The Sentinel

Prairieview-Ogden third-quarter Honor Roll

ROYAL - This week, Prairieview-Ogden Junior High School announced the list of students who achieved honor roll status for their academic performance during the third quarter of the 2024-25 academic year. Congratulations to all the students below who earned the requisite grade point to qualify for recognition.

Highest Honors

(GPA greater than or equal to 3.7)

Sydney Abernathy
Reagan Blakey
Allie Bott
Chloe Bressner
Ava Buhr
Max Buhr
Kolbie Busboom
Gatlin Finfrock
Dean Franzen
Ella Gerdes
Emma Hammond
Eli Hendry
Quinn Heuer
Elijah Kelly
Blake Lackey
Blair Mathis
Waylon McKinney
Ella Mohr
Imogen Osterbur
Noah Rademacher
Alea Rash
Easton Ray
Lauren Risley
Caylah Roberts
Lilly Sarver
Ryan Schmitz
Charlie Sjuts
Waylon Vaughn
Ben Waters
Makala Wisehart

High Honors

(GPA between 3.4 and 3.7)

Madison Alsip
Emma Hale
Kelsie Harms
James Ketchum
Maddie Larson
Devin Loschen
Allie Marschke
Lincoln Meier
Owen Olson
Brylee Ramm
Ben Taulbee
Kavin Vanetta

Honor Roll

(GPA between 3.1 and 3.4)

Maxine Armstrong
Calvin Clem
Kaden Flesner
Torin Huckstep
Ben Loschen
Oxley Mohr
Dylan Rineberg
Lyli Vilven

Redbird girls basketball team win program's first trophy at state, Alton defense suffocates Loyola in third-place game

A-Town's Talia Norman holds up the team's third-place state trophy after defeating Loyola Academy, 54-44. The Alton Redbirds celebrated taking home the program's first state trophy last week.

NORMAL - The Alton girls' basketball team etched its name in school history by defeating defending champions Loyola Academy 54-44 in the Class 4A third-place game at the IHSA Girls Basketball State Finals. Led by seniors Kiyoko Proctor, Jarius Powers, and Talia Norman, the Redbirds secured their first state trophy on Saturday, March 8, on the ISU Redbirds' home court.

"We've been chasing this moment for a long time," said Alton head coach Deserea Howard, surrounded by her team during the postgame conference. "Our biggest battle initially was just getting in the gym. This morning, we decided we would end on a win, and that's exactly what we did."

Howard emphasized that this season's team had prepared by adapting to various styles of play, stating, "You never know what to expect in a state championship (game)."

Since 2019, Alton's girls' basketball program has transformed from a four-win season to consistently achieving 30-plus wins the past three season under Howard. Despite being located in southern Illinois among a handful of Class 4A schools, Howard has molded the Redbirds into a formidable force.

Alton vs Loyola Photo Gallery

Reflecting on their journey, Howard noted the team's determination to finish on a high note after a hard-fought 61-65 loss to Kenwood in the semifinals.

"Yesterday, we discussed the pace and physicality of the game, which is our style. We knew it would be tough, but today we came out and played Alton basketball," Howard said.

Loyola struggled from the start against Alton's speed and size, managing just four points in the first quarter while shooting a dismal 14% from the field. Despite a fourth-quarter resurgence led by Emily Naraky, whose scoring sparked a shooting percentage increase to 63%, it wasn't enough to overturn Alton's strategic lead.

Loyola's Ellie Thompson pleads with an official to reverse a call during second half action against Alton in the Class 3A third-place game.

The moment was not lost on Howard and team members.

"It means a lot because I know how hard we've worked all these years," said Powers, who led the game with 16 points, eight rebounds, and two steals. "We definitely deserve this. I'm proud of how we executed."

Joining Powers in double figures were Proctor with 11 points, and Ja'Kayla Steen and Norman each contributing 10 points. Alton wrapped up the season with an impressive 34-3 record. For Loyola (34-4), seniors Aubrey Galvan and junior Marycait Mackie both scored 11 points, with Naraky adding 10 in their final game of the season.