Davon Grant scores 28 in DeKalb win: Saturday’s Daily Chronicle sports roundup

January 18, 2025 at 9:12 pm CST

Boys basketball

DeKalb 64, East St. Louis 36: At Moline, the Barbs won the showcase game behind 28 points from Davon Grant. Jackson Kees scored 11 and Marquise Bolden had 10 for the Barbs.

Eastland 55, Hinckley-Big Rock 21: At Pecatonica, the Royals fell in a showcase game. Martin Ledbetter had seven points and nine rebounds in the loss. The Royals lost a second game later in the day, 76-75 to Johnsburg.

Girls basketball

Kaneland 50, Galena 40: At Byron, Kendra Brown scored 24 points in the first of two games for the Knights (14-6) at a showcase in Byron.

Amani Meeks added nine in the win.

The Knights also lost 62-32 to Byron. Kendra Brown scored nine in the loss.

Huntley 61, DeKalb 33: At DeKalb, in the second game of the Barbs' showcase, Olivia Schermerhorn scored 11 while Zara Watts had 10 rebounds in the loss.

Men’s basketball

Central Michigan 71, NIU 66: At DeKalb, Quaran McPherson scored 22 points and made five of his seven 3-point attempts in the loss.

Quentin Jones added 12 points and Kailon Nichols poured in 11 for the Huskies (4-13, 0-5 Mid-American Conference), who never led in the second half.

“We gave ourselves an opportunity to win the game, but we didn’t control the things that we can control with regards to the free-throw line – 7 for 15 is minus eight, and you lose by five,” NIU head coach Rashon Burno said. “We had four crucial free throws (missed). We fought hard, limited bench, but I thought the guys showed some fortitude and some toughness. We have to finish games and finish games the right way. Down the stretch we just didn’t convert when we got to the foul line.”

Boys wrestling

Margaret Flott Invitational: At Maple Park, Kaneland was second with 98.5 points, five behind Plainfield Central.

Angelina Gochis, a day after winning a girls tournament, took first at 113. Alex Gochis (138) and Apollo Gochis (175) also took first for the Knights.

Jack Gruber (144), Wyatt Yakle (150) and Levi Herst (285) took second. Camden Skipper (120) and JR Warfel (215) took third.

Women’s basketball

Bowling Green 74, NIU 60: At Bowling Green, the Huskies (7-10, 1-5) dropped their fifth straight game despite 16 points from Chelby Koker.

Lexi Carlsen and Alecia Doyle each added 14 for the Huskies. Brooke Stonebreaker had nine rebounds.

Eddie Carifio

Daily Chronicle sports editor since 2014. NIU beat writer. DeKalb, Sycamore, Kaneland, Genoa-Kingston, Indian Creek, Hiawatha and Hinckley-Big Rock coverage as well.