ALAH boys earn two LPC victories; have won 3 straight conference games

By Mike Monahan

SULLIVAN – As the boys regular season winds down the Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond team has picked up three of its last four victories, including three straight Lincoln Prairie Conference wins. Last week they added the second and third straight by downing Heritage 57-45 at Broadlands and nipping Sullivan Friday on the road. The only loss in the last four games was a non-conference 54-42 loss to Mt. Pulaski, a team that is 14-14.

The Knights, 8-19 overall and 4-5 in the LPC, good for sixth place, played host to Unity Christian Tuesday and finish the regular season by playing host to Villa Grove Friday.

ALAH 54, Sullivan 52

The Knights and Redskins were tied at 23 at the half. Sullivan took a 42-40 lead going into the fourth when ALAH outscored the 10-15 Redskins 14-10 to win 54-52.

Will Hilligoss scored seven of his 13 points in the final quarter, including all three free throws for the Knights, who made 5-for-7 (.714) free throws in the final eight minutes.

Before the fourth quarter ALAH was 2-of-6 (.333) from the free throw line, but made them when they had to in the final period.

Leading the way for coach Kenny Parks team was Nate Hale with 17 points, including four three-pointers.

Sullivan was 5-of-8 from the free throw line in the fourth and 14-of-22 for the game.

ALAH 57, Heritage 45

The second half helped ALAH win as they outscored Heritage 37-19 overcoming a 26-20 deficit at the half.

The Knights took a 39-32 lead after holding the Hawks to just six points in the third. Kendall Schrock led ALAH with 15 points, while Marcus Otto had eight of his 11 points in the second half and Hilligoss was also in double digits with 10 points.

Neither team shot free throws well, going a combined 10-of-23 (.435), including 3-of-9 for the Knights.

Rylan White led Heritage, 8-20, with 17 points.

ALAH 8 15 17 14–54
Sullivan 10 13 19 10–52

ALAH: Will Hilligoss 4-5-13, Marcus Otto 3-1-8, Kendall Schrock 2-0-5, Nate Hale 6-1-17, Colin Smith 4-0-8, Cal Binion 1-0-3, Brennon Hutson, Ryan Appleby 0-0-0, Totals 20-7-54

3-point goals: ALAH: 6 (Hale 4, Otto 1, Schrock 1), Sullivan 4 (Watkins 3, Hooten 1). Free throws: ALAH 7-13 .538, Sullivan 14-22 .636.

JV: Sullivan 42, ALAH 38

ALAH 9 11 19 18–57
Heritage 15 11 6 13–45

ALAH: Hilligoss 5-0-10, Otto 4-1-11, Schrock 6-0-15, Hale 3-1-9, Smith 1-1-4,Appleby 2-0-4, Hutson 1-0-2, Binion 1-0-2, Cooper Shoemaker 0-0-0, Totals 23-3-57

3-point goals: ALAH 10 (Hilligoss 2, Otto 2, Schrock 3, Hale 2, Smith 1), Heritage 2 (Rylan White 2); Free throws: ALAH 3-9 .333, Heritage 7-14 .500

JV: ALAH 41, Heritage 39

Lincoln Prairie Conference boys standings through 2/15/25

Team Overall Pct. LPC Pct.

Cumberland 20-9 .690 10-0 1. 000

Arcola 20-6 .769 7-1 .875

Okaw Valley 18-10 .643 8-2 .200

Argenta-Oreana 14-12 .538 7-2 .778

Sullivan 10-15 .400 5-5 .500

Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond 8-19 .296 4-5 .444

Cerro Gordo/Bement 11-18 .379 4-6 .400

Blue Ridge 10-16 .385 3-7 .300

Tri-County 13-14 .448 3-7 .300

Heritage 8-20 .286 2-7 .222

Unity Christian 11-18 .379 2-7 .222

Villa Grove 5-19 .208 1-8 .111

IHSA Class 2A Regional

Feb. 24, 26, 28 at Westville

(seeds and records through Feb. 15 in parentheses)

Monday

Game one: Sullivan (11, 10-15) at Oakwood (6, 17-11), TBA

Game two:Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond (12, 8-19) at Westville (5, 25-5), 7 p.m.

February 26 at Westville

Game three: Winner of game one vs. Tolono Unity (1, 22-7)), 6 p.m.

Game four: Winner of game two vs. Monticello (4, 14-12), 7:30 p.m.

February 28 at Westville

Game five: Winner of game three vs. winner of game four, 7 p.m. regional championship. Winner advances to the Fairfield Regional, 7 p.m. March 4 at Tolono Unity