The Sentinel: Champaign Central

Maroons stay perfect with four-inning rout over Peoria Lions

Champaign Central's first-inning outburst rocks host Peoria in conference softball win.

by Ben Robertson
The Sentinel

PEORIA — Champaign Central kept its unbeaten streak alive on Saturday afternoon, overpowering host Peoria 21-0 in a four-inning victory to improve to 8-0 on the season.

The Maroons set the tone early, scoring 10 runs in the opening frame and piling on six more in the second before closing out their scoring with five in the third. Central tallied 19 hits and 16 RBIs in the win, while eight players combined for eight stolen bases.

Senior shortstop Kaitlyn Helm led the offensive effort with a perfect 4-for-4 day at the plate, recording two triples and driving in multiple runs. Helm also crossed the plate four times.

Molly Kloeppel delivered a standout performance, driving in four runs on three hits, including a triple in the first inning and a two-run home run to center in the third. Kloeppel also tripled during the opening frame, contributing to the Maroons' early scoring burst.

Grace Bandy added a triple and a double, scoring multiple runs, while Maisie Bowers went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs. Bowers also earned the win in the circle, tossing three hitless innings and striking out five. Peoria was held without a hit across the abbreviated contest.

The Maroons’ first-inning outburst featured extra-base hits from Bandy, Helm, and Kloeppel, a walk drawn by Mya de la Cruz to bring in a run, and an RBI double from Bandy in her second at-bat of the inning. Central continued its production in the second inning with RBIs from Jaila Davis, Kennedy Hedrick, Helm, and Bowers.

Central sealed the win in the third with a six-hit inning, highlighted by Kloeppel’s homer and Bowers’ two-run double.

Champaign Central returns to action on Monday at Mattoon against the Green Wave to extend its perfect start to 9-0.

Central varsity dance team competes at IHSA state finals

BLOOMINGTON - The competitive dance team at Central made school history on Friday, becoming the first squad to compete for a state title in the IHSA's Competitive Dance State Championships. The Maroons were among 30 Class 2A teams that performed at Grossinger Motors Area in Bloomington, aiming for a spot in the championship round before judges, hundreds of dancers, and thousands of fans.

Members of the Central dance team perform at the IHSA Competitive State Dance Finals. The Maroons were the only Big 12 team to qualify for this year's finals.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Central secured their state qualification with a third-place finish, showcasing their dynamic hip hop routine at the Mahomet-Seymour Sectional on January 22, surpassing Triad (4th), Dunlap (5th), and Ottawa (6th). The sectional title went to Bradley-Bourbonnais, narrowly edging out Washington for the top spot by less than half a point.

Following the preliminary round, Bradley-Bourbonnais was the sole team from downstate 2A to advance to Saturday's final. The Boilerettes faced tough competition from championship-caliber teams like Geneva and Lake Zurich, who have been contenders since Competitive Dance was introduced by the IHSA in 2013. In their inaugural state appearance, Central finished 30th.

"It's absolutely incredibly. The energy here is awesome. They worked so hard and they earned it," head Coach Illyanna Lopez said after the list of teams advancing to Saturday's final was read. Unfortunately, Central was not among them. "To be here, fighting with the best of the best, is the most we could hope for."

Central was the lone Big 12 dance team to qualify for the IHSA state competition. Heading into Friday's preliminaries, the Maroon varsity dance squad was no stranger to competing with top-tier teams. Under Lopez, the program has claimed a IDTA state title in Hip Hop (2023) and qualified for the IDTA state last year.

Members of the 2024-2025 Champaign Central varsity dance team pose for a photo after competing at the state dance championships. Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Lopez emphasized the team's dedication to academics and discipline in preparation for competing against the best. "We pushed them as students first before being athletes," she explained. She pointed out that the school's athletic director and families were 'incredible' to work with this season. "It truly was a team effort."

Despite their final placement, Lopez expressed pride in her team's performance on Friday. "It is our first time in Unit 4 to be here," Lopez told her dancers. "You've earned it. Congratulations."

Central's first state-qualifying dance team includes: TyShauna Leinhart, Summer Aker, Leyla Allison, Azaria Lewis, Aurelie Gerini, Yanadelyz Cabrera, Kai’mere Beard, Aylaya Dooley, Zarayah Markham, Kimora Maynor, Tesla Burack, Londyn Grant, and Jane Koske.

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Maroons hold off second half rally to beat Chargers at soccer showcase

CHAMPAIGN - Centennial's Lily Kelly and Central's Grace Pelz battle for ball possession during their conference match at the C-U Soccer Consortium's 2nd Annual Girls Soccer Showcase. Taking an early 3-0 lead, the Maroons defeated the Chargers 4-3 at Demirjian Park on the University of Illinois campus on Sunday. Check back for more match photos on Friday.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Spartans played their tails off, fall to Maroons after solid first half

For two quarters St. Joseph-Ogden dominated the floor in their road game against Champaign Central.

After holding the host Maroons (5-6) scoreless in the first quarter and forging a 24-18 halftime lead, the Spartans (6-2) fell 43-39 picking up their second consecutive loss in early season play.

Payton Cain gets a high-five from teammate Chance Izard in the first half. (Photo: PhotoNews Medial/Clark Brooks)

"When we got tired we made some mental mistakes," said head coach Kiel Duval in his first comments about the game. "We played our tails off on the defensive end."

