Drake Lansman

Here is a look back at the top boys basketball players in the Sauk Valley area for the 2024-25 season.

The Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association released its All-State teams, and players from Newman, Rock Falls, Fulton and A-FC were selected.

The Illinois Coaches Association released its All-State softball teams in each class, with Dixon’s Bailey Tegeler and Sterling’s Mya Lira recognized in Class 3A. Newman's Gianna Vance and Lucy Oetting were also among the area selections.

Morrison junior sprinter Brady Anderson is the Sauk Valley Athlete of the Week. He won the state title in the 100, took second in the 200 to teammate Levi Milder and anchored wins in the 4x100 and 4x200 relays.

Benet scored four runs in the first inning, and its starting pitching came through again as the Redwings beat Washington 6-3 in Monday's Class 3A Geneseo Supersectional.

It wasn't the finish the team hoped for, but Newman finished fourth at the Class 2A state tournament after a 9-3 loss to Eureka on Saturday at Illinois Field in Champaign. The Comets were proud of the run after a third straight state trophy.

Two three-run innings were costly on Friday as Newman fell 9-3 to Teutopolis in the Class 2A state semifinals at Illinois Field. The Comets face Eureka in Saturday's third-place game at 4 p.m.

Newman baseball brings confidence and another year of experience into Friday's state semifinals. The Comets hope to have their best finish yet in a third straight trip to state.

Evan Bushman pitched a complete game and Daniel Kelly had a home run and four RBIs to help send Newman to state for the third straight year.

Fulton senior Dom Kramer worked his way back from a knee injury during football season to be a key contributor on the mound and at the plate during the Steamers' postseason run to the Elite Eight. He is the Sauk Valley Athlete of the Week after an online vote.

Fulton's Braedon Meyers pitched six innings and knocked in a key insurance run late in a 3-2 win for the sectional title on Saturday. Dom Kramer got the save in the Steamers' first sectional title since 2015.

After losing 11 straight games to close the regular season, Dixon got back in the win column when it mattered most. The Dukes beat Sterling 10-2 on Saturday to win the Class 3A Freeport Regional title.

Dixon and Sterling both advanced to Saturday's state track finals in multiple events on Friday.

Battling last year's state runner-up North Boone to extra innings, Morrison fell just short in a 4-3 loss in Friday's sectional final. The Fillies' four seniors helped raise the bar this season.

Rock Falls senior baseball player Austin Castaneda led the Rockets with 37 walks, 30 runs scored, 30 stolen bases without getting caught, led the team with a .543 on-base percentage and 1.054 OPS. He is the Sauk Valley Athlete of the Week.