Jackets Even Their Record With Win Over New Hope

On Thursday, December 16, Yellow Jackets basketball hosted New Hope in WEAA Conference play. ‘

In the A-game, the Yellow Jackets trailed after one quarter of play, 11-10.  In the second quarter, things kept working for the Yellow Jackets, but we were all tied up at halftime 22-22.  The third quarter is where the boys set the tone, as the Yellow Jackets stormed out of the locker room to a 37-30 lead with seven minutes remaining.  In the fourth quarter, the Yellow Jackets had extended their lead to double digits but did not shoot free throws very well in the quarter to end up winning 51-42.  Scoring for the Yellow Jackets were:  Brady Porter with 11 points, Elliott Acree with 10 points, Brendan Bowser with 10 points, Rhett Andrews with 10 points, Kasen Dulgar with 8 points, and Will Freeland with 2 points.  Unbelievable balance on the offensive end tonight for the Yellow Jackets.  We really need to work on our free throws (8-20 in the game).  But what a solid game from start to finish for the Yellow Jackets.  Hopefully our fans have noticed how well the team has played the last two games, as they have become more consistent as a unit.  The Yellow Jackets are now 6-6 on the season and wrap up the WEAA Conference slate 4-4.

In the B-game, New Hope won the game with a strong second half, by the final score of 36-22.  Scoring for the Yellow Jackets were:  Tim Harness with 17 points, Jaxon Morris with 3 points, and Landon Wilford with 2 points.  The B-team is now 1-9 on the season.  

In the C-game, New Hope won the ballgame 33-10.  Scoring for the Yellow Jackets were:  Ryland Houchin with 8 points and TJ Singh with 2 points.  The C-team is now 4-4 on the season.

Next up:  at New Hope (4-seed) in the WEAA Conference tournament.  The game will be Wednesday, January 5th, at 6 pm.  The Yellow Jackets are the 5-seed in the tournament.

Jackets Swept By Jasper

From Bob Bowser:

On Tuesday, December 14th, Yellow Jackets basketball hosted Jasper in non-conference action.  In the C-game, the Yellow Jackets fell in defeat by the final score of 48-2.  Scoring for the Yellow Jackets was Jaxon Morris.  The C-team is now 4-3 on the season.

In the B-game, Jasper won 38-8.  Scoring for the Yellow Jackets were:  Ryland Houchin with 5 points, Tim Harness with 2 points, and Jaxon Morris with 1 point.  The B-team is now 1-8 on the season.

In the A-game, the Yellow Jackets potentially played their best game of the season.  Still room for improvement on both ends of the court, but we are getting better.  Jasper led 9-0 before the Yellow Jackets woke up and stormed back in the first quarter to only trail 13-11.  The Yellow Jackets outscored Jasper in the second quarter, but still trailed by one at halftime, 24-23.  The third quarter was another good one for the Yellow Jackets, as we actually led 37-36 with seven minutes to play.  A few turnovers and a few missed shots in the fourth quarter made it rough on the Yellow Jackets, as we fell in defeat 45-40.  The players gave themselves chances to win the game, but just came up short on this night.  But, they are improving.  Scoring for the Yellow Jackets were:  Elliott Acree with 20 points, Brady Porter with 10 points, Brendan Bowser with 5 points, Kasen Dulgar with 4 points, and Cameron Kolb with 1 point.  The A-team is now 5-6 on the season and 3-4 in the WEAA Conference.  

Next up: Thursday, December 16th at home against New Hope for the final WEAA Conference game of the season. C-game begins at 5:15 pm.

Jackets Swept By Cisne

From Bob Bowser:

On Thursday, December 9th, Yellow Jackets Basketball traveled to Cisne for WEAA Conference action.  In the B-game, Cisne defeated the Yellow Jackets by the final score of 41-19.  Scoring for the Yellow Jackets were:  Tim Harness with 12 points, Ryland Houchin with 5 points, and TJ Singh with 2 points.  The B-team is now 1-7 on the season.

