2025 Christie Clinic Shootout schedule

ST. JOSEPH - Twelve varsity and junior varsity teams from across the state will play in six games on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at St. Joseph-Ogden High School in the Christie Clinic Shootout.

U-High's Miles Kirin looks for an open teammate to pass the ball during his team's shootout game against Carterville. Kirin, who led his team with 18 points, was named Player-of-the-Game after the 68-42 win.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Returning programs to the 2025 line-up includes Normal University High School, Mt. Zion, Monticello, Unity, and St. Joseph-Ogden. Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin (BHRA), who missed the 2024 installment and played in the 2023 shootout, is back for an exciting day of high school basketball. The Sages and Pioneers are making their third-consecutive appearance at the annual shootout.

Varsity action tips off at noon in the Main Gym with BHRA taking on Normal U-High before the Richwoods' Knights (5-4) and the Bulldogs of Mahomet-Seymour (4-4) square off.

Host St. Joseph-Ogden (4-3) will play the final game of the day against Warrensburg-Latham (11-0), a program they have not faced in the last decade. As of this story, the undefeated Cardinals have won every game by 20 or more points so far this season.

Admission all day for adults is $8.00. Student admission is $5.00 with a valid student ID.

Last year's winners include Streator, U-High, Monticello, Bradley-Bourbonnais, Unity, and Pinckneyville.

Monticello senior Trey Welter accepts his Player-of-the-Game award from Justin Franzen after the Sages' game against New Berlin. Welter dropped 19 points in the first three quarters, leading his team to a 57-26 win. Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

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2025 Christie Clinic Shootout Schedule

Varsity (SJO HS Main Gym) Schedule

12:00 PM: Normal U-High vs. BHRA
1:30 PM: Peoria Richwoods vs. Mahomet-Seymour
3:00 PM: Moline vs. Mt. Zion
4:30 PM: Seneca vs. Monticello
6:00 PM: Fieldcrest vs. Unity
7:30 PM: Warrensburg-Latham vs. St. Joseph-Ogden

Junior Varsity

10:00 AM: Normal U-High vs. BHRA
11:30 AM: Peoria Richwoods vs. Mahomet-Seymour
1:00 PM: Moline vs. Mt. Zion
2:30 PM: Seneca vs. Monticello
4:00 PM: Fieldcrest vs. Unity
5:30 PM: Warrensburg-Latham vs. St. Joseph-Ogden

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Related Stories

• Running down the Christie Clinic Shootout, our Sunday morning recap
• Photo Gallery | Smith & Spartans stunned at Shootout
• Five earn Player-of-the-Game recognition at Christie Clinic Shootout

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How to avoid fraudsters when you are in financial distress

Photo: RDNE Stock/PEXELS

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StatePoint - Although fraudsters will prey on anyone, many tactics specifically target those facing financial hardship in the wake of a natural disaster.

To help you avoid becoming a victim when you’re most vulnerable, Freddie Mac is providing these tips and insights:

Watch Out for Common Disaster-Related Scams

As the intensity of severe weather events increases, understanding common disaster-related scams can help you avoid them. These include:

High-Interest Loans for Repairs: In this scam, someone may offer to loan you money for home repairs, often at a high interest rate, while you wait for your insurance money. In return, they ask for a post-dated check, your auto title or your tax refund. Although this may provide short-term relief, it’s an example of predatory lending because the high interest rates could end up costing you more in the long term. Read any contract before signing it, and make sure you understand the total cost of the loan, including its terms and fees.

Repair Contractor Prepayment: In this scam, your home repair contractor may ask you to sign a “direction to pay form” that allows your insurance company to pay the contractor directly, even before the repair work is completed. This can leave you vulnerable to incomplete or poor quality work. To avoid this scam, read your contract carefully and do not authorize the full payment amount until you are satisfied with the final product.

Requests for Financial Information: In this scam, a person claiming to be a government employee or disaster relief professional may request financial information, saying they need it to help you recover from a crisis. Protect yourself by never giving anyone your personally identifiable information by phone, email, text or in person without confirming their identity. For example, ask for identification and independently call the entity the person claims to work for.

If You’re Struggling to Pay Your Mortgage, Beware of Fraudsters

If you’re struggling to pay your mortgage after a natural disaster or due to other circumstances and you are facing foreclosure, be on the lookout for two common types of fraud.

Foreclosure Rescue Fraud: In such a scheme, someone may falsely promise to be able to save your home from foreclosure. The fraudster will commonly:

• Require you to sign the title to your home over to them.
• Ask you to sign unfamiliar documents.
• Ask you to share personal information.
• Charge you rent to stay in your home.
• Offer to pay your delinquent mortgage by purchasing your home.
• Promise that you can repurchase your home when your financial situation improves.

Fraudsters orchestrating these schemes pose as professionals and promise to stop foreclosure, often at a high price. However, they don’t deliver on their promises. As a result, you could lose the title to your home and be at risk of foreclosure.

Loan Modification Scams: Loan modification scams may operate similarly to foreclosure rescue fraud. In these scams, fraudsters collect an upfront fee and promise to work with your loan servicer on your behalf. They claim that they can obtain a loan modification that reduces your payments.

If someone other than your loan servicer (the company listed on your mortgage statement) offers you mortgage assistance, don’t provide your information.

If you are struggling with your mortgage payment, contact your lender, a certified HUD housing counselor or a housing finance agency. These trustworthy resources can present you with real options to help avoid foreclosure.

Unfortunately, fraudsters have made it their business to prey on pain. With the right knowledge, you can help ensure that no one takes advantage of you when you’re down on your luck.

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