Sterling used stifling defense and a 3-point barrage to cover up some deficiencies Tuesday night in a 62-24 win over Rochelle at Musgrove Fieldhouse.

La Salle-Peru scored the last five points of the first quarter and first eight of the second to grab the momentum and pull away from Sterling for a 65-41 win Tuesday.

Sterling faces Rochelle in girls basketball Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. Sterling took the win 62-24.

Sterling's Jossy James eclipsed 1,000 career points and helped lead the Golden Warriors to the Dixon Christmas Classic title. She is the Sauk Valley Athlete of the Week. Here is a Q&A with the junior standout.

Rochelle beat Sterling 70-57 after the Golden Warriors' run made it a one-point game. Van Gerber scored a game-high 24 points to help the Hubs respond.

Sterling fell to Rochelle 70-57 in an afternoon match-up on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026.

Sterling's smothering defense and 17 points from Jossy James helped the Golden Warriors beat previously undefeated Byron 43-26 and win their first Dixon Christmas Classic since 2018.

Sterling plays Byron in the Championship game of the 47th Annual Christmas Girls Holiday Classic in Dixon on Monday, December 29th.

A strong defensive performance in the second half and teamwide contributions sent Sterling past Stillman Valley and into Monday's Dixon Christmas Classic championship. Sterling will face Byron at 6:30 p.m.

Sterling and Stillman square up in the Duchesses Basketball Christmas Classic semifinal Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. Sterling won 51-37.

Sterling sophomore Brenley Johnson provided a spark off the bench during an ice-cold third quarter against Lincoln. She finished with 11 points as Sterling held on for a 44-38 win at the Dixon Christmas Classic to reach the semifinals.

The Sterling Golden Warriors played the Lincoln Railsplitters in the Dixon Holiday Tournament. The game took place at Reagan Middle School in Dixon on Friday, December 26th, 2025.

Sterling takes on Rockford Christian Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, at Reagan Middle School during the Duchesses Basketball Christmas Classic. Sterling took the win 63-55.

Sterling may be undersized, but the Golden Warriors make up for it with effort and energy on defense. Sterling's relentless pressure helped force 23 turnovers in a 54-31 Western Big 6 Conference win over United Township on Thursday.

The Sterling girls basketball team beat United Township 54-31 in Western Big 6 Conference action at home on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025.

Sterling forced 38 turnovers and Joslynn James scored 32 points as the Golden Warriors cruised to a 58-21 victory over La Salle-Peru on Monday.

Sterling graduate Grace Egan had nine kills, two aces and a block as the Wisconsin volleyball team beat Texas to advance to Thursday's NCAA Final Four.

Sterling never trailed in its Western Big 6 game against rival Geneseo on Thursday at Musgrove Fieldhouse, using big runs in the first and third quarter to pull away for a 61-40 victory.

The Sterling girls basketball hosts Geneseo at Musgrove Fieldhouse in Sterling. The action took place on Thursday, December 11, 2025.

Sterling used big runs to close the first half and start the second half to break open a close game and pull away from Geneseo for a 77-47 win in their Western Big 6 opener Friday at Musgrove Fieldhouse.

Sterling the Geneseo duke it out on the court Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. Sterling won 77-47.

Sterling bounced back in Western Big 6 Conference action after beating previously undefeated Galesburg on Thursday night. Nia Harris and Alivia Gibson had big games in the win.

In a thrilling game, Sterling beat Galesburg 47-42, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025.

Free-throw disparity and a lopsided fourth quarter cost Sterling's girls basketball team in its Western Big 6 Conference opener against Rock Island. Sterling fell 59-53 after leading by as many as 14 points.

Ottawa's Hezekiah Joachim converted six late free throws to ice a 50-44 Pirates victory and keep the home team unbeaten through two games in the Dean Riley “Shootin’ the Rock” Tournament. Sterling dropped to 0-2.

Sterling fell to Rock Island 59-52 in girls basketball Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025.

Here is a look at the Sauk Valley boys basketball teams as the 2025-26 season tips off this week.