 In the A-game, the first 9 minutes of basketball was the best I have seen this team ever play.  In fact, the Yellow Jackets led after one quarter of play 12-9 over one of the best teams, if not the best team for Class S, in this area.  But the wheels fell off in the second quarter and we were not able to get replacements quick enough.  By halftime, Cisne led 27-17.  The third quarter wasn't any better for the Yellow Jackets, as Cisne led 49-23 going into the final frame.  The final score showed Cisne defeating the Yellow Jackets 56-25.  Scoring for the Yellow Jackets were:  Elliott Acree with 8 points, Rhett Andrews with 6 points, Will Freeland with 4 points, Brendan Bowser with 3 points, Kasen Dulgar with 2 points, and Brady Porter with 2 points.  The A-team is now 5-5 on the season and 3-4 in the WEAA Conference.

 Next up:  non-conference home game vs. Jasper on Tuesday, December 14th.  The C-game will begin at 5:15 pm.

Jackets A Team Blitz New Hebron

On Tuesday, December 7th, Yellow Jackets Basketball hosted New Hebron in non-conference action.

In the A-game, the Yellow Jackets came out and established good defense in the first quarter and led 16-2.  With consistency being the key, the Yellow Jackets had a good second quarter as well, leading 29-4 at halftime.  Coming out of the break, the Yellow Jackets would continue the outstanding defense and led 45-4 after three quarters of play.  With a running clock in the fourth quarter, the Yellow Jackets would win the game 45-8.  Scoring for the Yellow Jackets were:  Elliott Acree with 16 points, Cameron Kolb with 10 points, Rhett Andrews with 9 points, Will Freeland with 4 points, Brady Porter with 2 points, Kasen Dulgar with 2 points, and Brendan Bowser with 2 points.  The A-team is now 5-4 on the season and 3-3 in the WEAA Conference.

In the B-game, the Yellow Jackets led after one quarter 6-4, but failed to score in the second quarter which led to a halftime deficit of 14-6.  In the third quarter, the ballclub came out like a ball of fire and got back in the game, still being down 16-14.  The B-team would get within a 3-point opportunity at the end, but fell short 23-18.  Scoring for the Yellow Jackets were:  Tim Harness with 12 points, TJ Singh with 2 points, Jaxon Morris with 2 points, and Levi Potts with 2 points.  The B-team is now 1-5 on the season.

In the C-game, the Yellow Jackets defeated New Hebron by the final score of 12-3.  Scoring for the Yellow Jackets were:  Ryland Houchin with 10 points and TJ Singh with 2 points.  The C-team is now 4-2 on the season.

Next up:  Thursday, December 9th at Cisne for a 5:30 pm B-game, followed by the A-game.

Jackets Even Record With Rout Of Geff

On Monday, December 6th, Yellow Jackets Basketball hosted Geff at St. Mary's School for WEAA Conference action.  This was only an 8th grade game contest.  The Yellow Jackets would jump out on top in the first quarter, 15-2, and never look back.  Going into halftime, the Yellow Jackets would lead 22-13.  Once again in the third quarter, the Yellow Jackets jumped into action and led 36-15 with 7 minutes to play.  With a solid fourth quarter, the Yellow Jackets won the game 45-18.  Scoring for the Yellow Jackets were:  Elliott Acree with 11 points, Will Freeland with 6 points, Kasen Dulgar with 5 points, Rhett Andrews with 5 points, Brendan Bowser with 4 points, Cameron Kolb with 4 points, Tim Harness with 4 points, Brady Porter with 3 points, Trenton Potts with 2 points, and Tristan Bray with 1 point.  The Yellow Jackets are now 4-4 on the season and 3-3 in the WEAA Conference.

Next up:  Tuesday, December 7th at Allendale against non-conference foe New Hebron.  The C-game begins at 5:15 pm.

Jackets Swept By Olney St. Joe

On Thursday, December 2nd, Yellow Jackets Basketball traveled to St. Joe (Olney) for a WEAA Conference Basketball game.  In the B-game, St. Joe defeated the Yellow Jackets 30-14.  Scoring for the Yellow Jackets was:  Tim Harness with 8 points and Ryland Houchin with 6 points.  The B-team is now 1-5 on the season.

