Paxton Giertz pours in 31 in Seneca’s TCC win: The Times Friday Roundup

Boys basketball

Seneca 69, Dwight 38: At Seneca, the Fighting Irish — behind a game-high 31 points from Paxton Giertz — improved to 16-4 overall and 5-0 in the Tri-County Conference with the win over the Trojans.

Sebastian Deering added 14 for Seneca, while Brayden Simek and Cam Shriey each added seven points.

“We got out of the gates early in a game,” Seneca coach Russ Witte said. “It had been a few games since we have done that. Everyone contributed in a positive way. It was a great night overall playing in front of a great crowd.”

Woodland 52, Midland 40: At the Warrior Dome in rural Streator, the Warriors outscored the Timberwolves 28-20 in the second half to grab the TCC victory.

Connor Dodge and Nick Plesko each netted 15 points for Woodland (13-5, 4-1).

Newark 75, IMSA 72 (OT): At Aurora, the Norsemen — with Payton Wills posting 27 points, five rebounds and five steals — topped the Titans in Little Ten Conference play.

Reggie Chapman had 23 points and 10 assists for Newark (11-7, 6-0) with Dylan Long adding 12 points and four rebounds and Jimmy Kath eight points and nine assists.

Earlville 58, DePue 26: At DePue, Red Raiders' senior Adam Waite scored 21 points — including his 1,000th of his career — and grabbed 11 rebounds and passed for five assists in the LTC win over the Little Giants.

Gavin Guelde had 20 points and three assists and Landen Tirevold eight points for Earlville (6-14, 4-3).

Sandwich 52, Woodstock 50: At Sandwich, the Indians trailed at halftime by eight but allowed just 16 second half points to earn the Kishwaukee River Conference triumph.

Griffin Somlock led Sandwich (10-9, 3-2) with 16 points, while Dom Rome recorded 15 points and seven rebounds and Quinn Rome chipped in nine points.

Fieldcrest 60, Deer Creek-Mackinaw 52: At Minonk, the Knights, behind 23 points from Eddie Lorton and 16 from Eli Gerdes, defeated the Chiefs in the Heart of Illinois Conference contest.

Flanagan-Cornell 43, Ridgeview 42: At Flanagan, the host Falcons rallied in the fourth quarter to best the Mustangs for the second time this season and pick up the Heart of Illinois Conference triumph.

Logan Ruddy (13 points), Rudra Patel (12) and Mason Rich (nine) paced Flanagan-Cornell.

Hinckley-Big Rock 72, Serena 46: At Serena, the Huskers dropped the LTC game to the co-league leading Royals.

Indian Creek 59, Leland 43: At Leland, the Panthers fell in the LTC contest.

Boys bowling

Walter, Taylor, McKay roll out of regional: At Channahon Lanes in the Minooka Regional, Ottawa and Streator each advanced one individual – the Pirates' Caden Walter and the Bulldogs' Cody Taylor – on to sectionals at Bowl Haven Lanes in downstate Alton next Saturday.

Walter rolled a 1,008 series (high game of 197). Taylor advanced with a 1,113 series (213 and 214 high games).

Ottawa finished fifth in the team standings, while Streator was seventh.

Fieldcrest’s Colin McKay also advanced by finishing 15th with a 1,018.