SJO led by as many as ten until late in the third period when 6-4 guard Khailieo Terry buried six points and Diego Sanchez drilled a pair of threes to nudge Central past the Spartans by two, 33-31.

"He's a really good player," Duval said the Maroon's marquee player. "Terry takes all you attention every single possession."

After the lousy first quarter Terry said he had to adjust the way he attacked the rim.

"Every time I drove they were looking to take a charge. I just had work around the perimeter a little more," he said. (I had to) get my buckets in transition. (I had to) push them. Make them hurt."

Despite the hurt, playing on fumes, the SJO contingent gave their all. Despite the majority of their shots falling short of the hole in the final quarter, they didn't let up on relentless attacks and slashes into the paint.

Payton Cain and Chance Izard could get in and penetration for otherwise easy shots while Ty Pence had nice open looks from the outside. Unfortunately, whenever the trio put the orange rock up, it missed.

"It seemed like we were short on every single shot," Duval said, sharing his fourth quarter observation.

Short on endurance for games like SJO's non-league game against the Maroons, he was adamant that his team needs to practice a little harder so they can go the distance in four-quarter sprint fests like Tuesday night's contest. "If you practice hard like that all the time, those shots start falling in the fourth quarter."

Conner Hodge nibbled at Central's five-point lead late in the last quarter of the game, narrowing it with a bucket from the paint. Later, Jordan Kelly delivered the team's last field of the game to make the score, 38-37.

With 9.3 left on the game clock, SJO still had an outside chance to at least tie up the game. Unfortunately, a clutch free throw from Reece Jacobson sealed the Maroons program's 1,736th win.

Izard emerged as the team's leading scorer with 15 points for SJO. Pence, who led his team in rebounding with five boards, finished with eight points. Cain also contributed eight points and was perfect from the free throw line make all four of his attempts.

Held scoreless in the first quarter, Central's Terry scored 15 of his 17 total points in the second and third quarters. The junior was credited with nine rebounds in first game back for the Maroons this season after a seven game hiatus.

Sanchez, who had four rebounds for the Maroons, finished with eight second half points, thanks in part to a pair of treys in the third quarter.

Box Score

St. Joseph-Ogden	8	16	7	8	- 39
Champaign Central	0	18	15	10	- 43

Scoring

St. Joseph-Ogden: Conner Hodge 2, Payton Cain 8, Jordan Kelly 4, Payton Grimsley 2, Chance Izard 15 and Ty Pence 8.

Champaign Central: Terry 17, Jacobson 4, Wagner 6, Marshall 3, Allen 2, Roosevelt 3 and Sanchez 8.

SJO to host 2nd Annual Christie Clinic Shootout

Varsity and junior varsity boys basketball teams from small and large school programs from around the state are lined up to play in this year's Second Annual Christie Clinic Shootout on Saturday.

St. Joseph-Ogden's Jaden Miller tries to prevent a pass by Cissna Park senior Conner Lober during second half action of the SJO-Toyota of Danville Classic championship game on December 21. The Spartans and the Timberwolves, who won this year's title, will be back in action against different opponents at SJO for the 2019 Christie Clinic Shootout on Saturday. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

The event is sponsored by Christie Clinic from Champaign along with Eastbay, an athletic apparel retailer, and Toyota of Danville.

Game action starts at noon with varsity contests held in the main gymnasium at St. Joseph-Ogden High School and JV games played at the Middle School on the southeast side of town.

Twelve teams, including #6 Danville in Class 4A, top-ranked Oswego East, the Galesburg Silver Streaks and the Maroons from Champaign Central, will battle for bragging rights on the first weekend in 2019.

The small school programs taking part in the event include #1 Associated Press ranked Cissna Park. The Timberwolves, who won the SJO Toyota of Danville Classic title less than two weeks ago, will be back in action at St. Joseph-Ogden for a second time this season facing the rising 2A talent from Monticello, one of two teams representing the Illini Prairie Conference.

The host Spartans will take the floor against Pleasant Plains in the nightcap starting at approximately 7:30p.

After each game a Player-of-the-Game recognized with a trophy presentation after each of the six varsity games. The award is sponsored by the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce.

Fans, family and friends can follow the Shootout on Twitter @sjosports and use the tag #sjoshootout to share photos and comments from the event.

Admission is $5. Wristbands will be good for the entire day at both both locations. Season passes will not be honored for this event. Concession will be available in the school cafeteria for spectators.

Can't make it to the game? All six games will be broadcasted on WPXN 104.9 FM. The contest between Danville and Galesburg will also be available on the air through WGIL 97.7 and 1400 AM in Galesburg.

2019 Christie Clinic Shootout Schedule

12:00 PM - WATSEKA vs. MT. PULASKI
1:30 PM - DECATUR MACARTHUR vs. DANVILLE
3:00 PM - MONTICELLO vs. CISSNA PARK
4:30 PM - ALTHOFF CATHOLIC vs. CHAMPAIGN CENTRAL
6:00 PM - OSWEGO EAST vs. NORMAL COMMUNITY
7:30 PM - PLEASANT PLAINS vs. ST. JOSEPH-OGDEN

Maps to the tournament locations, game results along with team rosters and photos can be found on the official Christie Clinic Shootout site at http://www.sjo.k12.il.us/news/2019-christie-clinic-shootout.