In the A-game, St. Joe jumped out to an early lead, but the Yellow Jackets fought back and trailed 14-10 after one quarter.  The Yellow Jackets had a solid second quarter and only trailed by two points at halftime, 22-20.  The third quarter would prove to be decisive, as St. Joe led 34-28 with seven minutes to play.  The Yellow Jackets fought hard in the fourth quarter, but couldn't get over the hump.  In the end, the Yellow Jackets fell in defeat 41-35.  Scoring for the Yellow Jackets were:  Elliott Acree with 16 points, Brady Porter with 9 points, Brendan Bowser with 5 points, Kasen Dulgar with 2 points, Rhett Andrews with 2 points, and Cameron Kolb with 1 point.  The Yellow Jackets are now 3-4 on the season and 2-3 in WEAA Conference play.  

Next up:  Monday, December 6th, at St. Mary's School against Geff.  There will only be an A-game starting at 6 pm.  A-team players need to be at St. Mary's at 5:30 pm.

MT. CARMEL ELKS ANNOUNCE 50th ANNUAL HOOP SHOOT COMPETITION

MT. CARMEL’S ELKS LODGE #715 WILL HOST THE 50th ANNUAL ELKS HOOP SHOOT COMPETITION ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2021 AT MT. CARMEL GRADE SCHOOL (FORMERLY MT CARMEL MIDDLE SCHOOL).  REGISTRATION WILL BEGIN AT 8:30 AM. AND COMPETITION SHOOTING WILL START AT 9:00 AM. THIS NATIONAL FREE THROW SHOOTING CONTEST IS FOR BOYS & GIRLS AGES 8-13.

            AGE GROUPS WILL BE DETERMINED BY THEIR AGE AS OF APRIL 1, 2022.  AGE GROUPS ARE:        BOYS AGE 8-9                      GIRLS AGE 8-9

                                                            BOYS AGE 10-11                  GIRLS AGE 10-11

                                                            BOYS AGE 12-13                  GIRLS AGE 12-13

EACH CONTESTANT HAS 25 SHOTS AT THE HOOP.  THE WINNING BOY AND GIRL IN EACH GROUP WILL ADVANCE TO THE DISTRICT COMPETITION ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 2022 AT FRANKLIN PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL IN SALEM, ILLINOIS. 

BOYS AND GIRLS 8-9 WILL SHOOT FROM 11 FT AND WILL ALSO USE A GIRLS REGULATION BASKETBALL; ALL OTHERS WILL SHOOT FROM 15 FEET.  ALL GIRLS WILL USE A GIRLS REGULATION BASKETBALL, WHILE BOYS 10-13 WILL SHOOT WITH A REGULATION BOYS BASKETBALL.

DOORS WILL OPEN AT 8:30 AM TO SIGN UP FOR THE HOOP SHOOT. NO REGISTRATION FORMS ARE NEEDED THIS YEAR.  THE PARTICIPANTS NEED TO SIGN IN AT THEIR RESPECTIVE TABLE WITH THEIR CORRECT AGE.

1ST AND 2ND PLACE WINNERS WILL NEED TO FILL OUT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AFTER THE CONTEST.

1ST PLACE WINNERS WILL ADVANCE TO THE DISTRICT HOOP SHOOT CONTEST ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 2022 AT FRANKLIN PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL IN SALEM, ILLINOIS.

Jackets Slide Past West Salem For Conference Win

From Bob Bowser:

On Monday, November 22nd, Yellow Jackets Basketball hosted the West Salem Warriors in WEAA Conference action.

