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[DEC. 4, 2001]   NORMAL — Jenny Yopp respects Ball State. But the Illinois State head basketball coach is more focused on what her team is able to do in preparing for Tuesday’s 7:05 p.m. game with the Cardinals at Redbird Arena.

"We have to improve our half-court offensive execution," said Yopp. "We need better decision-making and better passing so that we can run our offense effectively. We have to get better at getting the defense to move in order to create opportunities for our offense to get the best shot."

Yopp’s youngsters are averaging just 58.2 points per game. The balanced scoring totals are led by freshman Katie Donovan, who averages 8.4 points per game. But the consistency hasn’t been there, according to Yopp.

"We have been inconsistent because we have not created enough action away from the ball," said Yopp. "Also, with our style of play, pushing the ball up-court offensively will always be a big part of our offense, but it is important to recognize when we have those opportunities to run and when we have to go to our half-court offense."

Yopp is confident her team will get better.

"Decision-making is one of those things that all teams do better as the season goes along," said Yopp, "so I still believe what I said before the season began: We’ll have a better team in late December than we had at the start of the season and a better team still by late January."

But, the immediate challenge is a Ball State team that is 3-2. The only BSU losses have been a two-pointer to Arkansas State and a 103-69 decision at No. 1-ranked Connecticut last week. Despite the score, the Cardinals impressed UConn coach Geno Auriemma.

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"Ball State, Tracy Roller and her staff were well-prepared," said Auriemma who saw BSU hang with his team until just before halftime. "It was the best game anyone has played against us this year. Those shots they knocked in during the first half were huge."

Yopp agrees with Auriemma about Ball State's offensive options.

"Ball State is an experienced team with a lot of options on offense," said Yopp, whose 0-5 Redbirds are meeting Ball State for the first time. "We expect them to challenge us defensively with the versatility of their players to score in the post and on the perimeter."

A decade ago, first-year BSU head coach Tracy Roller was coming to Redbird Arena as an Eastern Illinois player challenging Jill Hutchison’s Redbird teams. Now, she features 2001 Mid-American Conference Player of the Year Tamara Bowie, whose 14.8 points per game combine with Jessica Reiter’s 16.4 and Johna Goff’s 13.2 to give BSU a trio of top scorers. The Cardinals average 81.8 points per game and average 10.2 3-pointers per game.

Tuesday’s game is the fifth of six games in a span of 12 days for the Redbirds. The rugged schedule ends with a 7 p.m. Thursday match against Illinois at the Assembly Hall.

[ISU news release]

[DEC. 4, 2001]   BLOOMINGTON, IND. — Despite an 8-0 start in the game, the Illinois State women’s basketball team fell to Murray State 65-55 Saturday at Indiana University’s Assembly Hall in the finals of the Holiday Inn Fazoli’s Classic.

Three-pointers made the difference for Murray State, now 3-3. The Racers out-shot the ’Birds from beyond the arc, making 7-of-18 to Illinois State’s 3-of-13 for the game. Two of ISU’s 3-pointers came in the final minutes after Murray State was safely ahead.

Brittany Park, who had made just six 3-pointers in the first five games of the season, made five against the Redbirds. Her 17 points led all scorers. Susan Tackett had the other two Murray treys among her 16 points.

Taren O’Brien led the Redbirds with 11 points off the bench. Stacey White led ISU in rebounding for the third-straight game with eight and led all players with three steals. ISU had a 39-36 rebounding edge and shot better overall against the Racers, .382 to .362 for the game. Murray State had eight more free-throw attempts, converting six more.

Redbird coach Jenny Yopp was pleased that her team showed improvement over a 101-53 thrashing from Indiana the night before, but the outcome still wasn’t what she wanted.

"We played a heck of a lot better," said Yopp.  "Last night we were outplayed in every facet of the game. Today, we executed our offense better and were more aggressive, but we still need better shot selection, and we just have to take better care of the ball."

ISU had 23 turnovers to 17 for Murray State.

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The Redbirds, 0-5, came out focused at both ends of the court. Blade and Donovan each scored a pair of baskets in the first five minutes, and ISU’s defense dogged the Racers into an 0-7 start from the field and four turnovers in their first 10 possessions.

Tackett’s first 3-pointer with 13:50 left got Murray State on the scoreboard. But the Racers came back to tie the score with 9:56 left. The teams traded baskets until Murray State went on an 11-2 run to take a 25-18 lead into the final minute of the half. Steph Reichle of Lincoln and Michelle Harakas scored after MSU turnovers in the final minute to cut the lead to 25-22 at intermission.

Following a 4-7 start from the field, the Redbirds made just three of their next 19 before Reichle’s and Harakas’ late first-half baskets.

Murray led despite shooting just 9-of-30 in the first half from the field, because the Racers were 4-6 from the free-throw line and Illinois State didn’t get a free throw attempt and because ISU had 13 turnovers to eight for MSU.

Early in the second half the Redbirds couldn’t get a shot to fall, and they fell behind 35-23 as Murray State had a 10-1 run in the first four minutes of the half. ISU cut the lead to single digits four times, but each time the Racers responded by hitting a jump shot.

