Local Sports Digest: Little Ten announces all-conference soccer; Ottawa tennis duo named all-state

Little Ten All-Conference Soccer Team

The Little Ten Conference has announced its boys soccer all-conference team for 2022.

Somonauk, runner-up in the LTC standings and tournament, saw junior midfielder Lance Grandgeorge, junior defenseman Carson Brahley and junior midfielder Luke Rader tabbed for the All-LTC first team.

For Serena, which tied for second in the regular season, senior midfielder/forward Camden Figgins and junior midfielder Tanner Faivre were unanimous choices. Senior defender Bradley Armour and junior midfielder Richie Armour also were honored.

Cited from Earlville, the third team to tie for second in the regular season, senior goalkeeper Garret Cook and senior midfielder/forward Diego Vazquez were unanimous picks for the third time, while junior forward/midfielder Griffin Cook was selected for the first time.

Illinois Math and Science Academy, at 6-0 the undefeated league champ for the second straight year and a first-time winner of the conference tournament, had six players honored.

Smithmeyer and O’Fallon named all-state

The Ottawa girls tennis doubles team of Jenna Smithmeyer and Rylee O’Fallon earned IHSA All-State third-team honors for its performance this past season, winning a sectional championship and advancing to the IHSA State Finals late last month.

Shepherd girls roll past Plano

The Shepherd girls basketball teams defeated Plano twice this week, the eighth graders moving to 19-0 on the season with a 37-17 win over Plano and a 41-9 topping of Putnam County. Ashlynn Ganiere led the way against Plano with nine points, 15 steals and eight rebounds, while Meredith Waldron added nine points and Alaina Schultz eight. Versus Putnam County, the 8s received 22 points from Ganiere, 10 from Waldron and seven from Reese Purcell.

The Rams’ seventh grade team used 21 points from Kennedy Kane to win 25-17. The 7s then fell 16-12 to Putnam County despite Kane’s seven points.

Woodland boys take 2 from Grand Ridge

The Woodland Junior High seventh grade team topped Grand Ridge 33-11 as Grant Wilson notched 14 points, three rebounds and two assists. Also, Brayden Matsko added six points and four rebounds and Mason Decker two points, four rebounds and a steal.

In the eighth grade game, Woodland was a 22-8 winner behind Nate Berry’s 12 points, two rebounds, two steals and a block. Grant Wisson chipped in six points and two steals, Jack Starkey four points and two steals and Brez Simons five rebounds and a steal.

Marquette, Central pick up 2 wins each

Marquette Academy and Ottawa Central boys basketball teams each earned fifth and sixth grade wins recently.

Marquette’s fifth graders were a 32-6 winner over Central, despite Kentley Smith’s four points. Central bounced back to top Saratoga 26-10 as Smith netted 20 points.

In sixth grade action, Marquette bested Central 22-19. Luca Fernandez tossed in eight points and Henry Farabaugh five for the Cyclones. Central rebounded to beat Saratoga 22-8, with Bryce Ceja firing in nine points, Luca Fernandez five and Farabaugh four.