IHSA

Sterling's Drew Nettleton pitched a complete game, Newman baseball beat Fulton 11-9, Rock Falls softball won, Sterling boys and girls track and field both won, four Warriors competed at the Iowa-Illinois senior all-star basketball game and more in Monday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Even after back-to-back trips to the state finals – and eight key players returning from last year’s fourth-place team in Class 2A – it still feels like the Newman Comets are trying to prove themselves this spring.

Sterling baseball and softball both shut out Erie-Prophetstown, Oregon softball also improved to 3-0 and the Golden Warriors boys and girls track & field teams took second at the Warrior Invite in Saturday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Oregon's Emma Schlichtmann had a walk-off hit against Amboy, Bureau Valley beat Rock Falls, Eastland, A-FC and Forreston won, Rock Falls baseball won and more in Tuesday's Sauk Valley roundup.

The Newman Comets used a four-run rally in the top of the sixth, then shut down the Sterling Golden Warriors’ potential game-winning rally in the bottom of the seventh to pull out a 6-5 win over their intracity rivals on Tuesday at Gartner Park.

The IHSA announced three significant changes to its classification policy Tuesday. Starting next school year, the IHSA will go back to using fixed classification cutoffs, change its multiplier waiver process and adjust its “Success Adjustment Policy.”

After several teams easily captured state titles after utilizing a multiplier waiver that allowed them to compete at lower classifications, the IHSA announced changes to both its multiplier waiver and success formula equations for the 2025-2026 athletic seasons.

Spring sports kicked off as Newman baseball tied East Dubuque in eight innings, Fulton fell 2-1 in extras, Forreston beat A-FC 16-3, Aubrey Sanders had seven RBIs in a Forreston softball win, Rock Falls boys, Oregon girls track won and more in Monday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Newman senior wrestler Briar Ivey, who was the state runner-up at 157 pounds in Class 1A, is the Sauk Valley Athlete of the Week in an online vote. Here is a Q&A with sports reporter Drake Lansman.

Eastland defeats Peoria Christian in the Class 1A state boys basketball semifinal Thursday, March 13, 2025, to advance to the finals on Saturday. The Cougars will face Chicago Hope for the title.

A House committee advanced a bill Wednesday that would give high school student athletes the right to participate in both school-sponsored teams and nonschool teams in the same sport at the same time

Shutter to Think: A selection of basketball photos from the 2024-25 season in the Sauk Valley.

Rock Falls faces off against Christ the King High School Monday, March 10, 2025, in the Class 2A boys basketball Supersectional at Sterling High School. The postseason run came to an end for the Rockets who lost 58-44.

Eastland meets Aurora Christian Monday, March 10, 2025, in the Class 1A basketball Supersectional held at the NIU Convocation Center. Eastland took the win and will play for the state title this weekend in Champaign.

Cole Mulnix, 6-8 junior center, came off the bench and scored 10 points, all in the second half, with several blocked shots, to give the Rock Falls the spark it needed to lift it to a 49-43 win over Princeton in the Class 2A Marengo Sectional championship.

Rock Falls defeated Princeton 49-43 to win the Class 2A Sectional final on Friday, March 7, 2025 at Marengo High School. Rock Falls wins their first Sectional since 2006. Princeton ends their season with a record of 21-12.

Cissna Park defeated St. Edward 50-44 to win the Class 1A third place game on Friday, Mary 7, 2025 at CEFCU Arena in Normal. The Lady Timberwolves finish the season 30-5 and St. Edwards wraps up their season winning fourth place with a record of 26-10.

Rock Falls meets Princeton Friday, March 7, 2025, in the boys basketball Class 2A Sectional final in Marengo. Rock Falls took the win 49-43 for their first Sectional since 2006.

Eastland went on the road and defeated top seeded Pecatonica on their home floor to take the Sectional Friday, March 7, 2025. Photos. by Erin Henze - Shaw Local News Network

Montini Catholic played Quincy Notre Dame on Thursday, March 6, 2025 at CEFCU Arena in Normal. Montini will play St. Ignatius College Prep for the Class 3A State championship on Saturday at 6p.m.

The Joliet West speech team concluded their strongest season in team history with two students placing at the state tournament Feb. 23, following a first place team victory at sectionals.

Peoria beat L-P 51-36 during the Class 3A Sectional semifinal game Wednesday, March 5, 2025 at Washington High School.

Eastland and Dakota face off in the boys basketball Class 1A Sectional semifinal Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at Pecatonica High School. Eastland won 55-39.

Bishop McNamara defeated Joliet Catholic Academy 79-67 in the IHSA Class 2A Peotone Sectional semifinal on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, to advance to Friday's sectional championship.