[ISU news release]

[DEC. 4, 2001]   BLOOMINGTON, IND. — Bloomington, Ind. — Jill Hartman’s 18 points led six Hoosiers in double-figure scoring and her basket with :00.8 left put Indiana over 100 as the Hoosiers downed Illinois State 101-53 in the first round of the Holiday Inn-Fazoli’s Classic Friday at Indiana’s Assembly Hall.

The Redbirds, 0-4, gave up 100 points for the first time in seven seasons, since a 105-68 loss at Drake March 5, 1995.

Hoosier native Stacey White led the Redbirds with 12 points and nine rebounds, matching her career highs in both. Sharon Blade had nine points for ISU, all in the first half.

The Hoosiers, 3-2, became the first team this season to out-rebound the Redbirds, taking the battle of the boards 55-28. Former Dunlap High School star Heather Cassady, returning to the point guard position for IU because of an injury to Kristen Bodine, had 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists for IU. Jenny DeMuth had 17, Erin McGinnis added 14, Jill Chapman 11 and Allison Skapin 10 points to round out Indiana’s scoring.

"We know what a fantastic senior leader and player Heather Cassady is," said Redbird head coach Jenny Yopp. "This is a team which has faced some adversity and came out very focused tonight. They had great scoring balance, hit their open shots and obviously got the ball inside as well. We’ve seen all four of IU’s (previous games) on tape, and this is far and away the best they’ve played."

Indiana’s losses have come against No. 9 Stanford and No. 10 North Carolina State. Hoosier coach Kathi Bennett, the daughter of former Wisconsin coach Dick Bennett, who built Evansville into a Missouri Valley power in the late 1990s, agreed with Yopp about her team’s focus.

"We came together tonight," said Bennett. "Our players realize that everybody has to step up, and it’s exciting to see that every one of our players had the opportunity tonight and took advantage of it."

Yopp understood the lift IU got from passing the century mark.

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"At the end of the game, it was about stopping them for one possession in the final 14 seconds and, for them, it was about reaching for a goal and getting a score," said Yopp. "For our young team, tonight was a learning experience. We were taught a lot of lessons, and, hopefully, we’ll go out (Saturday night) and be able to accomplish our goal of going home with a victory."

With Cassady at the controls, IU opened with its running game in high gear, racing to an 18-5 lead in the first eight minutes before Blade drained her first career 3-point attempt, cutting the lead to 10.

ISU was within eight at 20-12 when both Blade and Kristi Larson went to the bench with two fouls each and the Hoosiers went on a 12-4 run behind a pair of Cassady 3-pointers to take a 34-16 lead into the final five minutes of the first half. IU led 45-23 at halftime. The Birds made just 8-of-25 field goals in the first half and were below .500 at the free-throw line at 5-12.

The Hoosiers put the game out of reach in the first four minutes of the second half with a 15-2 run featuring three baskets by McGinnis and 7-of-9 IU shooting. That built the lead to 60-25 for Indiana. The Hoosiers never slowed down after that.

After the tournament, the Redbirds return home to play Ball State at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday in Redbird Arena.

[ISU news release]

[DEC. 3, 2001]   

At Pleasant Plains

Mount Pulaski               8 15 31   47
Pleasant Plains            25 45 61   72

C. Erlenbush 1-0-2; Coers 1-2-4; . Tierney 0-2-2; Schilling 2-0-5; Olsen 4-0-8; Blaum 1-2-4; Anderson 2-3-8; Waymire 1-1-3; Diebert 2-0-4; Smith 3-0-6; B. Erlenbus 0-1-1; Wilson 0-0-0; Clements 0-0-0; J. Tierney 0-0-0.

Totals 17-11-47

At Hartsburg

Peoria Christian            14 27 39   55
Hartsburg-Emden         14 24 31   41

Leesman 4-1-9; Fletcher 0-2-2; Wrage 2-0-4; Anderson 3-1-7; Gleason 6-0-16; Westen 3-3-3.

Totals 15-7-41

[DEC. 3, 2001]   The men's team is playing in the Tip-Off Tournament at Watertown, Wis.  High scorers were Matt Clark (37) and Joel Searby (26).

LCC                37 56   93
CBC                38 37   75

Clark 16-3-37; Raymer 1-0-2; Holderby 2-1-5; Johnson 0-0-0; Below 4-2-11; Brodfueher 0-0-0; Turney 0-0-0; O’Connor 0-0-0; Okusami 2-1-5; Grooms 3-1-7; Searby 11-2-26; Lirot 0-0-0.

Totals 39-10-93

[DEC. 3, 2001]   Once again Lincoln College rode a balanced attack to an easy victory. The 86-72 win over Black Hawk East in the Courier Classic on Saturday afternoon in Lincoln gives the Lady Lynx a 10-0 record.

Angie Bossingham led the balanced attack with 13 points, and Sarah McLaughlin added 10.  Coach Carol Wilson had 14 players crack the scoring column.  

Ronnie Beebe and Jessie Dullard were both selected to the all-Classic team. 

Coach Wilson said, "Our first half defense was pretty good.  We gave up a few second-chance opportunities, but overall we played well.  We do need to move the ball a little more offensively.  We are not making enough passes before taking a shot."

