Dixon Preps

Dixon and Rockford Boylan face off for the Regional final Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025 in Freeport. Dixon won the game 50-20. Photos by Erin Henze/Shaw Local News Network

Dixon was efficient on offense and smothering on defense Thursday night, defeating Boylan 50-20 in the Class 3A Freeport Regional final to take home its second title in as many years.

Hot starts to both halves sent Dixon past Belvidere 58-28 in their Class 3A Freeport Regional semifinal on Monday night. The Duchesses went on 19-0 runs in both the first and third quarters to take control.

Morris's Paxton Valentine, Sycamore's Carson West, Sterling's Zyan Westbrook and Plano's Prince Amakiri all won championships at Saturday's IHSA Class 2A Washington Boys Wrestling Sectional.

Teams from Sycamore, Morris, Yorkville Christian, Sterling, Kaneland and Dixon competed in the championship and third-place matches during the Class 2A Sectional championship on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025 at Washington High School.

In another classic chapter in the Dixon-Rock Falls rivalry, the Dukes rallied in the final minute, but Brody Nicklaus’ last-second deep 3-pointer rimmed out and the Rockets held on for a 48-46 win Friday at Lancaster Gym.

How will Sterling fare after winning its first Western Big 6 title? Can Dixon make another run? Will the Golden Warriors and Duchesses meet for a sectional title? Can a young Newman team make some noise? Look for that and more from Sauk Valley area teams this postseason.

A dozen local wrestlers kept their seasons alive Saturday at the Class 2A Dixon Regional at Lancaster Gym, with three taking titles and three more earning runner-up finishes.

Dixon, Sterling, Oregon and Erie-Prophetstown competed Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in the girls bowling regional at Plum Hollow in Dixon. Sterling took second to advance to the sectional as a team along with Oregon's Carli Bailey.

Dixon, Polo, Sterling and others meet Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, at Dixon High School for Class 2A individual wrestling. Photos by Brian Hurley - Shaw Local News Network

Senior forward Darius Harrington became Dixon's new all-time leading scorer after passing Beau Bailey with a 25-point performance in a 62-40 win over Oregon on Tuesday at the Blackhawk Center.

Dixon's Darius Harrington breaks the all-time school scoring record with 1,783 points Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 in Oregon as the Dukes' go on to win 62-40.

Dixon senior forward Hallie Williamson went a perfect 7 for 7 from the field in the third quarter to help the Duchesses pull away from Big Northern Conference rival Rock Falls in a 57-27 win Friday on Senior Night at Lancaster Gym.

Dixon hosts Rock Falls in girl's basketball Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in a conference matchup. The Duchesses prevailed 57-27.

The Dixon and Oregon boys bowling teams look to make some noise at the state meet this weekend at St. Clair Bowl in Fairview Heights. The Dukes took 11th last year and Oregon is competing at state as a team for just the second time.

Darius Harrington had 11 points in the second quarter and followed up with 14 more in the third quarter, finishing with a game-high 36 points, to power the Dukes to a 61-50 win over their former NCIC rivals.

The best thing about Monday’s 61-50 loss to Dixon for the Princeton Tigers is that they won’t have long to dwell over it. The Tigers will to have to answer the bell less than 24 hours later to take on Riverdale back at Prouty Gym on Tuesday night.

The first time Dixon played Byron at Lancaster Gym this season, the Duchesses fell behind early and never found their rhythm. But they turned the tables on the Tigers on Saturday, using a smothering defense and a controlled offense to pick up a 47-36 Big Northern Conference win.

The Dixon Duchesses host Byron in girls basketball Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. Photos by Brian Hurley - Shaw Local News Network

Oregon is hosting the boys bowling sectional Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025 at Plum Hollow in Dixon. Photos by Brian Hurley - Shaw Local News Network

In a tie game late in the third quarter, Dixon flipped a switch Wednesday night against La Salle-Peru. The Dukes used a huge run to end the third quarter and start the fourth to pull away for a 56-40 victory over the Cavaliers at Lancaster Gym.

Lots of energy and aggressiveness on both ends of the court set the tone for Dixon on Thursday night at the Blackhawk Center.

Dixon travels to Oregon for a conference girls basketball matchup Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. Dixon won 54-28.

Paschal: For this year’s football player of the year, I did want to dip back a bit to a bygone era, if you will, and just add a little extra style to the image.

