Newman's Landon Near and Dixon's Charlie Connors will wrestle for state titles on Saturday. Sterling's Sarah Doughty is leading at state bowling and Sterling's Jack Saathoff set the single-season rebounding record.

Sherrard threw the first punch Friday at Lancaster Gym, then Dixon countered. But the Tigers finished things off down the stretch, surging from a late deficit to top the Dukes 63-61 in a back-and-forth regular-season finale that set the stage for the postseason.

Three area wrestlers advanced to the Class 1A state semifinals as Newman’s Landon Near (113 pounds) and Landon Blanton (132), and Dixon’s Charlie Connors (144) won two straight matches in Champaign.

While Geneva made key plays in Thursday's Class 3A Dixon Regional championship, Dixon suffered one of its worst shooting nights of the season in a 49-40 Vikings victory at Lancaster Gym.

Top-seeded Eastland girls basketball held on for a 40-39 win over Stockton in the regional semifinals. The Eastland boys beat Rock Falls 46-43, Polo beat Morrison, Oregon beat Forreston, Milledgeville beat Amboy and more in Wednesday's Sauk Valley Roundup.

Hall's boys basketball team started fast out of the locker room twice Tuesday night. But Newman finished strong in both halves to claim a share of the Three Rivers East title with a 68-55 victory in Sterling.

Oregon girls basketball fell to Stillman Valley, but the Hawks finished with their first winning record since 2014. E-P fell to Riverdale and Amboy fell 55-52 to Dwight in Monday's Sauk Valley Roundup.

Dixon started strong and never looked back in a 55-10 win over Rockford East in their Class 3A Dixon Regional semifinal Monday night at Lancaster Gym.

After Kaneland erased a 10-point deficit in the final seven minutes, Geneva's Linnea Popp found herself open on an inbounds play and hit a short jumper with two seconds to play to give Geneva a 38-36 in their 3A Dixon Regional semifinal.

Kaneland and Geneva meet in Dixon for the Class 3A girls basketball regional semifinals. Geneva pulled out the win 38-36.

Dixon walloped Rockford East 55-10 in the girls basketball Class 3A regional semifinal in Dixon. Dixon will play in the regional championship on Thursday.

Dixon built a double-digit lead early in the seconds quarter and never trailed again in a 69-61 BNC win over Rock Falls on Friday night at Tabor Gym.

Forreston wins tight one in NUIC over Fulton. Plus more scores in Friday's Sauk Valley Media Sports Roundup.

The IHSA announced Friday that member schools voted to approve a proposal impacting the start date of the 2026 football season and the number of practices required per player to compete in the first contest.

Erie-Prophetstown's Connor Keegan scored 18 points in a win over Oregon. Fulton boys basketball beat Polo, Faith Christian won and more in Thursday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Sterling scored 19 seconds into the game and never trailed in a 54-48 Western Big 6 win over Moline in the regular-season finale Thursday at Musgrove Fieldhouse.

Senior Aida Valdovinos, juniors Ayanna Jackson and Mia Buss, and freshman Coriana Kelly will compete on Saturday at Morris High School for a chance to qualify for the IHSA state championships.

Fulton girls basketball got its 19th win, Newman boys held off Rockridge and more in Wednesday's Sauk Valley Roundup.

Dixon got contributions from its entire roster as it rolled to a 72-33 win over Harvest Christian on Wednesday.

Benny Olalde scored 25 points in an Oregon win over Stillman Valley. Rock Falls and Dixon's boys both fell by two points, Eastland girls beat Polo, Newman beat Oregon, Fulton beat AFC and more in Tuesday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Newman girls basketball wrapped up Three Rivers Conference play with a 9-1 record as conference champions. Eastland boys beat Fulton and Faith Christian beat AFC in Monday's Sauk Valley roundup.

A perfectly timed offensive rebound led to a decisive three-point play as Dixon pulled out a 45-43 BNC win over Stillman Valley on Saturday night at Lancaster Gym.

Blair Grennan, Tessa Fosdick, Kerby Germann and Ryleigh Eriks all won their weight class at the Belvidere Regional. Sterling boys swimming finished second at the Big 6 meet and more in Saturday's Sauk Valley Roundup.

West Carroll grad Emma Randecker, a freshman at the University of Northern Iowa, set the school’s indoor 200-meter dash record with a time of 24.11 on Saturday. The previous record was set in 1994.

Oregon wins again in the Big Northern. Dixon and Sterling girls bowling advance to the sectional. Plus more scores in Friday's Sauk Valley Media Sports roundup.

