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Sports Editor Matt Daniels with a look at what’s going on around the area:
Emotional victory celebrations became the norm for Cissna Park girls’ basketball this season, with the Timberwolves eventually placing third in Class 1A as they were the only area program to reach the state tournament.
Three reasons we love sports today
➜ 1. Congrats to Pedro Rangel IV from the Salt Fork baseball team and Irene Rangel from the Oakwood softball team. They are the latest News-Gazette high school Athletes of the Week, powered by Copper Creek Contractors. Read more about the pair in next Tuesday’s News-Gazette.
➜ 2. Make sure to check out Saturday’s News-Gazette for the unveiling of our 48th annual All-Area girls’ basketball team. Along with our Player of the Year and Coach of the Year honorees, we’ll recognize plenty of others via our First Team, Second Team, Special Mention and Honorable Mention selections.
➜ 3. Come back next Saturday for our final All-Area package from the high school winter sports season: boys’ basketball.
Tyra Perry, left, and Sharonda McDonald-Kelley before a 2023 game in Urbana.
Numbers game: 21
Black female college softball coaches in Division I this season. And only three in a power conference. Two of them — Tyra Perry at Illinois and Sharonda McDonald-Kelley at Michigan State — will compete against one another this weekend at Eichelberger Field in Urbana. The Illini (15-19, 2-7 Big Ten) and the Spartans (12-20, 2-8) begin a three-game series at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Former Illini standout Brian Campbell shot an even-par 72 during his first round at the Masters on Thursday.
Crowd control
Three events I’m paying attention to
➜ 1. The Masters. Former Illini Brian Campbell shot an even-par 72 during Thursday’s opening round and seems like he’s in a solid spot to make the weekend cut. Another former Illini, Thomas Detry, struggled to a 7-over 79 on Thursday and needs a big second round on Friday if he hopes to play the weekend.
➜ 2. Indiana at Illinois baseball. The Illini (18-12, 7-5 Big Ten) try for their fourth straight Big Ten win when the Hoosiers (19-14, 9-6) visit for a 6 p.m. first pitch on Friday to begin a three-game series.
➜ 3. Rantoul Invite. Annual boys’ track and field meet takes place with 11 teams on on Saturday as field events start at 10 a.m. and running events begin at 11 a.m. Along with host Rantoul, Clinton, Monticello, Prairie Central, Schlarman and Urbana are among the area teams slated to attend.
Jacob Griffith and his wife, Erica.
Coach’s corner
Three questions with Villa Grove boys’ track and field coach Jacob Griffith:
➜ 1. My favorite sports team is ... the Chicago Cubs.
➜ 2. Three coaches I’d like to have dinner with are … Bill Bowerman, Joe Maddon and Mike Krzyzewski.
➜ 3. My biggest pet peeve is … loud chewers.
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