhile, West Central and Calhoun will compete in 7th Grade Class 2A sectional play.
Several area junior high wrestlers also took to the mats over the weekend, competing in regional tournaments across the state including one meet here in Jacksonville.
Illinois College softball finds success in Florida
The Illinois College softball team wrapped up its annual Florida trip in strong fashion on Friday, March 6. The Lady Blues picked up victories in both games of the day, beginning with a 10-2 win over Simmons. The Lady Blues continued their strong play with an 8-0 victory over Alvernia in the night cap. With the two victories, Illinois College improved to 8-6 on the season.
Blueboys split doubleheader in Florida
The Illinois College baseball team also wrapped up action in Florida this past week. The Blueboys split a pair of seven-inning contests against Saint Mary’s of Minnesota on Friday, March 6, too. Illinois College opened the day with a strong 9-4 victory in the first game, using a productive offensive performance to secure the win. However, the Blueboys were unable to complete the sweep, falling 5-0 in the nightcap. Following the split, Illinois College stands at 5-3 on the season. The team still had one additional game in progress in Florida at the time of this writing before returning home to begin the heart of its spring schedule.
Illinois College launches women’s flag football
A historic moment in Illinois College athletics is underway as the school launches its first-ever women’s flag football program. The inaugural season officially kicked off March 8 in Chicago.
Leading the team is Jacksonville High School head football coach Mark Grounds, an Illinois College alumnus and widely respected figure in high school football coaching circles. Grounds brings extensive experience and leadership to the fledgling program.
The IC athletic department has announced that it will host a women’s flag football combine on April 6. The event will serve as an opportunity to recruit prospective athletes and continue expanding the program. Two local athletes will be part of the inaugural roster as freshmen. Abby Flowers, a Carrollton graduate and Ella Smith, of Jersey Community High School. The first home game is at England Stadium and is scheduled for March 21.