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Lincoln College (86) — Ariel Lamb 2-0-0-4; Tammy Bausley 1-0-0-2; Jenny Story 1-2-3-4; Victoria Scott 3-2-2-8; Sarah McLaughlin 4-1-2-10; Audrey Hinrichsen 0-0-0-0; Angie Bossingham 5-0-0-13; Ronni Beebe 1-7-12-9; Heather Dobey 1-1-1-4; Kim Calhoun 2-0-0-4; Kim Massenburg 0-0-0-0; Ashley Sims 2-5-7-9; Mary Rossio 0-0-0-0; Jessie Dullard 2-0-0-4; Sereida Melker 1-0-0-2; Tiffany Thomas 2-0-04; Zabrina Harper 4-1-2-9. Totals 31-19-29-86.  Three-point goals: McLaughlin, Bossingham 3, Dobey.

Black Hawk East (72) — Pearson 4-1-4-11; Moss 1-0-0-2; Jenkins 6-3-6-18; Salisbury 3-2-3-10; Strode 1-0-0-2; Herzeele 1-0-0-2; Robinson 3-4-6-10; Compton 2-3-7-7; Franlc 5-0-0-10.  Totals 26-13-26-72.  Three-point goals: Pearson 2, Jenkins 3, Salisbury 2.

[Bill Martinie,
Lincoln College sports information director]

[DEC. 3, 2001]   

At Bloomington, Ind.

Murray State             25 40   65
ISU                           22 33   55

White 2-2-6; Blade 4-0-8; Donovan 2-2-6; Huston 2-0-6; Reichle 4-1-9; Harakas 2-0-4; O’Brien 3-4-11; Nickerson 1-0-2; McCormack 0-0-0; Kutschinski 1-1-3; Larson 0-0-0.

Totals 21-10-55

[DEC. 3, 2001]   Coming off their first loss of the season, Illinois bounced back into the victory column with a 24-point victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

Senior guard Cory Bradford led the Illini in scoring with 23 points, including six 3-point baskets. Junior Frank Williams and senior Robert Archibald both hit double figures, each finishing with 12 points, and freshman Nick Smith added 11 points. Lincoln’s Brian Cook struggled once again with foul trouble, playing just 19 minutes and finishing with two points and five rebounds before fouling out.

Coach Bill Self did not seem pleased with the effort and stated, "I’m not mad. I am a little miffed in that in a short amount of time basketball has become a business to our players. I think we are approaching it like it’s a job, and we really don’t enjoy our job that much. We have to get that oomph back; we don’t have that right now."

Self experimented with a new starting lineup, adding Luther Head and Damir Krupalija, but didn’t appear overly pleased with the results. Illinois started slowly, not scoring on their first four possessions of the game, and Self quickly began to substitute.

Illinois shot 49 percent for the game and connected on nine of 21 3-point attempts. Illinois also out-rebounded the visitors from Texas, 33-24. Eleven Illinois players reached the scoring column. Illinois blocked eight shots, led by Cook’s three.

The Illini have a tough week ahead, traveling to Arizona for a showdown with the Wildcats and then returning Saturday to the United Center in Chicago to face an ultra-quick Arkansas team.

The team will then enjoy eight days off for final exams before returning to Assembly Hall for games with Western Illinois on the 16th and Illinois State on the 18th. Former LCHS standout Geoff Alexander is a coach for WIU, and all-time LCHS leading scorer Gregg Alexander is a freshman starter for ISU.

Illinois will face Missouri in St. Louis on Saturday, Dec. 22, in the annual Busch Braggin’ Rights game.

[to top of second column in this article]

Illini news and notes

•  Bradford moved into 10^th place on the all-time scoring list at Illinois, passing Kendall Gill and Jerry Hester. Bradford is just 32 points from Don Freeman and ninth place.

•  Coach Self started freshman Luther Head and senior Damir Krupalija in place of Sean Harrington and Robert Archibald. Self then started freshman Roger Powell in place of Krupalija for the second half of play.

•  At 7 feet 2 inches tall, freshman Nick Smith is the tallest player in Illinois basketball history.

•  Illinois made 10 of 11 free throws in the first half of play.

•  Illinois returns to action Tuesday night with a tough road game at Arizona. Game time is 7 p.m., and the game will be televised on Fox Sports Chicago. Arizona lost their first game of the season Saturday at home against Kansas.

•  Fatigue could become a factor with Bradford and Williams on Tuesday night against the quick Arizona guards, as each played 36 minutes Saturday night.

•  Illinois and Arizona met three times last season. Arizona beat Illinois 79-76 at Maui in late November; Illinois beat the Wildcats 81-73 at Chicago in December; and Arizona beat Illinois 87-81 at San Antonio in the Elite Eight.

[Greg Taylor]

[DEC. 3, 2001]   Josh Collins claimed the championship in the 125-pound class of the Indiana Little State wrestling tournament in North Manchester, Ind., on Saturday.  Collins defeated LC teammate Michel Moharreri 5-3 to win the title.

Justin Collins (133) decisioned Earl Wilson of the University of Indianapolis 14-12 to claim third place.  Also finishing third for the Lynx was Dave Tackett (149) with a 6-5 decision over Kevin Wilkinson of Millikin. 

Seth Tumey lost by fall to Cory Norvell of Wilmington to finish fifth in the 184-pound class. The Lynx had two seventh-place finishers, Ryan Skolasinski at 133 pounds and Bob Davis at 157 pounds.