Sterling junior Jossy James is set for a big junior season after committing to Valparaiso University this fall. 'There’s not a kid in our gym that put in more time over the last year than she did.'

Five Sauk Valley girls basketball players to watch this season are Sterling's Jossy James, Polo's Cam Jones, Newman's Gisselle Martin, Dixon's Ahmyrie McGowan and Oregon's Aniyah Sarver.

With the 2025-26 girls basketball season getting started this week, here’s a look at the teams in the Sauk Valley area.

Dixon showed no quit until the very end against Coal City. Newman's seniors left their mark, and three area 8-man teams are in the semifinals in this week's Sauk Valley football notes.

Coal City's Logan Natyshok rushed for 272 yards and five touchdowns while the Coalers defense allowed Sterling just 100 total yards in a 49-7 victory in Saturday's Class 4A playoff first-round game in Coal City.

Trailing 22-20 and facing the end of its season, Morris scored the final five points of the match to pull out a 21-25, 25-9, 25-22 victory over Sterling in the Class 3A Sterling Regional final and earn its first regional title since 2015.

Morris takes the Class 3 volleyball regional title in a thrilling three sets against Sterling on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025.

Sterling seized control and never let go against Freeport in their Class 3A Sterling Regional semifinal collecting a 25-10, 25-16 win to advance to Thursday's regional final

Dixon's defense continues to help set the tone heading into the playoffs. Newman was challenged by Mon-Rose to end the regular season, and Polo's 70 points were the most the Marcos scored since at least 1935 in this week's Sauk Valley football notes.

Sterling beat Freeport in two sets in the class 3A volleyball semi-final Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, at Sterling High School.

Here is a look at the seven IHSA first-round playoff football matchups in the Sauk Valley area and what to watch for. Dixon and Sterling would face each other in Class 4A if they both win.

Sterling hosted their Cross Country final at Hoover Park on Saturday, October 25, 2025.

Sterling got a fifth win after beating Rock Island 42-14. EPC got its fifth win, Rock Falls fell just short to Rockford Lutheran and more in Friday's Sauk Valley football roundup.

Dixon hosts Genoa-Kingston, Newman faces Mon-Rose in a battle of 7-1 teams, Sterling heads to Rock Island, Rock Falls (0-8) faces Rockford Lutheran (0-8), Polo (7-1) hosts South Beloit (7-1) and more in this week's Sauk Valley slate.

Newman scored a school record 79 points on Saturday against Kewanee. Jake Whelan scored Dixon's first defensive TD this season, Sterling scored 31 unanswered against Quincy and Morrison reclaimed the Wooden Shoe in this week's Sauk Valley football notes.

A quick touchdown drive to close the first half propelled Sterling to a dominant second half Friday night, as the Golden Warriors pulled away from Quincy for a 38-17 Western Big 6 win at Roscoe Eades Stadium.

Sterling football hosts downstate rival Quincy on the gridiron Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. Sterling took the win 38-17.

Although a shorthanded Sterling lost to Galesburg on Thursday night, the Golden Warriors still gained valuable experience as freshman Kylie Shank led the team in kills.

Sterling has a big home game against Quincy, No. 5 Newman hosts Kewanee on Saturday, No. 10 Dixon heads to Streator, Fulton and Morrison face off for the Wooden Shoe trophy and more in this week's Sauk Valley football slate.

Sterling volleyball lost in straight sets against Galesburg at home on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.

Rock Falls seeks more leadership from key players after a promising start against IVC led to another loss. Dixon's Landon Knigge had a five-TD first quarter, and Sterling is looking for another bounceback in this week's Sauk Valley football notes.

Dixon and Newman each got their sixth wins after earning road victories. Oregon fell to Stillman Valley, Morrison and Fulton won and more in Friday's Sauk Valley football roundup.

A Brady Hartz kick return and Ryan Gebhardt field goal were Sterling's only points in a 31-10 loss at Geneseo. The Maple Leafs beat Sterling for the first time since 2014