Arcola starts 2-1 including 36-26 win over University High of Urbana Monday
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By Mike Monahan
ARCOLA – The 2025-26 Arcola boys’ basketball season was to play five games in five days, but mother nature cancelled two games (Neoga and Nokomis) Saturday in the Mary Sur Thanksgiving Tournament at Emerald Acres in Mattoon. The tournament was hosted by Neoga and Arcola did get to play one game on Friday.
Monday, Arcola hosted Urbana University High and won 36-26. The Purple Riders played at Salt Fork Tuesday and had a 2-1 Record. It was the first win at Nancy Stiff Gymnasium for Arcola coach Mitch Pollock.
Against the Illineks AHS took the lead for good on a three-pointer by Remi Roberts-McGeehon for a 6-4 lead. Canton Wesch canned the third straight three-pointer for a 9-4 lead. Arcola’s largest lead was 13 points, 21-18 on a basket by Brody Philips late in the first half. The Purple Riders did not score for over nine minutes until Kaden Hohlbauch’s bucket made it 23-16. Phillips scored nine of the last 11 points for Arcola, including six straight as AHS pulled ahead 31-18.
Phillips and Wesch led Arcola with 13 and 11 points respectively.
Arcola plays host to Decatur St. Teresa Friday. All three games plus the two that they had played are non-conference contests.
Pollock, a first year coach, earned his first win Friday with a 47-32 game over Georgetown-Ridge Farm at Mattoon. The season began with a heartbreaking 36-32 loss to Central A&M on Nov. 25.
Against Georgetown, Arcola led 20-16 at the half and 30-24 heading into the final quarter when they more than doubled the score on the Buffaloes, 17-8 in the final quarter to win by 15. Phillips led the way with 17 points. The Purple Riders had eight three-point field goals as well.
Against the Raiders Arcola led 32-23 with 3:36 left and were outscored 13-0 in the final 3:35 to lose by four. Canton Wesch had nine points on three, three-point field goals to lead the Purple Riders. .
Monday University High of Urbana at Arcola
Arcola 11 10 0 15–36
Uni High 6 4 6 10–26
ARCOLA: Phillips 6-1-13, Wesch 4-0-11, Roberts-McGeehon 3-0-8, Hohlbauch 1-0-2, A.J. Stevens 1-0-2, Mayhal 0-0-0, Vega 0-0-0, Totals 15-1-36
3-point goals: Arcola 5 (Wesch 3, Roberts-McGeehon 2)
JV: Arcola (1-1) 43, Urbana University High 12
Friday Mary Sur Thanksgiving Tournament vs. Georgetown-Ridge Farm
Arcola 7 13 10 17–47
GRF 3 13 8 8–32
ARCOLA: Wesch 3-0-9, Hohlbauch 0-0-0, Mayhall 1-0-3, Phillips 6-3-17, Roberts-McGeehon 3-0-8, Vega 3-0-6, Stevens 2-0-4, Rairden 0-0-0, Barron 0-0-0, Maxwell 0-0-0, Totals 18-3-47
3-point goals: Arcola 8 (Wesch 3, Mayhall 1, Phillips 2, Roberts-McGeehon 2)
November 25 Arcola at Central A&M (Moweaqua)
Arcola 9 9 9 5–32
Central A&M 2 12 9 13–36
ARCOLA: Wesch 3-0-9,Vega 0-0-0, Mayhall 1-3-5, Phillips 2-2-6, Roberts-McGeehon 3-0-8, Stevens 1-0-2, Hohlbauch 1-0-2, Rardin 0-0-0, Totals 9-5-32
3-point goals: Arcola 5 (Wesch 3, Roberts-McGeehon 2)
JV: Central A&M 31, Arcola 21; Freshmen-sophomore: Central A&M 26, Arcola 22