[Bill Martinie,
Lincoln College sports information director]

[DEC. 1, 2001]   

At Stanford

Mahomet            18 31 37   59
Olympia              13 18 28   46

Slager 0-1-1; Dillenburg 0-3-12; Cheek 0-1-7; Kendrick 1-0-2; Elliot 4-2-10; Olson 3-2-8; Wise 2-2-6.

Totals 10-11-46

At Lincoln

Springfield          9 19 35   54
Lincoln             16 35 59   77

Farmer 7-5-22; Komnick 2-0-7; Schonauer 3-0-6; Schrader 3-0-12; Welch 1-2-4; Young 5-2-12; Werner 1-0-5; Bust 0-2-2; Gallagher 2-1-5; Wilder 0-2-2.

Totals 24-14-77

[DEC. 1, 2001]   Men's team at Watertown, Wis.:

Lincoln Christian            41 26   67
Emmaus Bible               28 23   51

Clark 8-1-19; Raymer 2-0-4; Holderby 4-0-8; Johnson 1-0-2; Below 4-2-10; Brodfuehrer 0-0-0; Turney 3-0-6; O’Conner 0-0-0; Okusani 2-0-4; Grooms 2-0-4; Searby 4-2-10; Lirot 0-0-0.

Totals 30-5-67

[DEC. 1, 2001]   Women's team at Lincoln:

Free Will                     10 16   26
Lincoln Christian          20 38   58

Robbins 6-1-18; Urton 1-0-3; Szostek 2-1-5; Wright 8-0-17; Westin 1-0-2; O’Malley 2-0-4; Devore 1-0-2; Jewell 2-0-4; Flaherty 0-0-0; Davis 1-0-3.

Totals 24-2-58

[DEC. 1, 2001]   Women's team at Bloomington, Ind.:

ISU                  23 30     53
Indiana             45 56   101

Donovan 0-6-6; White 6-0-12; Larson 0-2-2; O’Brien 2-0-5; Reichle 2-0-4; Harakas 0-2-2; Huston 1-2-5; Nickerson 2-0-4; Blade 4-0-9; Kutschinski 1-2-4.

Totals 18-14-53

[DEC. 1, 2001]   Jessie Dullard led the undefeated Lincoln College Lady Lynx to a 71-47 victory over Sauk Valley in the opening round of the Courier Classic at Lincoln Friday night.   Dullard led a balanced Lincoln attack with 15 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.

Coach Carol Wilson said, "Jessie played an outstanding game.  She stayed out of foul trouble and played good defense. We played a better game against them than we did the first time.  It was a good team effort and good defensive effort."

Joining Dullard in double figures was Zabrina Harper with 12 points.  The Lady Lynx had 11 players crack the scoring column.   Lincoln was able to make 25 of 83 field goal attempts while Sauk Valley was limited to just 40 shots, making 17.

[to top of second column in this article]

Lincoln College (71) — Ariel Lamb 2-2-2-6; Jenny Story 1-0-0-2; Tammy Bausley 0-0-0-0; Victoria Scott 4-0-0-9; Sarah McLaughlin 2-3-4-8; Audrey Hinrichsen 0-0-0-0; Angie Bossingham 0-2-2--2; Ronni Beebe 3-0-0-6; Heather Dobey 0-0-0-0; Kim Calhoun 2-0-2-4; Kim Massenburg 0-0-0-0; Ashley Sims 2-1-1-5; Jessie Dullard 3-9-10-15; Mary Rossio 0-0-0-0; Sereida Melker 0-0-0-0; Tiffany Thomas 1-0-0-2; Zabrina Harper 5-0-0-12.  Totals 25-17-21-71.  Three-point goals: Scott, McLaughlin, Harper 2.

Sauk Valley (47) — Nicky Trotter 2-0-0-4; Josilyn Diehl 6-1-2-14; Sarah Lund 1-1-4-3; April Sullivan 1-1-2-3; Maggie Buck 0-0-2-0; Toccara Martin 3-1-5-7; Stephanie Vasquez 1-0-0-2; Melissa Harden 3-7-10-13; April Considine 0-1-2-1.  Totals 17-12-1-47. Three-point goals: Diehl.

[Bill Martinie,
Lincoln College sports information director]

[NOV. 30, 2001]   

Seventh grade

Carroll              45
Springfield        12

Justin Ritchhart, 10 reb, 14 pts; Pat Washam, 5 reb, 5 steals, 10 pts; Josh Baker 9 pts; Brandon Endres, 6 pts.

Record 6-3

Eighth grade

Carroll              58
Springfield        27

Matt Schick, 8 reb, 21 pts; Derrick Schonauer, 7 reb, 6 steals, 5 assists, 16 pts; Jeff Oller, 5 steals, 15 pts.

Record 9-0

[NOV. 30, 2001]   

Girls

At Stanford

Mahomet-Seymour       8 20 35   53

Olympia                      16 33 45   61

Wilcox 0-1-1; Floyd 5-3-14; Short 6-2-14; Brand 2-0-4; Gaither 7-7-22; Canopy 3-0-6; Goebel 0-0-0.

Total 23-13-61

At Lincoln

Springfield SHG          16 25 31   45

Lincoln                          8 20 24   29

Dawson 2-1-5; Robbins 1-0-3; Freesmeier 1-0-2; Ingram 2-0-5; Froschauer 1-0-2; Moore 0-2-2; Schonauer 1-0-2; Carey 1-0-2; Verderber 3-0-6.

