The Tornado girls basketball team pulled out a thrilling 57-54 win against Mt. Zion in the penultimate game of the Thanksgiving Tournament.  The game was close throughout and within one score for much of the final minutes. 

Taylorville scored the game's first eight points but Mt. Zion responded, drawing level before the home side went up four points to end the first quarter.  The next two quarters finished with Tornado leads of three and four points, respectively. 

The Braves struggled from beyond the arc in the first half, attempting many such shots with no success.  That changed in the second half, with Ava Anderson hitting four three-point shots of her side's six.  The three helped put Mt. Zion ahead on two occasions, each by a point.

Mt. Zion stayed within striking distance of Taylorville for much of the fourth quarter, including several possessions of their own down just a point.  However, mistakes - including a travel call in the final seconds - let them down.

Taylorville was strong in the paint, especially through Grace Rogers.  She hit ten free throws as part of a 22-point performance, earning herself the title of Chill Nicole Patrick Country Financial Player of the Game.  Baileigh Jackson - who was Taylorville's top scorer each of the previous three games - had 14, while Ava Anderson led the way across both teams with 24 points. 

The Tornadoes improve to 3-1 and are scheduled to face Civic Memorial tomorrow at 5 p.m. for the Thanksgiving Tournament title.  Mt. Zion is now 3-3, with the losses following the wins.  They are up against Rochester tomorrow. 

The Taylorville Tornadoes girls basketball team opened their season with a full slate of games in the Thanksgiving Tournament, starting the season 2–1 after a tough opener followed by two strong bounce-back performances.

Taylorville dropped their first game of the season last Friday, falling 51–36 to Hillsboro. The Tornadoes struggled out of the gate as the Hilltoppers built an early 8–0 lead before Baileigh Jackson got Taylorville on the board with a three. Taylorville cut the deficit to three, but foul trouble for veteran starter Grace Rogers forced lineup adjustments and slowed their momentum. