Photo of the Day - February 14, 2021

Downs finishes 3rd at state!

Blood trickes down the face of Unity's Micah Downs during his third place match against Dakota's Evan Riggles at the 2020 Illinois High School Association Individual Wrestling State Finals. Downs, a senior, won the bout by major decision, 11-3. The 182-pounder finished the state tournament with four wins, including a 58 second pin in one match, and one loss for a 46-6 record in last season of prep wrestling.

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Prep Hoops | Porter delivers 15 points in Unity's third loss

Brady Porter and Dillon Rutledge drilled three treys apiece in Unity's home game against Illinois Valley Central (2-1) this past Tuesday. Their combine effort was not enough in the Rockets' eventual 59-43 loss.

A three-pointer from both players and another from Will Cowan left UHS with mere six-point deficit after a competitive 17-11 first quarter. Once again, the Rockets' were crippled by second quarter shooting woes, delivering just two field goals and a free throw to fall behind at the half, 32-18.

The period might have been more manageable if it wasn't for the plethora of foul calls against the Rockets. IVC took advantage of all six trips to the foul line, missing just two of the nine attempts offered. It more of the same in the second half. After the final buzzer, the Grey Ghost capitalized on 22 of their 32 shots from line.

Meanwhile, on the side of the scorer's table, the Rockets drew just six foul calls from the guys in stripes. Austin Langendorf made one of his four attempts while William Jokish finished the game 2-for-2.

Unity's effort was led by Porter who finished the night with 15 points. Rutledge chipped in three first half long range shots for nine points and Damian Knoll added eight points to the cause, all tacked on in the second half to round out the Rockets' top three shooters.

Mac Parmelee spearheaded the Illinois Valley Central offensive. The 6-foot-3 senior buried seven field goals and was 6-for-8 from the line good for 20 points in IVC's second win of the season. Stepping back to a supporting role, Holt Geltmaker was 7-for-8 from the free throw line and finished with 15 points.

Still in search of their first victory of the season, the 0-3 Rockets are on the road at Olympia on Tuesday.

Box Score

Unity	11	7	15	10	- 43
Illinois Valley Central	17	15	18	9	- 59

Unity

Kimball () - -- , Cowan 0 (2) 0-0 -- 6, Hensch 1 (0) 0-0 -- 2, Rawdin 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0, Rutledge 0 (3) 0-0 -- 9, Knoll 1 (2) 0-0 -- 8, Porter 3 (3) 0-0 -- 15, Drennan () - -- , Page 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0, Langendorf 0 (0) 1-4 -- 1, Alt 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0, Jokisch 0 (0) 2-2 -- 2.

Illinois Valley Central

Hulson 0 (1) 2-2 -- 5, Parmelee 7 (0) 6-8 -- 20, Brooks 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0, Hulett 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0, Harms 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0, Rainey 1 (0) 1-4 -- 3, Mercer 2 (0) 4-8 -- 8, Sawyer 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0, Wollard 3 (0) 0-0 -- 6, Geltmaker 4 (0) 7-8 -- 15, McNaught 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0, McCoy 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0, Edlman 0 (0) 2-2 -- 2.

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Reed leads Rocket ladies in road loss at Pontiac

Last night, Unity's lone senior scored 11 second half points against Pontiac. Despite Chloee Reed's best effort and that of the entire team to pull off a come from behind victory, the Rockets' girls basketball team dropped their conference road game against the Indians, 43-34.

Pontiac was paced by Addison Masding, who scored her 1,000th career point two days earlier against Bloomington Central Catholic. The senior started the game with 12 first half points, six in each quarter, forcing Unity to claw their way back from an early deficit. Combined with Tristina Henry's 12-point contribution, the pair was responsible for 29 of their team's 43 points after the final buzzer.

"We outscored them in the 2nd half," said Unity head coach Dave Ellars. He plans to focus on shooting in upcoming practices and is confident his team will continue to improve with practice. The additional focus on shooting will be beneficial moving forward. "With Covid, kids weren’t allow to shoot as much during the summer or our normal contact days."

Reed went on to finish the Illini Prairie Conference contest with a 14 point effort thanks to her four three pointers.

"Chloee is a good leader," said Ellars, who counts on her experience to guide less experienced players. "She has been involved in close games and learned last year what it takes to win."

While she only contributed three points in the loss, Taylor Henry was huge in the paint for Unity on Thursday. The junior forward hauled in a team-high nine rebounds.

"Taylor is a winner, does all the things that aren’t in the scorebook," Ellars explained. "Most of the time the girl she guards is 4-5 inches taller, she has a big heart and is always up for the challenge."

Unity also received point contributions from Katy Moore with six points along with Lauren Miller and Erika Steinman, who provided four points apiece. Maddie Reed and Taylor Henry rounded out the Rockets' effort with 3 points each as the Rockets drop to 1-2 on the season.

Unity will host Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond, better known as ALAH on Saturday morning. The JV game is scheduled to start at 9:30am followed by varsity getting underway at 10:30am.

All things considered, Ellars said his program is excited with the opportunity to play right now. With the constant uncertainities as Illinois athletics navigate the pandemic. "We treat every day as it could be our last game."

Box Score

Unity	7	7	10	10	- 34
Pontiac	12	17	9	5	- 42

Unity
C. Reed 1 (4) 0-0 -- 14, England 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0, Renfrow 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0, Miller 2 (0) 0-0 -- 4, Stringer 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0, Steinman 2 (0) 0-0 -- 4, B. Henry 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0, M. Reed 0 (1) 0-0 -- 3, Moore 2 (0) 2-2 -- 6, Alagna 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0, T. Henry 2 (0) 1-2 -- 3, Flesch 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0.

Pontiac
T. Einhaus 2 (2) 2-4 -- 12, J. Einhaus 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0, Fisher 1 (0) 2-3 -- 5, Hartfield 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0, Collins 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0, Fox 0 (1) 1-2 -- 4, B. Masding 1 (0) 1-2 -- 3, Coates 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0, A. Masding 6 (1) 2-5 -- 17, Fletcher 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0, Hillary 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0, Pickett 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0, Johns 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0.

Porter, Armstrong earn The Sentinel's first Basketball Player of the Week

February 1 - 6, 2021

~ Boys ~ Brady Porter Unity Brady Porter finished the first week of the IHSA season with 18 points, 2 rebounds and 2 blocks. The senior led the team scored six points by way of a pair treys against Maroa-Forsyth and 13 points against Paris for the 0-2 Rockets. Honorable Mention: Austin Langendorf, Unity Dillon Rutledge, Unity

~ Girls ~ Ella Armstrong St. Joseph-Ogden Ella Armstrong collected 19 points, 15 from a team-high performance against Villa Grove, after the first two games of the season. Making eight trips to the free throw line, she finished the first week of play sinking 62% of them to help the Spartans go 2-0 during week one. Honorable Mention: Payton Jacob, SJO Abby Behrens, SJO