Totals 12-3-29

At Mount Pulaski

Rochester                     15 29 42   53

Mount Pulaski                1 12 18   24

Maske 2-1-5; Sanders 4-0-8; Rucks 0-2-2; Reeley 0-0-0; Tillquist 0-0-0; Hudson 1-0-2; Jason 1-0-2; Howe 2-1-5; Cyrulik 0-0-0; Stoll 0-0-0; Gleason 0-0-0.

Totals 10-4-24

[NOV. 30, 2001] 

LCC    36 27   63
MBI     17 39   56

Matt Clark 7-3-19; Jake Raymer 1-1-4; John Holderby 5-1-12; Aaron Johnson 0-0-0; Zach Below 3-0-6; Ben Brodfuehrer 0-0-0; Jim Turney 0-0-0; Antoni Okusami 3-6-12; Josh Grooms 2-0-4; Joel Searby 2-2-6.

Totals 23-13-63

[NOV. 30, 2001]   NORMAL — Jenny Yopp believes taking care of the basketball is as much about having a good head as having good hands.

As the Illinois State University head coach takes her team to this weekend’s Indiana Classic, she wants the Redbirds to take a step forward in cutting down turnovers. Illinois State, 0-3, plays Indiana, 2-2, at 5 p.m. (Central time) Friday.

"When you play the ‘94-40’ style (94 feet for 40 minutes) we like to play, there will be some turnovers because of the (large) number of possessions that tempo produces," said Yopp. "But, when we get into our half-court offense, we need to take better care of the ball. And that begins with making better decisions. You have to get the defense to move to create passing lanes."

Yopp acknowledges that, with young players, that can be easier said than done.

"Decision-making is the key to half-court offense. Obviously, it’s something we’re still working very hard on in practice," said Yopp. "I’m confident, and our players are confident, that we can do better."

Yopp has seen plenty of progress already in a lot of areas. Her team has out-rebounded all three of its opponents — on the offensive end and in total — so far this season, and that’s a good sign. Freshman Katie Donovan’s 14 rebounds vs. Louisville were the second-highest total in Redbird Arena by a freshman (teammate Steph Reichle of Lincoln had 15 against Southern Illinois as a freshman Jan. 2, 2000).

[to top of second column in this article]

"When you rebound well on the defensive end, you only give your opponent one shot," said Yopp. "When you are successful rebounding on the offensive end, it can negate some of those turnovers because you get another opportunity. Our defense is playing hard and our rebounding has been successful. Those are good signs."

Northern Arizona (4-0) and Murray State (2-2) are the other teams in the Indiana Classic; they play at 7 p.m. Central time on Friday.

For Yopp, the tournament is an opportunity to coach against friend and former Missouri Valley Conference rival Kathi Bennett. They opposed each other in Bennett’s last year at Evansville, where the daughter of former Wisconsin coach Dick Bennett built a perennial league doormat into an NCAA Tournament team.

"I spent two days at the IU basketball clinic before the season," said Yopp. "Our basketball philosophies, goals and objectives are very similar. Our personnel are different, so those things might be expressed on the court a bit differently."

IU features a trio of outstanding seniors in 6-foot-5 center Jill Chapman, 6-foot-1 forward Erin McGinnis and point guard Heather Cassady, a former Dunlap High School star. Together, that trio averages 47 points per game for Indiana.

After the tournament, the Redbirds return home to play Ball State at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday in Redbird Arena.

[ISU news release]

[NOV. 30, 2001]  STATESBORO, Ga. — Shawn Jeppson led Illinois State with 19 points and Baboucarr Bojang added 14, but Georgia Southern survived by shooting 59.6 percent from the field, downing the Redbirds 87-76 in men’s college basketball action on Thursday in Statesboro, Ga.

Bojang’s 14 points plus 10 boards, a team high for the night, marked his third double-double in five games.

It took the Redbirds seven minutes to score double digits in the first, as Jeppson hit a 3-point basket with 13 minutes to play, shrinking the Eagle lead to 17-11. Illinois State led 33-30, its only lead of the game, with 5:08 left in the first after Ford and Lincoln’s Gregg Alexander connected on matching, back-to back jumpers. But the Eagles broke out on an 18-7 run to end the half.

The score at the break was 48-40 Eagles, who shot 66.7 percent in the first 20 minutes.

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In the second half, the Redbirds came to within two points of their opponents, 56-54, with 13 minutes remaining, before Georgia Southern’s offensive fire was relit. They outscored Illinois State 10-2 in the next three minutes. Illinois State pulled to within six at the eight-minute mark, but Georgia Southern’s shooting power dominated as the Eagles ended the game on a 19-14 run.

Julius Jenkins of Georgia Southern led all scorers with 26 points, 18 of which came in the first half, and Kashien Latham added 20 with 11 rebounds. Vince Greene scored 12 for Illinois State while Shedrick Ford added 11.

Illinois State wraps up its five-game road swing when the Redbirds face Texas-San Antonio on Saturday at 2:05 p.m.

