Sports Roundup
Hawks outlast Raiders
FAIRBURY — Prairie Central protected its home court with a three-set victory over invader East Peoria in a nonconference volleyball match Thursday.
The Hawks rallied from a one-set deficit to prevail 21-25, 25-23, 25-23.
“I saw some really great things out of our girls tonight,” said PC head coach Kirsten Smith. “East Peoria played a 5-1 offense and the setter in the front row/their slide attack with the middle was a solid play for us to have to defend.”
Gyllian Davies was solid enough at the net to record 4 blocks on the night in leading the defense. Bella Mekarski came up with 14 digs.
Despite dealing with service errors, the Hawks were able to make things work out. Davies led with 4 aces and 8 service points.
Kerigan Fehr had a big attacking night with 12 kills. Gracie Edelman had 15 assists.
Prairie Central took the sophomore match in two sets — 25-18, 27-25 — as Kamber Kilgus served up 10 points. The PC frosh fell in three sets — 17-25, 26-24, 15-12. Kyah Creek had 17 points, including 5 aces.
Lexington-Roanoke-Benson
ROANOKE — Lexington was forced to go three sets before leaving town with a nonconference road volleyball victory over host Roanoke-Benson Thursday. The 25-10, 23-25, 25-20 win completed a three-match sweep for the Minutemen on the night.
Avery Poppe had a huge night for Lexington as she was the leader in three categories. Poppe collected 16 kills and served up 15 points, including 4 aces, on offense. Defensively, Poppe came up with 26 digs to complete a triple-double effort.
Claire Peacock served 3 aces and dug up 19 attacks to aid the Lexington cause. Emma Bennett chalked up 23 assists and Makayla Ziegler made 1½ blocks.
The sophomore Minutemen won 25-20, 26-24 after the freshmen claimed a 29-16 decision.
Flanagan-Cornell-Clinton
CLINTON — The long trip to Clinton was not rewarding for Flanagan-Cornell as the Falcons dropped a 25-23, 25-12 decision to the host Maroons in a nonconference volleyball match Thursday.
Kortney Harms and Grace Zimmerman each had 5 kills to pace the Flanagan-Cornell (0-2) attack. Reagan Montello had 6 assists and Harms added 4 assists. Montello also had 5 ace serves.
The Falcons' defense was put to the test as Zimmerman had 10 digs, Kalynne Kindermann came up with 9 digs and Harms and Tomi Ross each collected 7 digs.
Clinton won the preliminary match 19-25, 25-14, 25-22.
PTHS Golf
So much for the home course advantage. Rantoul was able to eke past Pontiac by one stroke to win their boys' golf dual at The Oaks at River's Edge Thursday.
The Eagles were more consistent in scoring as the four scores were separated by just six strokes. The Indians, however, had an 11-stroke difference between medalist Michael Kuska and second-place Peyton Von Holten.
Kuska came in with an even-par 36 for the Tribe and Von Holten was second at 47. Zayn Eilts had a 49 and freshman Cayden Masching shot 50 to complete the PTHS scoring. Zach Masching had a 54 and Kerr Bauman came in with a 56.
Justin Merrill led Rantoul with a 42.
Pontiac took the junior varsity match 209-221. Henry Brummel led the Indians with a 47 and Nolan Mennenga carded a 49. Mason Schlosser had a 54 and Isaac Torkelson tallied a 59.
PC-EPG Golf
FAIRBURY — Ella Compton tied for medalist honors to lead Prairie Central to a girls golf triangular match win over El Paso-Gridley and Seneca Thursday at Indian Creek Country Club.
Compton tied with EPG's Sarah Bond with a 43 to come in as low scorers in the match. Compton's 43 was aided by Lucy Whitfill, who also broke 50 in helping the Hawks tally 195. El Paso-Gridley finished with a 209 and Seneca carded a 249.
Whitfill chalked up a 46, Taylor Kafer carded a 52 and the duo of Adri Cottrell and Emma Bachtold had a 54 each. Kaylee Skaggs finished with a 55.
Sophie Hall followed Bond for the Titans with a 54 and Carolyn Quam had a 55. Lydia Hall completed the scoring with a 57. Chloe Atkins shot 60 and Maelee Palmer had a 70.
Julia Hogan led Seneca with a 58.
PJHS Baseball
Pontiac scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to edge past Streator Northlawn 6-4 in junior high baseball Thursday.
The game-winner was driven in by Drew Christensen when his single with no outs plated Wyatt Williams. It came right after Williams singled to drive in Josh Hartke with the tying run.
Christensen later scored the insurance tally on a wild pitch.
Pontiac took a 2-0 lead in the first inning but Northlawn tied it in the top of the third and added single markers in the fourth and fifth frames for the 4-2 lead heading into the PJHS sixth.
Christensen had two hits and drove in a run for Pontiac. Hartke had a triple and run batted in while Bryce Robison had a two-base hit. Ben Melchers and Williams each had a hit and RBI and Connor Shelton singled.
Melchers got the win in relief. He struck out five and scattered three hits in two innings. Cale Christenson started and fanned four. He allowed four runs and seven hits.
This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Sports roundup Prairie Central Pontiac El Paso-Gridley golf