Rock Falls and Winnebago battle it out in Marengo in the boys Class 2A Sectional semifinal Tuesday, March 4, 2025. Rock Falls took the win 42-40 on a last second bucket. The Rockets will play for the Sectional title on Friday.

The Cissna Park Timberwolves earned a 47-35 victory over St. Teresa in the IHSA Class 1A Blue Ridge Super-Sectional on March 3, 2025, to advance to the girls basketball IHSA Class 1A State tournament next weekend.

Sterling and Washington met on the court in Rochelle for the girls basketball Class 3A Supersectional Monday, March 3, 2025. The game went into OT with Washington winning 58-54.

Images from the 2025 IHSA Boys Wrestling Dual Team State Championships in Bloomington on Saturday, March 1, 2025.

Images from the 2025 IHSA girls wrestling state championships in Bloomington on Saturday, March 1, 2025.

Rock Falls freshman Akira Schick was sixth at the state wrestling tournament, Erie-Prophetstown junior Michelle Naftzger took fifth and more in Saturday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Eastland beats Newman 55-44 to take the West Carroll 1A Regional title Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. Photos by Erin Henze - Shaw Local News Network

A hot start and some smothering defense led to a regional title for Eastland on Friday night. The Cougars hit their first four shots, and Newman never recovered after several early turnovers in a 55-44 loss in the Class 1A West Carroll Regional final.

L-P beat Streator 49-46 to win the Class 3A Regional title on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025 in Sellett Gymnasium at L-P High School. L-P will play in the Class 3A Sectional on Wednesday, March 5, at Washington High School.

Rock Falls and Riverdale face off for the Class 2A Regional title at Bureau Valley Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. Rock Falls won a thriller 61-58 in overtime on a Kuitim Heald 3-pointer with one second left.

Evan Bushman's clutch 3-pointer lifted fifth-seeded Newman over fourth-seeded Galva, Eastland beat Fulton, Forreston won and Amboy fell to Annawan to Thursday's Sauk Valley area regional semifinal matchups.

Local rivals Dixon and Sterling play for the Class 3A Rockford Boylan Sectional title Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. Sterling won the defensive battle 39-30.

L-P beat Dixon 53-50 in overtime during the Class 3A Regional semifinals on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 in Sellett gymnasium at L-P High School. The Cavaliers will play the Streator Bulldogs for the Regional title on Friday at 6p.m.

Streator hangs on to beat Ottawa 41-39 during the Class 3A Regional semifinal game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 in Sellett Gymnasium at L-P High School. The Bulldogs will play in the Regional finals on Friday at 6p.m.

Rock Falls takes on Oregon in the semifinal of the Class 2A boys basketball Regional at Bureau Valley. Rock Falls won 58-38.

Riverdale and Bureau Valley clash on the court in the Class 2A boys basketball Regional semifinal at Bureau Valley. Riverdale won 68-59 and will take on Rock Falls on Friday.

After jumping out to a big lead with several early pins, Oregon held off Newman's comeback attempt to win the Class 1A Oregon Dual Team Sectional 39-30 on Tuesday night at the Blackhawk Center.

Cissna Park/Christ Lutheran beat Flanagan-Cornell Woodland 42-30 during the Class 1A Sectional semifinal game on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025 at Midland High School.

Yorkville Christian faces off against St. Edward's Elgin in Class 1A Sectional girls basketball Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at Hinckley-Big Rock High School. St. Edwards took the win and will play for the Sectional title on Thursday.

Amboy takes on Morgan Park Academy in Class 1A Sectional girls basketball Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at Hinckley-Big Rock High School. Amboy took the win 54-26 and will face St. Edwards Elgin for the Sectional title.

A career game by Garret Matznick and a fourth-quarter defensive change helped spur a late surge that lifted Newman to a 68-57 win over Milledgeville in their Class 1A West Carroll Regional quarterfinal.

Eddie Jones and Ezra Parker combined for 44 points as Amboy won its first postseason game since 2017, Forreston and Eastland won, and Fulton beat Polo in Monday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Marquette beat Dwight 66-33 during the Class 1A Regional quarterfinal game on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025 in Bader Gym at Marquette High School. The Cru will play Hinckley-Big Rock at 6p.m. on Wednesday in the Regional semifinals.

St. Bede beat Ashton-Franklin Center 64-47 during the Class 1A Regional quarterfinals on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025 at St. Bede Academy. The Bruins will play Forreston in the Regional semifinals on Wednesday, at 7:30p.m. in Amboy.

Amboy grad and Illinois Wesleyan senior guard Mallory Powers was named to the All-CCIW First Team on Monday for the second straight season. The Titans host the CCIW Tournament this Friday to Saturday.

Sterling sophomore Sarah Doughty finished 19th at the state bowling meet, the Golden Warriors swimmers took third and Conner Porter qualified for state in Saturday's Sauk Valley roundup.