Ty Reynolds - Shaw Local News Network correspondent

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.

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.

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.

Dixon was efficient on offense and smothering on defense Thursday night, defeating Boylan 50-20 in the Class 3A Freeport Regional final to take home its second title in as many years.

Hot starts to both halves sent Dixon past Belvidere 58-28 in their Class 3A Freeport Regional semifinal on Monday night. The Duchesses went on 19-0 runs in both the first and third quarters to take control.

In another classic chapter in the Dixon-Rock Falls rivalry, the Dukes rallied in the final minute, but Brody Nicklaus’ last-second deep 3-pointer rimmed out and the Rockets held on for a 48-46 win Friday at Lancaster Gym.

Sterling celebrated at home Thursday night after clinching the outright Western Big 6 title over the weekend, finishing off its league slate in style by using a stifling defense and big spurts to top Rock Island 60-42 at Musgrove Fieldhouse.

Rochelle advances four wrestlers

A dozen local wrestlers kept their seasons alive Saturday at the Class 2A Dixon Regional at Lancaster Gym, with three taking titles and three more earning runner-up finishes.

Senior forward Darius Harrington became Dixon's new all-time leading scorer after passing Beau Bailey with a 25-point performance in a 62-40 win over Oregon on Tuesday at the Blackhawk Center.

Sterling's Delali Amankwa had the game winning shot in a 42-40 win over Quincy to help keep the Golden Warriors in first place in the Western Big 6 Conference with three games to go.

Dixon senior forward Hallie Williamson went a perfect 7 for 7 from the field in the third quarter to help the Duchesses pull away from Big Northern Conference rival Rock Falls in a 57-27 win Friday on Senior Night at Lancaster Gym.

As AP Class 3A No. 6-ranked Sterling was scoring its most points this millennium in an 84-28 win over Geneseo on Thursday night, Quincy hit a late 3-pointer to beat Galesburg and put the Golden Warriors atop the Western Big 6 standings all by themselves.

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