Southwest Regional Publishing basketball roundup, Nov. 20-21
Girls Nov. 21 Hillcrest 62, Shepard 55: Jessica Manley scored a game-high 32 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the host Astros, who dropped to 1-2 overall and in pool play of the Bobby Bolton Tip-Off Classic. Marist 55, Evergreen Park 20: Lucy Cosme’s 12 points led a balanced attack for the RedHawks, who are…
Southwest Regional Publishing basketball roundup, Nov. 19
Girls Argo 66, Kennedy 21: Morgan Murphy led the Argonauts to a season-opening win with 20 points, eight steals and seven rebounds. Alizza Quinones added 13 points and five assists, while Aliyah Cummings finished with 13 points and four assists. Abbi Grenier contributed eight points and nine rebounds. Lyons 77, Benet 67: Stanford recruit Nora…
Southwest Regional Publishing basketball roundup, Nov. 18
Girls Kelly 43, Schurz 40: Amaranth Rincon scored 12 points and Sasha Arriega-Morales added 10 to help the Trojans win their season opener. Morton 36, Reavis 35: The Mustangs edged the Rams in the opener for both teams. Richards 56, Eisenhower 39: Kelly Moore scored 17 points to lead the Bulldogs past the Cardinals in…
Bella Bullington powers Marist to Class 4A girls volleyball title
NORMAL — Back on Oct. 8, Marist was soundly defeated by Benet in an East Suburban Catholic Conference girls volleyball matchup. That was then, this was now. The setback fueled the RedHawks for the rest of the season and they never lost again. They showed their resiliency by bouncing back and playing their best volleyball…
Lyons swimmers sign and swim to fifth place in the state
It was quite a week for Lyons senior swimmers Audrey Cavaliere, Lauren Jablonski and Ella Jean Kelly. On Nov. 13, the trio put pen to paper to ink national letters of intent to continue their athletic and academic careers with Cavaliere heading to Illinois, Jablonski to Bowling Green and Kelly to Iowa. Three days later,…
Chicago Christian earns first trip to state semifinals
C.J. Cesario was happily coaching the sophomore football team at Mount Carmel in his first year back in the Chicago area when he had a chance meeting with Chicago Christian Schools superintendent Mark Hamstra. Four deep conversations later, he was Chicago Christian’s new football coach. “I said no three times,” Cesario said of the job…
Noah Escobedo’s TD pass helps Richards advance to Class 6A semifinals
Like all quarterbacks, Richards’ Noah Escobedo would like to throw the ball more. But the junior knows that the Bulldogs’ success over the past 50-odd years has been running the ball. So he’s good with handing off to Myles Mitchell, or even going to the sidelines to be replaced by another blocker when Mitchell takes…
Defense delivers for Nazareth in Class 5A quarterfinal win
Nazareth’s offense has been delivering big plays all season. On Nov. 16, it was the Roadrunner defense’s turn to step up in a 42-8 road win over Rochelle in the Class 5A quarterfinals. Nazareth (10-2) continues its quest for a third straight Class 5A title when it hosts St. Francis (10-2) in the state semifinals…
St. Rita’s big second half seals quarterfinal win over Quincy
Not every halftime speech works as well as the one St. Rita’s coaches delivered on Nov. 16. Tied at 14 at the break, the Mustangs outscored the visiting Blue Devils 35-0 in the second half for a 49-14 Class 7A quarterfinal win. St. Rita (10-2) will host Mount Carmel (9-3) in Saturday’s state semifinals at…
DePaul Prep rallies to oust St. Laurence in Class 4A quarterfinals
St. Laurence’s surprise run to the Class 4A state finals last season was one of the area’s most compelling stories. But there will be no encore this year. The Vikings fell to host DePaul Prep 26-14 on Nov. 16 in a Class 4A quarterfinal. The Rams (9-3) advance to the state semifinals against Coal City,…
Mike Walsh’s Football Top 10, Week 13
1. MOUNT CARMEL (9-3) Last week: 7A, Beat Normal 49-42 This week: at St. Rita Comment: This will be the ninth IHSA playoff meeting between the Caravan and Mustangs. Mount Carmel has won seven of the first eight. 2. ST. RITA (10-2) Last week: 7A, Beat Quincy 49-14 This week: vs. Mount Carmel Comment: Mustangs…
Jack Elliott’s six touchdowns power Mount Carmel into Class 7A semifinals
While at times bumpy, Mount Carmel’s path to winning a third consecutive Class 7A title remains intact. The Caravan defeated visiting Normal 49-42 on Nov. 16 to advance to Saturday’s semifinal contest against Catholic League rival St. Rita on the Mustangs’ home field. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. In eight matchups in the IHSA…
Naperville Central ends Lyons’ season in Class 8A quarterfinals