[Erica Fricke, assistant director of
media relations for ISU athletics]

[NOV. 29, 2001]   At Lincoln: Lincoln 42, Canton 29

103 — Piper (C) def. Valdes (L), 11-5

119 — Brandon (C) dec. Rogers (L), 5-4

125 — McWilliams (C) pinned C. Allen (L), 3:03

130 — Carpenter (C) technical fall over Martin (L), 17-2

135 — Sullivan (L) dec. Oswald (C), 16-3

140 — W. Allen (L) dec. Bick (C), 13-8

[to top of second column in this article]

145 — Sparks (L) pinned Myers (C), 1:48

152 — Frost (L) technical fall over Ayers (C), 18-2

171 — Barrenger (L) pinned McMahill (C), 1:11

189 — Harris (C) pinned Agaid (L), 2:56

Heavyweight — Copper (L) pinned Cape (C), 5:59

[NOV. 28, 2001]   

Boys

At Mount Pulaski

Mount Pulaski               15 35 53   72

Niantic-Harristown          9 21 45   61

Blaum 0-1-1; Deibert 3-0-6; Erlenbush 3-0-6; Geiske 2-2-6; Schilling 3-1-7; Smith 5-5-15; Wilson 1-2-4; Anderson 1-1-3; Coers 1-2-4; Olson 1-1-3; Schaffnaker 0-2-2; J. Tierney 4-1-9; N. Teirney 0-0-0; Waymire 0-2-2; Clements 0-0-0; Erlenbush 2-0-4; Milner 0-0-0.

[to top of second column in this article (girls' results)]

Girls

At Stanford

Olympia                      17 28 44   53

Midwest Central            6 14 21   32

Floyd 5-0-12; Prager 2-0-4; Wittmer 1-2-4; Nactigall 1-0-3; Short 3-0-6; Brand 3-1-7; Gaither 3-1-7; Canopy 4-0-8; Goebel 1-0-2.

At Springfield

Lincoln                          9 18 34   51

Springfield SE              13 26 35   54

Dawson 8-1-17; Robbins 4-0-11; Ingram 2-0-4; Froschaver 3-0-6; Moore 2-3-7; Schonaver 0-1-1; Bunch 0-2-2; Verderber 1-1-3.

[NOV. 28, 2001]   Five players scored in double figures as Lincoln College defeated 14^th-ranked Kankakee 91-88 in double overtime at the Lincoln College gym Tuesday night. The loss drops Kankakee to 3-1 for the season while Lincoln College moves to 8-0.

The game was close throughout, with the Lady Lynx taking a 34-31 halftime lead.  Kankakee held a 75-72 lead when the Lady Lynx called a timeout with 10 seconds remaining.  Coach Carol Wilson set up a play to get Angie Bossingham a shot, and the LCHS graduate drained a 24-footer, while being closely guarded, to send the game into overtime. Bossingham hit the shot with two seconds on the clock.

Lincoln College had a three-point lead, 86-83, in overtime with 23 seconds remaining after Ronni Beebe hit a pair of free throws.  Laura Harms knocked down a game-tying 3-point goal with nine seconds left to send the game into a second overtime.

Kankakee controlled the overtime tap, and Jenny Dezee scored from close range with 3:54 left in OT.  That was the last scoring for the Cavaliers. Bossingham drained a 3-point goal with 3:03 showing to put Lincoln on top 89-88.  Beebe hit one of two foul shots, and with 1:23 left Tiffany Thomas made one of two free throws to give Lincoln a 91-88 lead. Neither team was able to score the rest of the way.

Coach Carol Wilson said, "Turnovers and free throws really hurt us tonight.  We could have put them (Kankakee) away if we had just taken better care of the basketball and made a few free throws. I didn’t think they were ever going to miss a free throw.

"We did show a lot of character to be able to hang in and beat a good club. We battled and never gave up, even when we were down by three. Angie hit a big shot at the end of regulation, under a lot of defensive pressure.

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"I thought Tammy (Bausley) made some really nice interior passes to give us some easy baskets. Overall our rebounding was OK, but we need to do a better job on the offensive end and get some second-chance points."

Leading the balanced Lincoln attack was Sarah McLaughlin with 13 points. Joining the Lincoln High School grad in double figures were Victoria Scott and Jessie Dullard with 12 each, Jenny Story with 10, and Bossingham with 11.  Dezee led all scorers with 20 for the Cavaliers.

Lincoln College  (91) — Tammy Bausley 1-0-0-2; Jenny Story 4-2-2-10; Victoria Scott 5-2-7-12; Sarah McLaughlin 6-1-2-13; Angie Bossingham 4-1-2-11; Ronni Beebe 1-7-15-9; Kim Calhoun 3-2-3-8; Ashley Sims 1-1-2-3; Jessie Dullard 4-4-6-12; Tiffany Thomas 3-1-4-7; Zabrina Harper 2-0-0-4.  Totals 34-21-43-91.  Three-point goals: Bossingham 2.

Kankakee (88) — Laura Harms 3-0-0-7; Stephanie Bancroft 1-2-2-5; Laura Brumfiel 2-8-9-12; Jenny Dezee 7-6-6-20; Rebecca Stewart 3-2-3-8; Amber Law 1-0-2-2; Nikki Denton 2-5-6-9; Abbie Moore 5-1-1-12; Andrea Engleking 2-6-6-10; Kathleen York 1-1-2-3.  Totals 27-31-37-88.  Three-point goals: Harms, Bancroft, Moore.

