High School Sports

East St. Louis finishes in the No. 1 spot of the final Friday Night Drive Power Rankings for the season. See how things stacked up in the latest version of the Top 25.

The 2024-25 wrestling season is underway, and here are previews of teams from around the Record Newspapers coverage area.

The Indian Creek boys basketball team played solid defense in the second half against Marquette on Monday night in a 41-39 victory at Bader Gymnasium in Ottawa.

Join hosts Matt Rodewald and Steve Soucie as they break down the IHSA state football title games this past weekend, and talk about the future of the IHSA playoffs with public and private schools

Eastland boys basketball opened the season with a win over Amboy, Micah Toms-Smith led the Missiles with 19 points in a win, Amboy girls beat Polo, Dixon and Sterling bowling had wins and more in Monday's SVM roundup.

Zora Watts made the most of her first start on Monday. The DeKalb junior forward had a game-high 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists and the Barbs won 66-29 against Rochelle, their fifth win in six games to start the year.

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.

Here is a preview look at all 16 boys basketball teams in the Sauk Valley coverage area.

While Zion Gross and Ethan Hillsman play like stars, eight players on the Tiger roster have received D1 interest and that depth is what they'll be leaning on this year.

Yorkville saw a seven-point lead slip away in the final 15 seconds of regulation, but the Foxes bounced back to beat Sycamore 63-61 in overtime to win the Strombom Holiday Tournament title.

Seneca uses defense to gain separation from Marquette and win the inaugural Husker Hardwood Tip-Off Tourney championship.

Dixon, Sterling and Rock Falls boys basketball won, A-FC girls took third at South Beloit, Sarah Doughty helped Sterling bowling take third and more in Saturday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Schaumburg’s boys basketball team followed the principle that defense travels during Saturday night’s 52-36 victory over St. Charles East in what turned out to be the championship game of the 64th annual RJ Thanksgiving Tournament.

The Ottawa boys basketball team used 7-0 runs early and late in the third quarter to eventually post a 54-38 victory over Streator in Saturday's championship game of the Dean Riley Shootin’ the Rock Thanksgiving Tournament.

A 57-53 win over Lemont on Saturday gave Bradley-Bourbonnais its first-ever WJOL Thanksgiving Classic title.

York faces Loyola in the state title game of the 2024 Class 8A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive editor Steve Soucie will have live updates, scores and news from the game

Batavia faces Mt. Carmel in the state title game of the 2024 Class 7A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive reporter Michal Dwojak will have live updates, scores and news from the game

Geneva faces East St. Louis in the state title game of the 2024 Class 6A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive editor Steve Soucie will have live updates, scores and news from the game

Nazareth faces Joliet Catholic in the state title game of the 2024 Class 5A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive reporter Michal Dwojak will have live updates, scores and news from the game

The Marquette Crusaders held off Serena to reach Saturday's 5:30 p.m. championship game against rival Seneca, also a winner Friday.

The Streator and Ottawa boys basketball teams picked up wins over Oak Forest and Sterling respectively in Friday night action at the Dean Riley Shootin’ the Rock Thanksgiving Tournament. The Bulldogs and Pirates will meet for the title at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Waubonsie Valley scored the game's first 13 points and cruised to a victory over Marmion in the 49th annual Ken Peddy Windmill Classic on Friday.

Vincas Buzelis hit a 3-pointer just before the buzzer to force overtime, but Hinsdale Central lost 79-76 to Rockford Guilford in the Hoops for Healing championship.

Dixon's Darius Harrington scored 40 points in a win over Rochelle, and George Jungerman (25 points), Evan Bushman (20 points) and Garrett Matznick (14 points) led Newman in a win in Friday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Led by sophomore standout Campbell Thulin’s game-high 23 points, Downers Grove Morth came back from an early deficit to register a 48-23 triumph over the hosts and its first title in the Lady Saxons Classic.

New-look Palatine handled short-handed York to advance to the championship game of the 15th annual Ed Molitor Thanksgiving Classic.

AJ Demirov had 19 points and 10 assists to lead Crystal Lake South to a 78-48 win over the host Skyhawks in the third-place game of the Johnsburg Thanksgiving Tournament.

DePaul Prep faces Mt. Zion in the state title game of the 2024 Class 4A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive reporter Michal Dwojak will have live updates, scores and news from the game

Montini faces Monticello in the state title game of the 2024 Class 3A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive editor Eddie Carifio will have live updates, scores and news from the game

JoJo Awinongya, 17, is set to graduate from University of St. Francis soon in order to continue training for the 2028 Olympics

Lena-Winslow faces Althoff in the state title game of the 2024 Class 1A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive editor Eddie Carifio will have live updates, scores and news from the game

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.

Flanagan-Cornell won an overtime thriller over Woodland, while St. Bede lost a late lead of its own in a defeat to Ridgeview in the final night of pool play of the Route 17 Classic.

Glenbard West boys basketball won the District 87 title, Cam Mercer scored 25 points to lead Riverside-Brookfield past Hinsdale South, and York, Wheaton Warrenville South and St. Francis boys basketball were all winners in Wednesday's roundup.

Batavia forwards Jax Abalos (18 points, 14 rebounds) and Payton Wolff (16 points) lead the way to a big-time 78-41 victory over Marmion

Lemont tripped Joliet Central 67-34, while Minooka beat Plainfield Central 50-24 in WJOL Thanksgiving Classic action on Wednesday.

Atticus Richmond scored a game-high 15 points, all in the second half, leading Stevenson to a 46-28 win over Huntley at the Ed Molitor Thanksgiving boys basketball classic at Palatine.

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

Adam Anwar scored 22 points, Dylan Hurckes made 6-of-8 free throws in overtime, and McHenry beat Cary-Grove 55-52 to win the Hoops for Healing tournament at Woodstock North.

Join hosts Steve Soucie, Michal Dwojak and Josh Welge as they get you ready for the exciting matchups in the state title games of the IHSA football playoffs

The Ottawa and Oak Forest boys basketball teams earned victories over Plano and Princeton respectively during Tuesday's games at the Dean Riley Shootin’ the Rock Thanksgiving Tournament in Kingman Gymnasium.

Vincas Buzelis scored 25 points to lead three Hinsdale Central players in double figures, leading the Red Devils past short-handed Oswego East 69-57 at the Hoops for Healing Tournament.

Andrew Hill scored 26 points to pace IC Catholic Prep to a win, and York, Glenbard West and Downers Grove North boys basketball and Montini girls basketball were also winners in Tuesday's roundup.

The Dixon girls are 6-0, Oregon's Ella Dannhorn had 21 points in a win, Fulton's Wrenn Coffey had 14 points in a comeback win, Sterling wrestling picked up wins and more in Tuesday's SVM roundup.

Willowbrook was just 7 for 28 from the field and 1 for 10 on 3s in the first half. Jaylon Griffin added 11 points and Filip Palutkiewicz had nine for the Warriors.

Brett Bounds and Jack Wheeler combined for 47 points to lead Morris past G-SW.

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.

The boys basketball season is already underway. Check out our team-by-team preview with top returners, newcomers and info on each team in the Northwest Herald area for the 2024-25 season.

Here are five boys basketball players to watch in the Northwest Herald area for the 2024-25 season.

There's a new team at the top of the Friday Night Drive Power Rankings. See how things stacked up in the latest version of the Top 25.