When Lyons players gathered for their final postgame huddle of the season on Nov. 15, it was fitting that Travis Stamm and Shane Harris were side by side, arms draped around each other’s shoulders. The two played pivotal roles for the Lions (11-1), who set a program record for wins and achieved their first unbeaten…
IHSA football playoffs: Quarterfinal results, semifinal pairings
With records in parentheses. Class 7A and Class 8A are seeded 1-32, while the other six classes are seeded in two 1-16 brackets. Quarterfinals Class 8A Naperville Central 24, Lyons 7 Class 7A St. Rita 49, Quincy 14 Mount Carmel 49, Normal 42 Class 6A South bracket Richards 21, Kankakee 20 Class 5A North bracket…
Basketball 2024-25: The Southwest Regional Publishing X/Twitter previews
Boys Acero-Soto: Wolf Pack looking to take step forward after 1-win season. Top 2 scorers return in senior Gs Cruz Lopez, Tony Macias. Also expected to contribute: G Favio Hernandez, C Alexander Bahena, PG Enrique Marquez. Argo: With top 7 back from 9-23 team, looking to get to .500, be top-3 in SSC Red. Watch…
Jack Elliott, Mount Carmel race into Class 7A quarterfinals
Jack Elliott is running again, and that spells trouble for the rest of Class 7A. Elliott, Mount Carmel’s senior quarterback and a Vanderbilt commit, missed time with an injury in the regular season. He was limited to passing when he returned. But in the Caravan’s 48-15 win against visiting St. Charles North on Nov. 9,…
Travis Stamm’s big night helps unbeaten Lyons roll
Travis Stamm of Lyons was noticeable in the first half Nov. 8, grabbing a pair of touchdown passes, but the savvy senior noticed something that the average fan likely did not. The Lions, in his estimation, were flat, even leading Downers Grove South by a pair of touchdowns. So, like a good captain, he took…
Loyola rallies to end Marist’s season in Class 8A second round
The deeper you go in the playoffs, the smaller the margin of error becomes. Marist found out how small Nov. 9 on their cozy home field. The RedHawks made only a handful of mistakes in the course of 48 minutes in their Class 8A second-round game against Loyola, but those miscues cost them dearly. The…
Steven Armbruster sets TD record as St. Rita advances
What stands out about St. Rita quarterback Steven Armbruster to Mustangs coach Martin Hopkins? “Steven works hard,” Hopkins said. “And he prepares very hard. When you work hard like he does in practice, the more comfortable you are on game day and that makes things easier for us. “Steven puts the team in good positions…
IHSA football playoffs: Second-round results, quarterfinal pairings
With seedings and records in parentheses. Class 7A and Class 8A are seeded 1-32, while the other six classes are seeded in two 1-16 brackets. Second round Class 8A Loyola 24, Marist 20 Lyons 63, Downers Grove South 20 Class 7A St. Rita 21, Willowbrook 9 Mount Carmel 48. St. Charles North 15 Class 6A,…
Richards returns to state quarterfinals for first time since 2019
Three snaps. That’s how long it took Richards running back Myles Mitchell to have a positive impact in a 42-14 victory over downstate Washington on Nov. 8 in the second round of the Class 6A state playoffs in Oak Lawn. On the third play from scrimmage, Mitchell took the handoff from quarterback Noah Escobedo, got…
Fired-up Nazareth rolls into Class 5A quarterfinals
Tim Racki knows well what it takes to win a state championship. After all, he has guided Nazareth to the last two state titles in Class 5A and five overall since 2014. Racki has nine total titles, counting the four he won at Driscoll. So while the Roadrunners shut out Payton in the opening round…
Mike Walsh’s Football Top 10, Week 12
1. LYONS (11-0) Last week: 8A, Beat Downers Grove South 63-20 This week: vs. Naperville Central, 7 p.m. Friday Comment: Two playoff games with 101 total points for the thriving Lions. 2. ST. RITA (9-2) Last week: 7A, Beat Willowbrook 21-9 This week: vs. Quincy, 3 p.m. Saturday Comment: Quarterback Steven Armbruster has a program-record…
St. Laurence reaches Class 4A quarterfinals, but wants more
Making the state quarterfinals is a nice accomplishment. But after finishing second in the state in Class 4A last season, St. Laurence wants more. The Vikings took another step in the process on Nov. 9 as they defeated Wheaton Academy 26-14 in a Class 4A second-round game in Burbank. Next for St. Laurence (8-3) is…
Chicago Christian advances to state quarterfinals for first time since 2007
In his first season, coach CJ Cesario has helped Chicago Christian make some history. With a 24-14 victory at Tri-Valley on Nov. 9 in the second round of the Class 2A state playoffs, the Knights are in the quarterfinals for just the second time in program history. The Knights’ other quarterfinal berth came in 2007…
Orland Park Christmas parade lights up the season