Dixon, Sterling and Oregon girls basketball had conference wins. Eastland boys basketball beat Morrison, Polo beat Milledgeville, Fulton beat Amboy on senior night and more in Thursday's Sauk Valley Roundup.

Cam Jones had a triple double in a Polo win, Eastland girls beat Rock Falls, Sterling and Dixon girls bowling won and more in Wednesday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Rock Falls wrestler Jahkei Jones is the Sauk Valley Athlete of the Week, presented by Loescher Heating and Air Conditioning. 'When the match is over he is the kindest and most respectful kid I’ve ever coached.'

Dixon led by double-digits less than three minutes into the game and never trailed in a 60-53 victory Tuesday night over Big Northern Conference rival Oregon at Lancaster Gym.

Morrison boys basketball beat Amboy, Newman beat Ottawa Marquette 78-51, Eastland beat Polo and more in Tuesday's Sauk Valley Roundup.

After falling behind by double-digits in the first five minutes Monday, Newman figured things out. Lucy Oetting got hot from deep, and the rest of the Comets followed in a 60-51 win over Stillman Valley.

Sterling bowling won the Western Big 6 Conference meet as Sarah Doughty was individual champion. Dixon, Sterling, Oregon and Polo girls basketball also had wins in Monday's Sauk Valley Roundup.

Dixon wrestling won a regional title as five wrestlers won their bracket. Other local wrestlers advanced to the sectional round, Dixon and Rock Falls boys basketball won, Sterling's Sarah Doughty won the Dixon bowling invite and more in Saturday's Sauk Valley Roundup.

Oregon boys and girls basketball earn Big Northern Conference wins. Plus more area scores in Friday's Sauk Valley Media Sports Roundup

Sterling's Vivianna Torres won her weight class at the Western Big 6 Conference meet. Fulton boys basketball beat Morrison, Oregon boys and girls beat Genoa-Kingston and more in Friday's Sauk Valley Roundup.

Trixie Carroll scored 23 points in an Eastland win over Milledgeville and Polo's Laynie Mandrell had 13 rebounds in a win over AFC in Thursday's Sauk Valley Roundup.

Lucy Oetting's buzzer-beating 3-pointer to end the first quarter provided the spark Newman needed to pull away from Erie-Prophetstown for a 52-21 Three Rivers East win Thursday in Sterling.

A big third-quarter run turned the tables for Dixon on Wednesday against Alleman, and the Dukes pulled away for a 59-48 nonconference win at Lancaster Gym.

Garret Matznick scored 26 points in Newman's 57-49 win over Erie-Prophetstown. Eastland boys beat Amboy and Sterling girls bowling improved to 12-1 in Wednesday's Sauk Valley Roundup.

Sterling and Polo girls basketball won, Eastland beat Fulton, Sterling boys fell to Moline and more in Tuesday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Dixon used smothering defense and a couple of offensive surges to pull away from Genoa-Kingston for a 51-23 victory in their Big Northern Conference game Tuesday night at Lancaster Gym.

Rock Falls native Jakob Junis recently signed with the Texas Rangers. The 33-year-old spent last year as a relief pitcher with the Cleveland Guardians.

Sterling girls bowling beat Erie-Prophetstown, Oregon boys basketball beat Amboy and more in Monday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Dixon erased a five-point deficit in the final minute of regulation, but Byron pulled out a 46-43 victory in overtime to knock Dixon from the ranks of undefeated in the Big Northern Conference on Saturday afternoon.

Paizlee Williams and Lucy Oetting each scored 12 points in a Newman win. Sterling girls fell at Galesburg, Oregon boys wrestling won twice, Sterling boys swimming beat Moline and more in Thursday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Dixon girls basketball beat Rockford Auburn, Lola Schwarz had 20 points in an Oregon win, Amboy's Alexa McKendry scored 26 in a win, Sterling boys fell and more in Wednesday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Rock Falls boys wrestling topped Morrison 47-21, Oregon boys basketball improved to 17-4, Amboy beat Polo and more in Tuesday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Newman used a strong start to gain momentum for a comfortable win over Rock Falls on Tuesday.

Newman wrestler Blair Grennan is the Sauk Valley Athlete of the Week, presented by Loescher Heating and Air Conditioning. Here is a Q&A with the junior standout who won her weight class at the E-P tournament and has multiple tourney titles this season.

Sterling girls bowling won its MLK Invite at home as Sarah Doughty took first. Newman girls basketball beat Eastland, Polo beat Fulton and more in Monday's Sauk Valley roundup.