In Tolono, and still undefeated!Rockets win Williamsville Holiday Tournament

Williamsville - Three-point shots from Andrew Thomas, Eric Miebach, and Jay Saunders in the first quarter gave Unity a six-point lead over Williamsville on Saturday at the Williamsville Holiday Tournament. Henry added two field goals in the frame to make the score 13-7 going into the second quarter.

Unity's Andrew Thomas brings the ball down the court in last year's home game against Paxton-Buckley-Loda. Thomas and the Rockets won this year's Williamsville Holiday Tournament and play in the Christie Clinic Shootout on Saturday in St. Joseph. The Rocket basketball program is enjoying it best start in decades at 13-0.

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The Rockets kept the six-point or better margin for two more quarters on the way to a 48-45, winning this year’s title, remaining one of the few Class 2A teams in the state with an unblemished record now 13-0.

Miebach and Henry Thomas finished with 11 points each. Dalton O’Neill scored six-for-six at the free-throw line, adding ten to the team’s scoring.

Unity has remained undefeated thanks to the depth of its roster. Six other players also contributed to the title win.

Andrew Thomas added a fourth-quarter free throw to his first-quarter trey, finishing with four points. Saunders and Eisenmenger chipped in three points each, with two points apiece from Tre Hoggard, Dane Langendorf, and sophomore Brayden Henry.

Brayden Scott led the Bullets’ scoring effort with 15 points. Brayden Saling scored one less to finish with 14 points and Carson Kohler had ten points. Brecken Thomas rounded out the team’s scoring with two treys, one in the first and fourth quarters, for six points. Williamsville’s record drops to a still impressive 11 wins against 2 losses.

Unity returns to action this weekend hosting Maroa-Forsyth on Friday at home for Alumni Night. The Trojans are 8-4, including a 55-34 win over St. Teresa (7-7) and posted a 52-42 victory over Monticello on December 9.

Less than 24 hours later, the Rockets travel to St. Joseph to face Quincy Notre Dame (8-6) in the annual Christie Clinic Shootout. The Raiders finished third in the consolation bracket on Friday beating Rockford Lutheran 78-56. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 pm on Saturday.

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Labor Day tennis tournament crowns champions

CHAMPAIGN - It was a hot holiday weekend of fun at Lindsey Courts for area tennis players. Five singles players and five doubles teams earned titles at the 2023 Labor Day Tennis Tournament sponsored by the Champaign Park District.

St. Joseph-Ogden head tennis coach Kevin Martlage talks to his players at his team's first practice last month. Martlage, a third-year head coach, won the Mens' 35s division consolation bracket title after defeating Travis Davis, 7-6(3), 3-6, 1-0(9), at the Labor Day Tournament.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Out of a field of 12 area recreational players, Alejandro Gomez, from Savoy, defeated Young Kim, Champaign in straight sets 6-4, 6-0, to take the Men's Open title.

The Junior Boys 16s title went to Hunter Madigan after squaring off with Mahomet's Nolan Kogut in the title match. Undefeated in United States Tennis Association play this year at 4-0, Kogut, was moved up from the 14-year-old division. He was unable to take a game from his older opponent from Champaign, losing, 6-0, 6-0. Entering the tournament with an impressive USTA record himself, Madigan is 16-3 playing singles.

In doubles competition, Jason Zumwalt & Shaun Peterson won the Men’s Open Doubles Final. Zumwalt, the head boys' tennis coach at Centennial High School, and Peterson, an Urbana native and former teaching pro at Atkins Tennis Center were a formidable pair, cruising past Hunter Antonisse & Alejandro Gomez, 6-2, 6-1.

Below are this weekend's championship results.

Men’s Open Singles Final:
Alejandro Gomez def. Young Kim 6-4, 6-0

Men’s Open Singles Consolation Final:
David Diep def. Tony Wang 6-0, 6-1

Men’s 35 Singles Final:
Bill Cawley def. Charles Sikora 6-3, 7-6(4)

Men’s 35 Singles Consolation Final:
Kevin Martlage def. Travis Davis 7-6(3), 3-6, 1-0(9)

Men’s 55 Singles Final:
Eric Peterson def. Daniel Morris 6-2, 0-6, 1-0(8)*

Men’s 55 Singles Consolation Final:
Nitin Bhosale def. Steve Friend by default

Boy’s 16 Singles Final:
Hunter Madigan def. Nolan Kogut 6-0, 6-0

Men’s Open Doubles Final:
Jason Zumwalt & Shaun Peterson def. Hunter Antonisse & Alejandro Gomez 6-2, 6-1

Men’s Open Doubles Consolation Final:
David Diep & Chris Sarol def. Andy Wilke & Charles Sikora 6-3, 6-3

Women’s Open Doubles Final:
Cindy Crist & Sarah Kim def. Beth Hoag & Mary Sandhal 6-4, 7-6(5)

Women’s Open Doubles Consolation Final:
Shiho Gimbel & Rhoda Lewis def. Eileen McGill & Shelley Siuts 6-3, 6-2

Men’s 35 Doubles Final:
Sendhil Kumaran & Kai Wang def. Nitin Bhosale & Angad Mehta 6-1, 6-1

Men’s 35 Doubles Consolation Final:
Clark Brooks & Charles Nerone def. Jacob Rundall & Trey Smith 6-3, 6-2

Mixed Open Doubles Round Robin:
1st place Sarah Benevento & Chris Kuehn
2nd place Diane Winder & Travis Davis
3rd place Rocio Valdebenito & Ivan Flores

* This score was updated after a correction to the offical results.

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So good they're scary, SJO volleyball team wins regional title

Right to left: Emily Bigger, Katelyn Berry, Jenna Albrecht and Rylee Stahl step forward to receive St. Joseph-Ogden's regional championship plaque from Oakwood principal Tim Lee after defeating Monticello, 2-0. The Spartans advance to the Watseka sectional semifinal on Monday to face Seneca in the 6pm match. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)