When it comes to A-team basketball, the Yellow Jackets always want to make it exciting for everyone. This game would prove no different, as it literally came down to the final possession. After one quarter of play, West Salem led 10-7. The second quarter would see a complete reversal and be tied at halftime 17-17. In the third quarter, the Yellow Jackets stayed on fire and led 26-22 going into the final seven minutes of game time. The fourth quarter would be crucial and Brendan Bowser made two, three-point shots in the quarter to bring the Yellow Jackets back from a four point deficit to a two point lead with two minutes to go. A bucket by Elliott Acree would prove to be the final scoring for the Yellow Jackets in the quarter and the difference in the game, as the Yellow Jackets would win 34-32. Scoring for the Yellow Jackets were: Brendan Bowser with 18 points, Brady Porter with 6 points, Kasen Dulgar with 4 points, Elliott Acree with 4 points, and Rhett Andrews with 2 points. The Yellow Jackets are now 3-3 on the season and 2-2 in WEAA Conference play.

In the C-game, the Yellow Jackets won the game 4-2. Ryland Houchin scored all four points for the Yellow Jackets. The C-team is now 3-2 on the season.

In the B-game, West Salem won 21-15. Scoring for the the Yellow Jackets were: Ryland Houchin with 9 points, Landon Wilford with 4 points, and Teagan Polston with 2 points. The B-team is now 1-4 on the season.

Next up: Thursday, December 1st at St. Joe-Olney for WEAA Conference action with the B-game at 6:00 pm.

IHSA Boys Basketball State Final Tickets On Sale Now

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Boys State Basketball Tournament returns to the State Farm Center in Champaign this March 10–12, 2022. Tickets for 1A/2A and 3A/4A sessions are now on sale at a Statefarmcenter.com or by calling 1-866-ILLINI-1 (866-455-4641).

All 100-level reserved seats for the sessions are $62 and 200-level reserved seats are $40 with ticket fees applied. Single session passes will go on sale at a later date. Get IHSA State Final tickets here.

“We are thrilled to finally welcome the IHSA Boys State Basketball Tournament back to its long-time home at the University of Illinois,” exclaims Jayne DeLuce, President & CEO of Visit Champaign County. “As we move beyond the pandemic, our community and the State Farm Center will provide a safe and exciting atmosphere for athletes and fans. We’re ready to start a new tradition of welcoming teams, families, fans, officials, and media for the experience of a lifetime.”

Fans can expect a variety of amenities within the State Farm Center through state-of-the-art technology to create an atmosphere worthy of a championship. The tournament also provides fans with opportunities to engage further in the history of IHSA Basketball through a unique exhibit, to immerse themselves in the latest technology with the TechHub and the University of Illinois eSports Club, to enjoy interactive play through activity areas hosted by chambanamoms.com and to provide students and families the opportunity to take part in an academic fair to not only learn about possibilities with the University of Illinois, but also colleges across the country.

Fans looking to book hotel rooms or find community information should visit Legendsplayhere.com, the hub for all IHSA sports hosted in Champaign County.

Visit Champaign County is also seeking volunteers to assist in various ways throughout the tournament. Community members interested in volunteering should contact Mike Koon, Director of Sports, Events, and Film at mikek@visitchampaigncounty.org or 217-351-4133.

Brewer Hoping For Another Big Aces Crowd In Tolono For Semifinal

After one of the biggest Riverview Stadium crowds in many years for last Saturday’s quarterfinal win over Benton, Aces coach Michael Brewer is anticipating another big Aces crowd in Tolono Saturday for the 2pm matchup with the Rockets….

The tailgating area at Unity opens at 10am with gates to the stadium opening at 12 noon.

Brewer’s comments came during a Friday appearance on the WSJD Morning Show.

Jackets Have Rough Night At Jasper

On Thursday, November 18th, Yellow Jackets Basketball traveled to Jasper for WEAA Conference action.  In the C-game, Jasper defeated the Yellow Jackets 27-5.  Scoring for the Yellow Jackets was:  Ryland Houchin with 5 points.  The C-team is now 2-2 on the season.

 In the B-game, the Polecats defeated the Yellow Jackets 33-13.  Scoring for the Yellow Jackets were:  Tim Harness with 9 points, Landon Wilford with 2 points, and Ryland Houchin with 2 points.  The B-team is now 1-3 on the season.

