Newman Central Catholic Preps

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.

Wyatt Widolff plans on attending Hillsdale College to run track and field and is considering majoring in either actuarial science or economics.

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.

Oregon High School's wrestling team is headed to the state finals of the team competition for 1A schools after edging Sterling Newman 39-30 in sectional action on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025 at the Blackhawk Center in Oregon. The Hawks are one of four teams who will battle for the championship this Friday and Saturday in Bloomington.

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.

Newman and Milledgeville square off in a Class 1A basketball Regional quarterfinal Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, at Newman High School. Newman won 68-57.

Newman takes on River Ridge/Scales Mound in the Class 1A girls Regional basketball final at Forreston Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. Newman took the loss 48-43.

Newman built an early lead but fell short to River Ridge/Scales Mound in the regional championship on Thursday night. 'My girls did a great job out there, and I’m proud of them.'

Outwork Elite partnered with the Garrett Ramos Foundation on Monday, Feb. 17, to host a free basketball camp for kids ranging from third through eighth grade. Over 120 players from throughout the Sauk Valley and beyond attended the clinic at Newman Central Catholic High School.

Newman and Eastland face off in the 1A regional semifinal at Forreston Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. Newman took the win and will play for the title on Thursday against River Ridge.

Newman grapplers took to the mat at the 1A Oregon Sectional on Friday, Feb. 14 and Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.

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.

Zhyler Hansen, Daniel Kelly, Landon Near and Javen Reyes all won titles as Newman grabbed the Class 1A Riverdale Regional wrestling championship on Saturday.

Newman's Three Rivers East contest was called in the third quarter as a Kewanee player was taken off the court on a stretcher Thursday night. The Comets won 54-29.

Cody McBride plans to go to college for kinesiology or a health-related field.

Newman hosts Kewanee Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in girls basketball. Newman was leading 54-29 when the game was called late in the third due to an injury to a Kewanee player.

Ryan Partington plans to attend Bradley University for mechanical engineering in the fall.

From a cello performance to bottle flipping, students and staff members at Newman Central Catholic High School in Sterling showed off their skills Thursday, Jan. 30, at a celebration for Catholic Schools Week.

The fun continues for the two schools Thursday as St. Mary’s will participate in various STEM activities and Newman will host a student talent show.

In celebration of Catholic Schools Week, staff and students at Newman Central Catholic High School in Sterling show off their talents during a performance at the school Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025.

Newman ended the game right where it started Wednesday against Erie-Prophetstown. The Comets built a big lead with a huge opening run, then pulled away with a second-half surge for a 65-39 Three Rivers East victory.

Newman students visited St. Mary's school Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, to play games with the kids in celebration of Catholic Schools Week.

Newman hosts E-P in a conference boys basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. Newman won 65-39.

Senior Asa Gartin scored 13 points, 11 in the fourth quarter, to spark the Tigers to a 60-46 win over Sterling Newman in Three Rivers East play on Friday at Prouty Gym.

Newman hosts Mendota Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025 in girls basketball. Newman won 65-18.

Newman used its aggressive 1-3-1 half-court zone to speed up Hall, and hit 3-pointers and fast-break layups on the offensive end in one of their most complete performances of the season for a 71-49 Three Rivers East victory at home.

Newman hosts Hall in a TRAC East game Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 in boys basketball. Newman won 71-49.

In a Three Rivers East matchup that came down to the final possessions, Princeton was able to finish in a 56-52 win at Newman on Thursday night. Keighley Davis had 23 points and 10 rebounds for the Tigers.

Trailing by two at the break, Newman scored the first 10 points of the second half and never trailed again in a 65-55 victory over visiting Kewanee in a Three Rivers Conference East Division game Friday night.

Newman hosts Kewanee in boys basketball Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. Newman took the conference win 65-55.

Newman Central Catholic fended off a rally attempt in the second half by Eastland and eventually ran away for a 56-30 victory.

Newman hosts Eastland at girls basketball Tuesday Jan. 7, 2025. Newman won 56-30.

High school boys basketball action continued on two courts at the 63rd Annual Forreston Holiday Tournament on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. Oregon beat Newman, Forreston downed Milledgeville, and Polo fell to Lena-Winslow. Games continue Thursday and Friday.

Relentless pressure, non-stop hustle and hot shooting set the tone from the start Thursday night, and Newman rode that wave to a 65-30 Three Rivers East victory over visiting Erie-Prophetstown.

Newman takes on E-P Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024 in girls basketball. Newman won 65-30.

The All-Arrowhead Conference volleyball selections were announced, with West Carroll grad Lacey Eissens of Sauk Valley Community College named MVP. SVCC's Jess Johns, Maggie Richetta and Ava Wight also received honors, along with Forreston grad Brooke Boettner (Highland CC).

Newman and Eastland clash Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024 on the court at Eastland High School. Eastland took the game 55-42.

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

Newman's Evan Bushman scored 24 points, and George Jungerman had 21 as the Comets led Byron wire-to-wire in a 69-65 win Tuesday night.

Newman takes on Byron Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in boys basketball. Newman won 69-65.

The Princeton Tigresses are three-time defending champions in the Three Rivers East Conference. They got off to a good start for another championship, defeating Sterling Newman Central Catholic 41-30 in the conference opener Monday night at Prouty Gym.

Sterling Newman downed Marengo 69-57 on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024 at the Oregon Thanksgiving Tournament.

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.

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

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

Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley relied on a dominant defensive performance and a standout game from Jacob Chase to shut out Newman Central Catholic 28-0 in the second round of the Class 1A playoffs.

A look at second-round scores and quarterfinals pairings

Newman assistant football coach Todd Messer brings a valuable perspective as a marine veteran and retired police officer.