Community News
Girls’ basketball: Lady Miners face off in County Championship
Play tonight at 6:30pm
Ellen Gray plays a tough defense Mt. Olive’s Lindsay Eickmeyer.
The Macoupin County Tournament’s championship games are upon us and Miner fans will be packing the house in Staunton tonight as their Lady Miners will face off in the championship game on the ladies side of the tournament. The game is set to tip off at 6:30pm and your Lady Miners will be the underdogs in tonight’s match-up.
They are a hot team going into tonight’s game seeking their first Macoupin County title since 2002. So hot, they went 3-0 this week to meet the (16-3) Southwestern Piasa Birds tonight. It won’t be the first time the Miners battle the Birds in a championship dual. The Miners faced off against Southwestern in the championship game in the Southwestern Tourney that opened up the season. Gillespie came up on the losing end of the 51-50 game, but led for three quarters of the game.
The county tournament marks the second tournament of the season for the girls’ basketball team this season and marks the second championship game they visited this season after closing the 2011-2012 season with a bang: class 2A regional champions. The 2012 regional champions are building up what has been an exciting season so far as they look to defend the title they stole from Southwestern last season in the 2A regional.
The ladies entered the county tournament last Saturday as the number two seed, just behind Southwestern. They were matched up with Mt. Olive, Staunton, and North Mac. All of which they defeated, but not by lopsided margins. Mt. Olive didn’t put up much of a fight as the Miners walked out with a 79-19 victory falling short of the “Most Points Scored in a Single Game” record.
Shelby Jarman built the Miners up with a big lead as she scored 7 of her 19 points in the first quarter to contribute to a 29-2 lead after the first eight minutes. Haylie Kirkwood packed on the points underneath the basket for the Miners as Kirkwood finished the first half with 11 points.
Alexis Burns knocks down an easy layup. Burns scored 25 points for the Lady Miners throughout the 3 games.
At halftime, the Miners led the Mt. Olive Wildcats 50-5. It wasn’t over yet though as the Miners scored another 29 points in the second half. Tyler Ross led the team in the second half with 8 points while Jarman followed up with 6. Jarman finished as the top scorer in the 79-19 victory scoring as much as the other team (19 points). Kirkwood followed up with 15 points while Tyler Ross finished with 12 points.
The girls came back on Tuesday evening to battle Staunton. The Miners set the tone early, led by Shelby Jarman and Haylie Kirkwood. Jarman and Kirkwood had 8 points and 6 points respectively in the first quarter as the Miners led 19-8. Staunton battled back in the second quarter as Sophie Fairman scored 8 of Staunton’s 14 points, but the Miners held strong scoring 17 points to increase the lead at halftime by 3.
Leading the Bulldogs 36-22 at halftime, the Lady Miners had a rough third quarter and almost blew the lead as Fairman scored her 1,000th basket. Scoring only 7 points in the third quarter, Staunton doubled that with 14 points and cut the deficit by 7 trailing 36-43 entering the final quarter. The Miners regained momentum in the fourth quarter as the defense held Staunton to just 5 points in the fourth quarter.
The Miners went on to add 11 points to the home side of the scoreboard and they took the 54-41 victory to win their second game of the tournament. Shelby Jarman carried the team with 20 points while Alexis Burns finished with 9 and Haylie Kirkwood finished with 8 points.
Standing with a 2-0 record in the tournament, the Miners had to beat North Mac on Thursday evening to get their ticket to the championship game. The ladies jumped out with a 12-6 lead against North Mac, but struggled in the second and third quarters to trail 31-28 after three quarters. After outplaying the Panthers in the fourth quarter and outscoring them by 6 points, the Miners took home the 44-41 victory while punching their ticket to the championship.
North Mac played a tough defense on the Lady Miner offense while holding Jarman to a mere 4 points in the game. Alexis Burns led the attack for the Miners though as she finished up with 10 points while Kayli Morris seconded with 8 points.
Tyler Ross scored two field goals to get the Miners off to a good start in the game while four other ladies put forth a basket to contribute to a 12-6 lead after the first quarter. The lead diminished by 4 points by halftime, but the Miners still led 21-19. It was in the third quarter where the team really struggled gathering only 7 points, three from free throws. North Mac pounced on the ladies and were in control of the lead by the end of the third quarter, 31-28.
After the Panther outbreak in the third quarter, the Miners brushed it off and regained control in the fourth quarter. Kayli Morris led the team as she scored 6 of their 16 points in the quarter. Burns followed up with 4 points as the pair carried the Miners to their third victory in the tournament, 44-41.
UP NEXT: The Miners will now meet the Piasa Birds in the county championship tonight at 6:30pm. Southwestern has won seven county championships since the Lady Miners won their last title in 2002.
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FELONIES
Bradley W. Crane, 47 of Brighton, is charged with aiding/abetting/possession of a stolen vehicle in connection with a December 28, 2024 incident.
Donavon M. Holmes, 24 of Benld, is charged with felon in possession of a weapon in connection with a March 11 incident.
Natosha L. Michaelis, 39 of Carlinville, is charged with two counts of forgery/making/altering a document in connection with a February 10 incident.
Bradley S. Watters, 36 of Carlinville, is charged with aggravated battery in a public place in connection with a March 12 incident.
MISDEMEANORS
Anita S. Grizzle, 49 of Gillespie, is charged with unlawful possession of a knife in connection with a March 9 incident.
Tonya L. Pfeiler, 43 of Carlinville, is charged with theft control/intent (<$500) in connection with a March 1 incident.
Timothy A. Dugger, 23 of Palmyra, is charged with criminal trespass to land in connection with a January 29 incident.
Dalton W. Branham, 27 of Springfield, is charged with criminal trespass to land in connection with a January 23 and January 29 incident.
