Warriors win again, back in quarterfinals
For the second straight season, and 18th time in school history, Casey-Westfield has advanced to the quarterfinals of the IHSA Class 1A state football tournament. The Warriors reached the Elite Eight by defeating Nokomis, 48-14, on Saturday in Nokomis. It is home sweet home again for Jeff Fritchtnitch’s team on Saturday when the undefeated Hardin […]
LIC cross country saves the best for state
(PEORIA) — Personal bests. Program bests. Little Illini Conference cross country runners saved their best performances for the biggest stage at the IHSA state championship meet here on Saturday. Marshall’s girls team recorded a program-best ninth-place finish in the Class 1A meet that kicked off the daylong event. Seven other runners recorded either season or […]
Marshall Lady Lions to “play in Peoria”
It began as an old Vaudeville saying, “Will it play in Peoria?” Performers the likes of Bob Hope, Jack Benny and Red Skelton used the Illinois River town as a proving ground for their material, hoping to springboard on to the national scene. The phrase stuck around as Peoria later became the most influential test […]
Only Warriors left after Round 1
It was a tough weekend for Little Illini Conference football teams. The LIC went a collective 1-4 in the first round of the IHSA playoffs. Only Casey-Westfield won to advance on to the Round of 16. The Warriors blanked Red Hill, 35-0, on Saturday night in the first round of the Class 1A state tournament. […]
Season ends for LIC volleyball teams
All eight Little Illini Conference volleyball teams bowed out of the IHSA state tournament at the Regional level last week. Two squads – Casey-Westfield and Newton – managed to make it to the championship game of their respective regional tournament. There are 32 teams remaining in the running for a state championship in each of […]
Week 10 primer: It’s playoff time!
It is now full-steam ahead for five Little Illini Conference football teams. The Road to Normal begins with a first-round stopoff at these locales. Here’s the Saturday lineup for Week 10: Marshall (5-4) at ALAH (9-0), 1:00 p.m. This is Marshall’s first playoff appearance since 2017, but 30th overall… Lions are 18-29 all-time in the […]
11 LIC teams move on to the Sectional level
The Little Illini Conference shined at last weekend’s IHSA Regional cross country meets. On the boys side, five LIC teams advanced to this week’s Sectional meets. And, Olney’s Quaid Berger, LIC champion and one of the state’s top runners, won the individual title at the 2A meet the Tigers hosted. LIC girls fared even better. […]
Marshall, Mt. Carmel add to LIC playoff haul
The Little Illini Conference added two more football teams to the playoff mix on Friday as Marshall and Mt. Carmel both posted regular-season finale wins, bringing to five the number of league teams now “playoff eligible.” That wasn’t the only headline from Week 9. There was an upset, and a celebration to boot. Here’s the […]
LIC lands five teams in playoffs
This story has been updated to include date/time (as of Monday 10:00 a.m.). (BLOOMINGTON) — Thanks in large part to one of the most successful non-conference campaigns in league history, over half of the teams in the Little Illini Conference will be playing post-season football. The Illinois High Association selected five LIC teams to join […]
Week 9 football primer: How many LIC teams will make it?
We have made it to Week 9 of the prep regular season. But, there is a lot left to decide on this final Friday night. Can Olney win a second straight outright LIC title? And how many league teams will make the post-season when the pairings are released by the IHSA on Saturday night? Will […]