 In the A-game, it was a rough shooting night overall and a real struggle to score points in the second half. After one quarter of play, the Yellow Jackets led 9-5 but then trailed 20-19 at halftime. The third quarter was the difference. Coming out of the locker room, the Polecats took a 32-22 lead with 7 minutes to go and didn't look back. The final score showed Jasper winning 41-24. Scoring for the Yellow Jackets were: Brendan Bowser with 14 points, Elliott Acree with 5 points, Brady Porter with 3 points, and Rhett Andrews with 2 points. The Yellow Jackets were 5-7 from the free throw line as a team, which is a solid percentage every night. The A-team is now 2-3 on the season and 1-2 in WEAA Conference play. Next up: at home Monday, November 22nd against West Salem for a WEAA contest beginning at 5:15 pm with the C-game.

Lady Aces Drop Season Opener At Carmi

From Coach Tim Willis: Lady Aces were defeated in the season opener 38-33 at Carmi. This young team battled the senior led Carmi team all night but couldn’t quite finish the game.

Lots of teachable moments that will pay off as the season moves along. Not the result we wanted but the effort by the LA’s should give them confidence as they head to Robinson next Friday to begin tournament play.

Jackets Roll Past Grayville In WEAA Action

On Monday, November 15th, Yellow Jackets Basketball hosted Grayville in non-conference play. 

 In the A-game, the Yellow Jackets got off to a solid offensive start and led 15-12 after the first quarter.  By halftime, the Yellow Jackets had extended their lead to 33-21.  The third quarter was another good start to a half of basketball, as the Yellow Jackets extended the lead to 44-27.  In the fourth quarter, the Yellow Jackets did what they needed to do and won the game 52-38.  Scoring for the Yellow Jackets were:  Elliott Acree with 30 points, Brady Porter with 9 points, Kasen Dulgar with 6 points, Brendan Bowser with 5 points, and Rhett Andrews with 2 points.  Here is an impressive fact for this ballclub:  They were 11-14 from the free throw line tonight, which is 79% and an awesome job.  The Yellow Jackets are now 2-2 on the season and 1-1 in WEAA Conference play.  Next up:  Thursday, November 18th at Jasper for a WEAA Conference ballgame.

In the C-game, Grayville won the ballgame 8-6.  Scoring for the Yellow Jackets were: Jaxon Morris with 4 points and Ryland Houchin with 2 points.  The C-team is now 2-1 on the season.

 In the B-game, Grayville also defeated the Yellow Jackets by the final score of 33-17.  Scoring for the Yellow Jackets were: Tim Harness with 15 points and Stetson Potts with 2 points.  The B-team is now 1-2 on the season.

Late Second Three Pointer Sinks Jackets

From Bob Bowser:

On Tuesday, November 9th, Yellow Jackets Basketball had its first home game of the season against Clay City. In the C-game, the Yellow Jackets defeated Clay City by the score of 12-8. Scoring for the C-team were: Ryland Houchin with 8 points, Teagan Polston with 2 points, and Jaxon Morris with 2 points. The C-team is now 2-0 on the season.

In the B-game, the Yellow Jackets pulled out a victory 21-14. Scoring in the B-game were: Tim Harness with 19 points and Levi Potts with 2 points. The B-team is now 1-1 on the season.

In the A-game, short and simple it was a bad shooting night for the Yellow Jackets. The Yellow Jackets unofficially were 10-44 from the field and lost on a last second 3-pointer at the buzzer, 27-26. The Yellow Jackets were down 6-3 after one quarter, but stormed back to take a halftime lead of 16-11. After three quarters, the Yellow Jackets extended the lead to 24-16, but the fourth quarter saw the Yellow Jackets only score two points. Tough night, but we have to pick ourselves up and get ready for another game. Scoring for the Yellow Jackets were: Elliott Acree with 19 points, Brady Porter with 3 points, Rhett Andrews with 2 points, and Cameron Kolb with 2 points. The Yellow Jackets are now 1-2 on the season and 1-1 in the WEAA Conference. Next up: Monday, November 15th at home against Grayville in non-conference action.