For long stretches against Sycamore on Tuesday, it seemed like Darius Harrington and Dixon couldn’t miss in a 64-42 victory over the Spartans.

The Sycamore boys basketball team hosted Dixon Tuesday night in a nonconference matchup.

The stats don’t tell the whole story about Eli Davidson. They only scratch the surface as to how big an impact he had for thew Class 4A quarterfinalists. He is the 2024 Sauk Valley Media Football Player of the Year.

As Darius Harrington continued his climb on the all-time Dixon scoring list, every single one of his teammates played a part in Saturday afternoon’s 65-47 win over Elk Grove at Lancaster Gym.

Dixon host Elk Grove in a non-conference boys basketball match-up Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. Dixon won 65-47.

Dixon hosts Oregon Tuesday, Jan 7, 2025 in girls bowling.

Every time Dixon built a lead, Morris came roaring back – and the final surge was enough to put it over the top. Led by Layken Callahan’s stellar fourth quarter, Morris rallied for a 53-48 victory over the Duchesses on Friday at Lancaster Gym.

Dixon sophomore wrestler Jack Ragan, who took first at 113 pounds at the Wheaton-Warrenville South tournament, is the Sauk Valley Athlete of the Week in an online vote. He's started his sophomore year 20-0 with four tournament victories. Here is his Q&A with Drake Lansman.

Dixon hosts Plainfield Central in boys basketball Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. Dixon won 60-34.

Dixon and Morris clash on the court in girls basketball Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. Morris won 53-48.

Oregon's Gavvin Surmo had the top series at Dixon's Toughman Tournament as the Hawks took second behind state power Harlem. The Dukes were third and Sterling took 12th in a strong field on Thursday.

Dixon, Sterling, Oregon and others face off at the alleys at Plum Hollow for Dixon's Toughman bowling tournament.

As expected, Saturday’s third-place game at the Dixon Holiday Classic between rivals Sterling and Dixon was dominated by hard-nosed defense and all-out hustle.cBut the difference was the Golden Warriors’ ability to get out and score in transition in a 44-18 victory.

Dixon and Sterling girls teams faced off in the Dixon Girls KSB Holiday Basketball Classic Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. The Golden Warriors’ bested the Duchesses’ 44-18 at Lancaster Gym.

A slow start doomed Dixon in the semifinals of its own holiday tournament on Friday night at Lancaster Gym. The Duchesses did not make a field goal in the first half, and never recovered from a double-digit halftime deficit in a 50-33 loss to Byron.

Undefeated Dixon and Byron's girls teams face off in the semifinal of the Dixon Girls KSB Basketball Classic Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. Byron took the win 50-33 and will face Stillman Valley Saturday for the championship. Dixon will play Sterling for third place.

Dixon faced off against Rochelle on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, at the 46th annual Dixon Girls KSB Holiday Basketball Tournament. Dixon won 64-36.

Dixon plays Aurora Central in the quarterfinal Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, of the Dixon Girl’s KSB Holiday Basketball Classic. Dixon won a close one 49-44.

In its second game since moving into a tie atop the latest AP Class 3A rankings, Dixon set the tone from the start Thursday in a 54-17 win over North Boone at Lancaster Gym.

Dixon hosts North Boone in girls basketball Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. The Duchesses won 54-17.

In the Big Northern Conference opener between a veteran Dixon team and a young Winnebago squad, experience won out. Led by senior Hallie Williamson’s double-double, the Duchesses controlled the game from start to finish in a 47-22 victory over the Indians.

Dixon used a huge first-half run to build a big halftime lead, then used another big surge to pull away in the third quarter for a 70-32 victory over Rochelle on Monday night at Lancaster Gym.

Dixon hosts Rochelle Monday, Dec. 9, 2024 in boys basketball. Dixon won 70-32.

Some finals from the 46th Carson DeJarnatt wrestling invitational Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024 in Sterling.

Dixon senior basketball player Darius Harrington, who scored a career-high 40 points in a win over Rochelle, is the Sauk Valley Athlete of the Week in an online vote. Here is his Q&A with Drake Lansman.

After an early lead disappeared Wednesday night, Dixon made enough plays down the stretch to eke out a 38-35 victory over former longtime NCIC rival Ottawa at Lancaster Gym.