Dixon Preps

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.

The Dixon girls basketball team defeated Ottawa 38-35 on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 at Lancaster Gym in Dixon.

MAPLE PARK – Dixon is having fun. That the Duchesses are winning certainly has something to do with it as they won their seventh straight to open the season with a 47-38 non-conference win at Kaneland on Monday night.

Kaneland girls basketball hosted Dixon on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024 in Maple Park.

Here are five of the top Sauk Valley area players to watch this season, including Dixon's Darius Harrington, Rock Falls' Kuitim Heald, Eastland's Parker Krogman, Sterling's Kaedon Phillips and Oregon's Kade Girton.

Fulton picked up its second straight win and Rock Falls edged Kewanee, plus more scores from around the area.

Despite 24 wins, last season didn’t end the way Dixon wanted. That will fuel the fire for the Dukes this winter, even with quite a bit of turnover on the roster.

Dixon hosts Geneseo to kick off the '24-25 season Monday, Nov. 25, 2024 in boys basketball. Dixon took the win 47-32.

Dixon beat Pecatonica 47-24 to win the Oregon Girls Tip-Off Tournament on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 at the Blackhawk Center in Oregon.

Here is a look at all 16 girls basketball teams in the Sauk Valley coverage area for the 2024-25 season.

Dixon, Amboy, Richmond Burton, and Oregon competed on the opening night of the Oregon Girls Basketball Tip-Off Tournament on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024 at the Blackhawk Center in Oregon.

Coming off its first sectional title in more than 30 years, Dixon lost just three players off of that Elite Eight team and hope that postseason experience translates into success this season.

Donnie Ladas' late fumble recovery was followed by a fourth-and-inches conversion by Landin Benson to give Coal City a 20-13 win and send the Coalers to the 4A state semifinals.

Coal City faces Dixon in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Class 4A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive editor Hart Pisani will have live updates, scores and news from the game

Join hosts J.T. Pedelty and Eddie Carifio as they break down Round 2 and look ahead to the quarterfinals of the IHSA football playoffs for the western and southern portions of northern Illinois

Dixon senior QB Cullen Shaner and Newman senior linebacker/running back Daniel Kelly were both named All-State by the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association on Wednesday. A number of Sauk Valley 8-man players and honorable mentions were also recognized.

A look at second-round scores and quarterfinals pairings

The old adage in sports says that defense travels. Dixon is ready to take its act on the road in the Class 4A quarterfinals this weekend. The Dukes (10-1) will play at Coal City (9-2) at 1 p.m. Saturday in the third trip to the quarterfinals in DHS program history.

Dixon is in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2017, Polo rolls to semifinal matchup with Milledgeville, Karter Livengood overcomes stomach virus in Missiles' win, Amboy overcomes adversity and West Carroll wrapped up a successful 8-man debut in Week 11's SVM notes.

A look at second-round scores and quarterfinals pairings

Dixon rolled to touchdowns the first five times it touched the ball Friday night on the way to a 51-6 victory over Chicago Agricultural Science in a Class 4A second-round playoff game at A.C. Bowers Field.