[Bill Martinie,
Lincoln College sports information director]

[NOV. 28, 2001]   NORMAL — Freshman Katie Donovan had her first career double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough as Louisville downed Illinois State 72-58 Tuesday in women’s college basketball at Redbird Arena.

"We really didn’t take care of the ball," Donovan said after the game. "Our defense was awesome, but we weren’t sharp and turned the ball over on easy things."

The Redbirds, 0-3, out-rebounded the Cards 55-48 behind Donovan’s 14, the second-highest total by an Illinois State freshman at Redbird Arena. Huston backed Donovan’s play with 12 points, her career high.

The Cardinals, 3-1, fell far short of their 87-points-per-game average but still got 18 points from Tiana Ford and 16 from Marju Sober.

Donovan, who had 10 points and 10 rebounds at halftime, scored ISU’s first seven points, and a pair of free throws by Sharon Blade gave ISU a 10-9 lead with 13:44 left in the first half. Louisville led by as many as seven at 29-22, but a pair of Beth Huston free throws and a Kristi Larson rebound basket cut the lead to 29-25 before Kara Kassans hit a jumper at the buzzer to put Louisville up 31-25 at intermission.

Early in the second half, the ’Birds scrambled back within a point at 37-36 on a Donovan rebound basket with 14:20 left in the game, but Kim Graham sank a pair of free throws to start a 20-4 Louisville run to build the lead to 57-40 at the nine-minute mark. Louisville’s largest lead was 67-46 with 3:50 left.

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The lead was cut to 12 with one minute remaining after Stacey White hit a 3-point basket, but two missed shots in the remaining seconds of the game gave Louisville the comfortable advantage at the buzzer.

Illinois State head coach Jenny Yopp said after the game that this match against Louisville was something completely different from Sunday’s effort.

"We had such drastic improvements in this game from what we produced on Sunday, and Katie, as well as the team, played extremely aggressive tonight," Yopp said. "Obviously Louisville is one of the best teams we are going to play, and we have some big teams ahead of us, but our effort today was so much better than before.

"We still didn’t come out with a win," Yopp continued. "This group is coming a long way and they are not OK with losing at all, even when it is obvious we are improving. We need to get a few more shots to fall, and that will happen as long as we stay healthy, improving and regroup after games to prepare for the next one."

[Erica Fricke,
ISU assistant director of media relations]

[NOV. 28, 2001]   Illinois lost its first game of the season last night to the Maryland Terrapins 76-63 in a game that was not that close.

Juan Dixon led the way for Terps with 25 points, and Chris Wilcox added 19. The Illini were led in scoring by newcomer Blandon Ferguson with 11 and Frank Williams with 10. Illinois guards were 7-for-30 from the field while the post players went 10-for-18.

The Illini held a brief lead early in the first half but fell behind in double digits by half. They closed within eight a couple of times in the second half, but could get no closer.

The No. 4 Terps took it to Illinois early and often and showed why they went to the Final Four last season. They very well could get back there again this year.

Lincoln’s Brian Cook, who found himself in foul trouble again, finished with eight points.

Illinois takes on Texas-Corpus Christi on Saturday!

[Jeff Mayfield]  

By Jeff Mayfield

[DEC. 3, 2001]   Before I even start with sports let me tell you about my two best highlights of the week…

First was the annual "Christmas in the Chapel" out at Lincoln Christian College. The co-directors, Jeff Colleen and Tom Sowers, are Broadway-quality producers living right here in Lincoln. This year’s spectacular was set in the Civil War era but showed, as always, how the Christmas message is timeless and true in any era, now more than ever.

I am convinced that this production is by far the best-kept secret in central Illinois, and I would encourage everyone in Logan County to get it on their calendars in the future. I know that the Mayfield Christmas is not complete without it.

And as much as I love sports, I gladly and willingly gave up all of the super Saturday football games and the Illini game this weekend because I knew how great the show in the chapel would be. Once again, we were not disappointed.

I give this week’s game ball to Mr. Colleen and to Mr. Sowers. Nice going, fellas … as always!!!

I also had the occasion to take in the world-renowned Riverdance. Most of you who know me think that I’m so overloaded on sports that you’ve never seen my "fine arts" side. And it runs much deeper than even my closest friends could possibly imagine. I’ve been to Broadway and seen such shows as "The King and I" with Yul Brenner. I’ve seen Bob Fosse’s "Dancin,’" "Grease" and "Jesus Christ, Superstar." And my all-time favorite up until now has always been Richard Harris in "Camelot."

But Riverdance was so much better than all those other shows that it would be like comparing AAA baseball with the major leagues. There simply was no comparison. The dancing is spectacular if you like that sort of thing. The lead dancer from Ireland was also one of her country’s star basketball players before she joined the dance troupe. But even if you hate dancing, the music was to die for. I have heard several symphonies, and I’ve been to a lot of concerts in my day (remember, I’m from the Woodstock generation, although don’t look for any confessions here). But the music at Riverdance was by far the most inspiring I have ever heard. The guy on the tin flutes and other wind instruments could compete with Jethro Tull, but the lady who plays the violin has no rival in the world.

Let me just say, if you ever get a chance to see it, don’t roll your eyes … go … and I promise you, you won’t be disappointed.

