HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY ATHLETICS

Boys’ Basketball

Kaneland earned a 74-54 win over Winnebago on Wednesday, led by Marshawn Cocroft’s 28 points. Jeffrey Hassan added 13 points for the Knights, while Jake Buckley and Brian Edwards each scored eight. 

Somonauk lost 69-52 to Woodland. Landin Stillwell led the Bobcats with 17 points, while Luke Hartsell finished with eight points, eight rebounds and five steals. Owen Hopkins scored eight points, and Landon Johnson added seven points and four rebounds in the loss.

Earlville fell 64-18 to Hiawatha as the Red Raiders continued their search for their first win of the season. Colton Fruit led Earlville with 12 points.

Girls’ Basketball

Yorkville Christian defeated Plano 38-30. Kiana Ogulei led the Mustangs with 13 points, while Payton Wallin recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Wallin also finished with four steals, one block and three assists. Riley Herron added six steals. For Plano, Jadyn Long scored 11 points, Chloe Rowe pulled down 11 rebounds, Cami Nunez dished out four assists, and Jailyn Brown recorded three blocks and two steals.

Somonauk/Leland dropped a 49-44 decision to Amboy. Ashley McCoy, Ella Roberts and Alexa Larson combined for 29 points while shooting 10 of 17 from the field and 4 of 5 from the free-throw line. Abby Hohman scored six points, and Leah Norris grabbed eight rebounds in the loss.

Earlville picked up a 30-24 win over Hiawatha behind a double-double from Bailey Miller, who scored 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Audrey Scherer finished with seven points and 14 rebounds, while Jacey Helgesen added seven points, seven rebounds and two assists.

Newark lost 78-20 to Marquette.

Boys’ Wrestling

Plano wrestlers Liam Soyk and Noah Vega each recorded individual wins at Reed-Custer High School, but the Reapers were unable to secure a team victory.

Girls’ Wrestling

Kaneland lost 47-36 to DeKalb. Bella Gruber earned a win at 130 pounds for the Knights, while Alexis Zahlit and Sadie Kinsella also recorded victories at 170 and 190 pounds, respectively.

Yorkville fell 48-30 to Romeoville and 36-30 to Sandwich at a triangular hosted by Romeoville High School.

Football

Oswego High School head football coach Brian Cooney was selected to coach in the Navy All-American Bowl on Saturday, Jan. 10, in San Antonio, Texas. Cooney will serve as the linebackers coach and defensive coordinator for the West team. The game will be played at the Alamodome and broadcast live on NBC with a 12:30 p.m. Central kickoff, with streaming available on Peacock.

IHSA BOYS BASKETBALL ASSOCIATED PRESS POLL

According to the latest IHSA boys basketball Associated Press poll released Wednesday, Kaneland is ranked No. 4 in Class 3A with 70 points. The Knights trail East St. Louis, Kankakee and MacArthur in the rankings and sit 11 points ahead of No. 5 Centralia.

Yorkville Christian also appeared in the latest poll, checking in at No. 5 in Class 2A. The Mustangs trail Quincy Notre Dame, Manual, Warrensburg-Latham and Teutopolis. Yorkville Christian is two points behind Teutopolis and six points ahead of West Hancock.

UPCOMING WSPY VARSITY BASKETBALL BROADCASTS

WSPY will carry three high school varsity basketball broadcasts this weekend. On Friday, Jan. 9, Kaneland travels to Sycamore for an Interstate 8 Conference boys basketball matchup with tipoff set for 7 p.m. 

On Saturday, Jan. 10, WSPY will be at Somonauk High School to help “Pack the Place” as the Bobcats host Sandwich. The girls game tips off at 5 p.m., followed by the boys game at 7:15 p.m. All three games will air live on 107.1 FM WSPY, and the games will be streamed online at wspynews.com.

UPCOMING CONTESTS/EVENTS

Sandwich High School is offering fans a chance to win $10,000 through its half-court shot challenge this basketball season. For $10, fans can enter the contest, with the drawing held after the final home varsity girls basketball game on Feb. 11 and the winning shot taken during the final home varsity boys game on Feb. 18. Tickets are available at remaining home games or through the Sandwich High School athletic office. Proceeds support Sandwich High School clubs and activities. The contest is open to the public, excluding current or former professional players and anyone who has played college basketball within the past five years.

Oswego High School will host the annual Communities Versus Cancer event on Saturday, Feb. 7. The all-day event begins at 9 a.m. and features six basketball games between the Oswego Panthers and Yorkville Foxes, concluding with the varsity boys game at 5:30 p.m. All games will be played in the main gym, and a blood drive will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the field house.