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Football drops third straight before facing Carlinville this week on homecoming

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Bryce McKinney

Bryce McKinney runs the ball for Gillespie.

It looked like Gillespie (2-3) was going to snap their two-game losing streak last Friday night in Hillsboro after taking a 12-0 lead, but then the tide turned in Hillsboro’s homecoming football game and the Toppers (4-1) held the Miners scoreless the rest of the game while scoring 26 points of their own to give Gillespie their third straight loss, 12-26.

After kicking off to start the game, Gillespie took over possession after forcing a Hillsboro fumble 10 yards away form the end zone on their opening drive of the game. The Miners used the escape to score the game’s first touchdown after Bryce McKinney and Bobby Carr each had large runs – McKinney for a 29-yard rush and Carr on a 45-yard rush. After the missed extra point kick, Gillespie led 6-0 after seven minutes of play.

Gillespie’s lead improved in the second quarter after covering nearly 80 offensive yards on their next drive. Quarterback Tate Wargo found Bryce McKinney wide open for a 35-yard completion putting the Miners 15 yards away from the end zone. After a couple rushing plays combined for a first down, Gillespie turned to a passing play and Wargo found Myers open for a 5-yard touchdown reception giving the Miners a 12-0 lead after the failed conversion.

Hillsboro returned the touchdown favor in their third drive of the game after covering 62 offensive yards and after overcoming a fourth down and 1 play, the Toppers quarterback Mitch Reynolds escaped on a 9-yard scamper to trim the deficit to 12-6 with four minutes left before halftime.

The Miners have had their best week of practices this week, according to head coach Don Dobrino

The Miners didn’t give themselves much opportunity after Hillsboro’s Dillon Civitate intercepted Wargo with 3:03 remaining in the second quarter. The Toppers possession lasted two minutes before they ended the half by punting on fourth down and 10.
Keagan West doesn't let his opponent get away from him as he snags his jersey near the line of scrimmage.

Keagan West doesn’t let his opponent get away from him as he snags his jersey near the line of scrimmage.

Despite leading 12-6 at halftime, Gillespie’s lead was overtaken within two minutes of the third quarter after Hillsboro broke away and gained 51 yards on the ground before being stopped three yards away from the end zone. The Toppers jumped over a pile of Miners on the next play tying the game at 12 before kicking the extra point to put Gillespie behind 12-13.

Gillespie’s situation continued to worsen throughout the remainder of the second half after their next two drives each resulted in a turnover and Hillsboro used each one to add another touchdown to their side of the scoreboard building a 14-point lead over the Miners, 12-26.

The Miners had seven minutes remaining in the game to draw up a comeback, but then lost Bobby Carr who is a contributing force on offense as a receiver. Carr was injured during Hillsboro’s 5-yard touchdown run and was transported off the field by an ambulance following a 15-minute delay. When play resumed, Hillsboro’s two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful.

Hillsboro then forced a fumble on the next Miners’ drive, but then punted it away three downs later with 2:50 remaining in the game. Gillespie’s final drive of the game was ignited with a 44-yard completion from quarterback Daniel Dobrino to Bryce McKinney, but then the final seconds rolled off the clock after a pair of sacks.

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The Miners (2-3) have had their best week of practices this week, according to head coach Don Dobrino, and are prepared for a victory over Carlinville (3-2) this evening in their homecoming to snap the three-game losing streak. Carlinville is entering the match-up after a marginal win over Staunton last week.

Carr was diagnosed with a concussion and is participating in a strict regime under constant watch by medical professionals to hopefully be back on the playing field this season.

Around the South Central Conference

  • Pana (5-0) blanked Southwestern (2-3) last week, 28-0
  • Carlinville (3-2) walloped Staunton (0-5), 59-12
  • Litchfield (3-2) edged Vandalia (2-3), 12-7
  • Roxana (3-2) beat Greenville (1-4), 49-36

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Community News

Gillespie to honor record-setting baseball team on Wednesday

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Gillespie High School will honor the high school baseball team before the team’s banquet on Wednesday, June 14 with a parade through downtown.

The parade will start at the school at 5:30 p.m. and proceed through downtown Gillespie before heading back to the school so the team can conclude their season with a team-only banquet.

The school invites everyone to come downtown to recognize the team and celebrate this year’s accomplishments. The team ended their season with an overall 32-1 record and won 32 straight wins, a new school record.

The team also won their respective conference and regional.

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GHS News

Eight Miner softball players receive all-conference honors

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(L-R) All three of Gillespie’s seniors received all-conference honors including Megan Rife, Regan Bussmann, and Eve Kaduk (photo/Melissa Bussmann)

Eight athletes of Gillespie High School were named to the 2023 All-South Central Conference softball rosters that were released on Thursday.

Miners being named to the all-conference rosters included Emma Gipson, Regan Bussmann, and Eve Kaduk as first-team; Ava Parish, Megan Rife, Macie Wright, and Sadie Sholtis as second-team; and Delaney Taylor as third-team.

