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Sports Editor Matt Daniels with a look at what’s going on around the area:
Monticello senior Maddux Quick stood above the rest of the area boys’ golfers this fall as he led the Sages to success at nearly every stop. Quick is The News-Gazette’s All-Area Boys’ Golfer of the Year for the 2024 season.
Three reasons we love sports today
➜ 1. Still time to vote right here at our website for our latest high school Athletes of the Week, with the polls not closing until noon on Thursday.
➜ 2. On the boys’ side, Philip Christhilf of St. Thomas More wrestling, Lucas Fuson of Cerro Gordo/Bement basketball, Ryan Hopkins of Fisher basketball and Joshua Lee of Champaign Central swimming are this week’s finalists. Reese Davis of Tuscola basketball, Jasmine Johnson of Rantoul wrestling, Kacie Sisk of Arcola basketball and Bailey Walter of Cerro Gordo/Bement basketball are the girls’ finalists.
➜ 3. Congrats to the 2024 N-G boys’ Golfer of the Year Maddux Quick. The Monticello senior is set to sign with Heartland College on Wednesday afternoon.
Genesis Bryant has made a team-high 31 three-pointers this season for the Illinois women’s basketball team, with the Illini back in action on Thursday night at Indiana.
Numbers game: 77
three-pointers the Illinois women’s basketball team has made this season going into Thursday night’s game at Indiana. That has the Illini tied for 289th in the country, with injury-ravaged Illinois only making 29.4 percent of its attempts from beyond three-point range. Genesis Bryant is the best option from beyond the arc for the Illini, with the fifth-year senior guard going 31 of 85 from three-point range.
Aidyn Beck and the Champaign Central boys’ basketball team plays at rival Centennial on Friday night.
Crowd control
Three events I’m paying attention to
➜ 1. Illinois at Indiana women’s basketball. The Illini (12-4, 2-3 Big Ten) are trying to win back-to-back Big Ten games for the first time this season, with the Hoosiers (12-4, 4-1) awaiting at 6 p.m. Thursday. Another noteworthy item? Illinois is trying to end a nine-game losing streak at Assembly Hall, with its last win in Bloomington, Ind., on Feb. 12, 2012.
➜ 2. Champaign Central at Centennial girls’ basketball. The Big 12 foes meet at 6 p.m. Friday at Coleman Carrodine Gym, as the opening act to the boys’ game.
➜ 3. Champaign Central at Centennial boys’ basketball. The longtime rivals are set to tip off at 7:30 p.m. Friday right after the girls’ programs square off. Enjoy.
Cissna Park golf coach Eric Gerdes with his 2024 team.
Coach’s corner
Three questions with Cissna Park golf coach Eric Gerdes:
➜ 1. My favorite sports teams are … the St. Louis Cardinals and Buffalo Bills.
➜ 2. Three coaches I’d like to have dinner with are … Phil Jackson, Jim Harbaugh and Pat Prina.
➜ 3. My biggest pet peeve is … being late for a practice or game.