Sorry for all the non-sports stuff, but there are a lot of things that I do that just happen to be more important than sports. I figured since some of our loyal readers are young and impressionable that it doesn’t hurt to remind them every once in a while that sports are not a very high priority in the grand scheme of life. With that being said, let’s roll right into this week’s take…

First, how about a nice hand for LCC’s Matt Clark. Clark just broke and is in the process of shattering the school’s all-time scoring record of 2,188 points that has been held by Olympia’s Jim Williamson for some 14 years (I believe that Larry Leatherman held it before that for an even longer period of time).

Math is not my strongest subject, but to score 2,000 points in your career, wouldn’t you have to play about 100 games and average 20 points per game? Talk about consistency! I didn’t score that many points combined in four years of practice, shoot arounds and pre-game drills. This point guard who hails from Evansville, Ind., and turned down a chance to play for the Purple Aces and several other notable programs is doing this while he’s double teamed, pushed and shoved and elbowed all night long.

The LDN takes our hat off to you, Matt Clark. CONGRATULATIONS!

The best thing about Matt is that he’s a better person than he is a player, and he’s a heckuva player. He’s the kind of kid you hope your daughter brings home to meet you. That may mean more than all of his records!

He and former U-High superstar Joel Searby are starting to lead the otherwise young LCC hoopsters to new heights. After a slow start, LCC is now 6-4 and trying to draw some community interest. Why? Someday they’ll be moving to their new home on the east side of campus, and there will finally be room to invite several fans from the community to come and see their exciting style of play. The LDN will keep you posted as to when that will come about.

The ladies team just came back from a wild trip to Alaska, and we’ll try to bring some details on that one as soon as we get them.

Meanwhile back at the ranch…

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Lincoln College’s hoopsters are off to exciting starts as well. You know that B.J. and the boys are going to be intense and focused, and that they are. But Carol Wilson’s cagers were 10-0 last time I looked. Coach Wilson had a field day while leading Taylorville High to 20-win seasons, year-in and year-out. Now she’s got the Lady Lynx buying into her philosophy, and look at the results! The LDN wishes both Lynx outfits nothing but great success. Wouldn’t it be great if both teams went deep in the playoffs this season? Both teams have former Railers getting it done between the lines. We encourage you to go on out and support these stellar ball clubs.

I haven’t been able to catch the Lady Railers yet this year, but I chuckle at all the second guessers I’ve been running into regarding the boys team this year. Several told me that the Railers (who are already 5-1) would be lucky to win 15 games this year. Oh ye of little faith. I’ve been watching Railer and IHSA basketball for many years, and if you don’t believe me when I say that our coach is one of the top five coaches in the state, would you at least grant me that LCHS is one of the top five programs in the state. And I mean that from top to bottom.

Some may say, "Well, how many state titles have they won?" It’s not all about state titles. While I love Clydesdales, if I’m running a horse in the Kentucky Derby, I want the best thoroughbred I can find. While Lincoln’s athletes are not chopped liver and are some of the best kids in the state, compare the athletes that they go up against every year from places like Peoria Manual or Central or Lanphier or Danville or Centralia. When you do that and realize how much work these coaches and players put in just to remain competitive, it is amazing. There are several small colleges that envy LCHS’s booster club, facilities, coaching staff, programs, scouting reports, and the list goes on and on.

As I said earlier, things like Lincoln High School basketball are not the most important in the world, but I still have a great deal of respect for the dedication and determination put forth by these players and coaches, and I don’t begrudge any of their successes.

Railers, I salute you! And as you go about winning 20 games again, I hope the naysayers take notice and turn over a positive new leaf. Is that too much to ask?

Memo to Athletic teams across the country

Re: Uniform colors

It may be time for all teams in all sports to take closer inventory of their team colors. For years teams tried to come up with some bright color combinations. Then for a while teams dressed in black after a study showed that refs and officials were more favorable to the darker-clad athletes.

The LDN has a new suggestion for teams everywhere: Why not consider orange and bue? It’s working for the Chicago Bears. My son and I just came home from church and watched the Bears come back again and win a game that they should have lost 11 different ways.

It’s worked for the Illinois Fighting Illini. The Orange and Blue were predicted by nearly every football expert in the land (except the LDN) to finish this season in the middle of the pack. Somehow, some way, the Illini finished 10-1.

Some say that we’re not the strongest 10-1 team they ever saw. Didn’t they say that about the 1980 U.S. hockey team? Didn’t they say it about Rocky Balboa? Didn’t they say about the 1964 Cardinals?

Critics can say what they want. The LDN says that there is some kind of mystic in the orange and blue color scheme, and we’d get on board as quick as we can if it was up to us! I hope those colors shine bright for the Illini hoopsters this season.

Everybody take notice…you’ve been warned by your friends at the LDN world headquarters!

This parting shot from the world of junior high boys basketball: Carroll Catholic is off to a tremendous start. Last time I looked they were 9-0, and it wasn’t that they were winning games, but they are winning them going away in a very convincing fashion. This could be a very special team. Coach Reilley’s got a pretty good little team over at Lincoln Junior High as well. Within one week’s time he and his hoopmeisters had claimed victories over both Morton and Mount Zion. And those were both in the same week. They could have a special season as well.

That’s it for now.

This is coach Mayfield reminding all to be good sports — on and off the court!

[Jeff Mayfield]

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