“Even in the cold, this parade warms your heart,” said Cathy Garner, an Orland Park resident who joined her twin daughters in Sunday’s Christmas Parade. With temperatures hovering at 25 degrees but feeling like 15 due to the wind chill, residents bundled up in blankets, winter coats, and hats for the beloved tradition. The parade…
Chicago poll a ‘North Star’ amid 2025 budget disputes, local aldermen say
Change Research conducted an online survey of 801 general election voters from Nov. 18-21, focusing on Chicago’s budget negotiations. The city-wide poll was conducted to discover residents’ opinions about various topics such as politician and group favorability, property taxes, city spending, Chicago’s sanctuary city status and more. The majority of poll respondents identified as Democrats;…
Grandma’s legacy: Patsy’s gaming and golf brings fun and community to Palos Heights
Jim Ostry grew up in Evanston, across the street from Northwestern University. He spent his summers of his youth working as a caddy at Westmoreland Country Club. “That was when I started golfing and fell in love with the game,” said Ostry, of Lakeview. Ostry turned his passion for golf into a career with a…
Historian Kevin Wood brings Lincoln to life in Thanksgiving program
Standing over 6 feet tall and wearing a wide-brimmed stovetop hat, Kevin Wood cuts a striking figure as Abraham Lincoln. The historian from Adrian, Michigan, began portraying the 16th U.S. president—who served from 1861 until his assassination in 1865—due to their uncanny physical similarities. Wood and Lincoln even share the same height. As Lincoln once…
Mac and cheese, please! Mad Chicken brings comfort food flavors to Palos Park
Melted cheese dripped off the fork as Sawyer Schweikert took another bite of her favorite meal: mac and cheese. She’s nearly two years old and already has found her go-to dish at Mad Chicken, a new comfort food spot at 13037 LaGrange Road in Palos Park. Mad Chicken hosted a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony…
Palos Heights council makes waves, approves $1.8M pool upgrade plan
Fifteen years after a citizens’ group fundraised to save the city’s aging pool from closure, the facility is undergoing a $1.8 million transformation. The upgrades, partially funded by a $600,000 grant, include decking repairs, concrete replacements, and a new pool house. “This pool is 50 years old,” Alderman Jeffrey Key said. “We’re essentially getting a…
Contested races mark Palos Heights’ April election
Palos Heights voters are set to cast their ballots on April 1, 2025, in an election featuring key races for mayor, city treasurer, and City Council seats. Mayor Incumbent Mayor Robert Straz, who has served in various capacities in Palos Heights for more than 40 years, is seeking another term. Straz’s campaign highlights his tenure…
In the holiday spirit, YSV Candles and Gifts nurtures creativity, connection in Garfield Ridge
Mildred Rivera, owner of YSV Candles and Gifts, is more than a businesswoman. She’s a candlemaker and community advocate whose Garfield Ridge store is a hub for artisan wares and creative workshops. Located at 6623 W. Archer Ave., YSV Candles and Gifts offers handmade candles, natural cosmetics, and unique artisan creations from 20 local makers.…
Area Lions clubs ready to sing ‘O Christmas Tree’
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, which means it’s time for local Lions Clubs to hold their annual sale of Christmas trees to raise money for the wonderful causes they support during the year. The Palos Lions will get the tree sales rolling early this year because Thanksgiving falls so late, Nov. 28. The club…
Pekau, Dodge to duke it out in Orland Park
At one time, Keith Pekau and Jim Dodge were on friendly terms. Pekau said he even supported Dodge for Illinois treasurer in the 2018 election. But things went sour during their time on the village board with Pekau being the mayor and Dodge a senior trustee and the two frequently locked horns until Dodge declined…
Park Lawn Queen of Hearts picks a winner – finally
After two years with no winner and a jackpot exceeding $2 million, Park Lawn’s longest-running Queen of Hearts raffle will conclude with a draw-down that was scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, at At the Office sports bar, 4901 Cal-Sag Road, Crestwood. An exceptionally large crowd turned out for the Nov. 13 drawing, where…
Hickory Hills honors veterans with annual ceremony at Veterans Park
As the sun set on Veterans Park Thursday evening, residents, city officials, and veterans gathered to honor the strength, dedication, and sacrifices of those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. The annual Hickory Hills ceremony, held in celebration of Veterans Day week, paid tribute to veterans and the values they fought to protect.…