Gillespie’s season ended in the regional semi-final with an overall 25-4 record and 9-0 in the conference. The team loses three seniors including infielder Regan Bussmann, outfielder Eve Kaduk, and outfielder Megan Rife.

The entire list of honorees is below.

First team

  • Emma Gipson (Gillespie, junior, pitcher)
  • Hannah Gibson (Carlinville, sophomore, pitcher)
  • Abby Hendricks (North Mac, junior, catcher)
  • Isabella Tiburzi (Carlinville, sophomore, infielder)
  • Shelby Ashcraft (Pana, sophomore, infielder)
  • Ele Feldmann (Staunton, sophomore, infielder)
  • Regan Bussmann (Gillespie, senior, infielder)
  • Eve Kaduk (Gillespie, senior, outfielder)
  • Olivia Kunz (Carlinville, junior, outfielder)
  • Hallie Lomelino (North Mac, junior, outfielder)
  • Kylie Lucykow (Staunton, junior, outfielder)
  • Anika Camp (Hillsboro, sophomore, utility)

Second team

  • Josie Patterson (North Mac, senior, pitcher)
  • Grace Strohbeck (Southwestern, sophomore, pitcher)
  • Addison Ruyle (Carlinville, sophomore, catcher)
  • Makenah Dugan (Carlinville, sophomore, infielder)
  • Kennedy Bowker (Pana, freshman, infielder)
  • Ava Parish (Gillespie, freshman, infielder)
  • Taylor Nolan (Staunton, junior, infielder)
  • Gracie Philpot (Vandalia, senior, infielder)
  • Megan Rife (Gillespie, senior, outfielder)
  • Macie Wright (Gillespie, sophomore, outfielder)
  • Maddy Fenstermaker (Southwestern, sophomore, outfielder)
  • Sam Anderson (Staunton, sophomore, outfielder)
  • Maddie Lupton (Vandalia, sophomore, outfielder)
  • Sydney Valdes (Southwestern, sophomore, utility)
  • Sadie Sholtis (Gillespie, freshman, utility)

Third team

  • Shelby Ashcraft (Pana, sophomore, pitcher)
  • Gracie Philpot (Vandalia, senior, pitcher)
  • Hallie Gibson (Carlinville, freshman, pitcher)
  • Delaney Taylor (Gillespie, sophomore, catcher)
  • Bella Roach (Litchfield, junior, catcher)
  • Hannah Potthast (Greenville, senior, infielder)
  • Braley Wiser (Carlinville, sophomore, infielder)
  • Taylor Keirs (North Mac, sophomore, infielder)
  • Vivian Zurheide (Southwestern, freshman, infielder)
  • Korryn Keehner (Staunton, sophomore, infielder)
  • Delaney Kopp (Vandalia, senior, infielder)
  • Karly Tipps (Carlinville, junior, outfielder)
  • Haylee Clark (Greenville, freshman, outfielder)
  • Lilly Troeckler (Staunton, sophomore, outfielder)
  • Lauren Johnson (Vandalia, freshman, outfielder)
  • Anna Osbourne (Vandalia, senior, utility)

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GMS

Link wins All-Star Classic dunk contest, Four athletes represent Gillespie

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Kam Link (photo/Carlinville Rotary Club)

The top 59 boys’ and girls’ basketball seniors from South Central Illinois played in the 19th Annual Carlinville Rotary Club All-Star Basketball Classic on Sunday, March 26 in Carlinville which was presented by Prairie Farms Diary and CNB Bank & Trust.

Representing Gillespie High School among the athletes on the West teams included Emily Schoen, Jenna Clark, Kam Link, and Bryan Jubelt. Clark posted 2 points in the girls’ contest while Link posted 15 and Jubelt helped with 5 points in the boys’ game. Link also put on a show in the dunk contest scoring 48 out of the possible 50 points to win first place.

The Girls East beat the West 68-51 behind 14 points from MVP Layne Rupert of Hillsboro. The 3-point shootout was won by Paige Henson of Carrollton in a corner shootoff with Natalie Engelman of Nokomis. Staunton coach Corrie Allan was selected as the Rotary Club’s Girls’ Coach of the Year.

Devon Peebles of Pana took MVP honors in the boys’ Carlinville Rotary Club All-Star Basketball Classic. Peebles scored 25 points to lead the East to a 108-97 win over the West. Elijah Aumann of Nokomis won the 3-point contest hitting 10 treys and edging out Ryan Eisenbarth of Nokomis, Peebles and Jubelt of Gillespie who all had 9. In the Slam Dunk contest, Link scored 48 out of the possible 50 points for his routine with Peebles finishing second with a score of 41. Nokomis coach Dan DeWerff was named the Rotary Club’s Boys’ Coach of the Year.

With the East winning both the girls and boys match-ups this year, the all-time series record for boys moves to 12-7 with the West holding the lead and the girls record extends to 13-5 with the East holding strong.

The All-Star Classic serves as a fundraiser for the Carlinville Rotary Club who help with community projects throughout the year.

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