Crystal A. Holland, 50 of Carlinville, is charged with disorderly conduct in connection with a January 18 incident.
Bruce A. Day, 59 of Carlinville, is charged with criminal trespass to a building in connection with a February 13 incident.
Mark B. Bersch, 68 of Carlinville, is charged with criminal trespass to a building in connection with February 4 incident.
Robert D. Lindsey, 36 of Carlinville, is charged with criminal damage to property (<$500) in connection with a March 3 incident.
Thomas W. Gray, 35 of Carlinville, is charged with disorderly conduct in connection with a February 26 incident.
Ronnie E. Reyes, 40 of Carlinville, is charged with criminal trespass to land in connection with a March 13 incident.
TRAFFIC
Bethany E. Robinson, 27 of Carlinville, is charged with drivers license expired more than a year, passing a school bus while loading/unloading, and improper traffic lane usage in connection with a February 27 incident.
Timothy R. Galston, 46 of Harvey, is charged with driving on a revoked license and driving 11-14 mph above the limit in connection with a March 2 incident.
Hector R. Herrera Pena, 39 of Guadalupe, NL, is charged with CDL not obtained in connection with a March 4 incident.
Stephen L. Barrick, 50 of Virden, is charged with driving on a suspended license in connection with a March 2 incident.
Kyle L. Stiltz, 32 of Virden, is charged with leaving the scene of an accident, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, and no valid registration in connection with a February 28 incident.
DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE FILED
- Angela M. Berndt versus Travis E. Berndt
- Melissa K. Porter versus Kevin W. Porter
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Bunker Hill – Zion Lutheran Church in Bunker Hill is excited to announce a rummage sale taking place on Thursday, March 20, Friday, March 21, and Saturday, March 22. The sale will be held at the church located at 609 East Warren Street in Bunker Hill. All proceeds from the sale will be donated to Illinois Valley Meals on Wheels in Macoupin County, a vital program that prepares and delivers over 1,500 meals daily to those in need across three counties.
Donations for the rummage sale are warmly welcomed and can be dropped off at the church’s north entrance starting Monday, March 17. Items of all kinds are appreciated, and your contributions will directly support the dedicated efforts of volunteers who ensure that nutritious meals reach our community members.
The sale will run from 4 to 8 PM on Thursday and then 8 AM to 4 PM on Friday and Saturday, making it convenient for everyone to stop by and find great deals while supporting a crucial service in our area.
For more information about the rummage sale or how to donate, please contact Jane Baker at 618-973-2666.
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FELONIES
Bryer D. Greff, 30 of Virden, is charged with retail theft (<$300) with a previous conviction in connection to a March 1 incident.
Michael J. Weaver, 34 of Carlinville, is charged with methamphetamine delivery (400<900 grams), possession of methamphetamine (400<900 grams), and felon in possession of a weapon in connection with a March 3 incident.
Patrick D. Greer, 39 of Mount Olive, is charged with burglary and theft/unauthorized control (>500<10k) in connection with a January 23 and March 3 incident .
Brian H. Duff, 50 of Alton, is charged with theft/unauthorized control (>500<10k) in connection with a January 30 incident.
MISDEMEANORS
Allison S. Cisco, 18 of Carlinville, is charged with battery/causing bodily harm in connection with a March 1 incident.
Andrew C. London, 19 of Wilsonville, is charged with retail theft (<$300) in connection with a March 5 incident.
Shelby L. Veach, 23 of Staunton, is charged with resisting a peace officer/firefighter/corrections employee and criminal damage to property in connection with a December 16 and December 21 incident.
Robert J. Zumwalt, 43 of Livingston, is charged with resisting a peace officer/firefighter/corrections employee in connection with a December 21 incident.
TRAFFIC
Andrew J. McDaniel, 56 of Littleton, CO, is charged with speeding 26-34 mph over the limit in connection with a February 23 incident.
Connor E. O’Brien, 25 of Riverside, is charged with speeding 26-34 mph over the limit in connection with a February 24 incident.
Anthony M. Reed, 29 of Fayette, MS, is charged with driving on a suspended license and driving 15-20 mph above the limit in connection with a February 22 incident.
Patrick M. Nejmanowski, 58 of Carlinville, is charged with driving on a revoked license and driving 21-25 mph above the limit in connection with a February 25 incident.
Michael A. Coates, 49 of Staunton, is charged with driving on a revoked license and operating a motor vehicle with suspended registration in connection with a February 16 incident.
Carl R. Albracht, 50 of Palmyra, is charged with canceled/revoked/suspended registration in connection with a February 25 incident.
Jessica M. Jenkins, 40 of Gillespie, is charged with canceled/revoked/suspended registration in connection with a February 24 incident.
Jason L. Peter, 48 of Carlinville, is charged with canceled/revoked/suspended registration in connection with a February 22 incident.
Matthew D. Knick, 21 of Mount Olive, is charged with driving on suspended license in connection with a February 27 incident.
Julia A. Schall, 68 of Shipman, is charged with driving on a revoked license in connection with a February 27 incdient.
Amy N. Gomer, 39 of Shipman, is charged with driving on a suspended license in connection with a March 4 incident.
Dalton C. Bunyard, 32 of Wood River, is charged with speeding 26-34 mph over the limit in connection with a February 28 incident.
Edward Tumpach III, 33 of Hillsboro, is charged with reckless driving, improper traffic lane usage, and disregarding a traffic control device in connection with a March 5 incident.
DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE FILED
- Neil Ringer versus Whitney Ringer
- Christina Essington versus John Essington
- Scott Huddleston versus Jessica Huddleston
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Zion Lutheran School to host open house on March 18 for preschool and kindergarten programs
Illinois Farm Bureau to host ‘Rules for the Road’ trucking seminar in Carlinville on March 20
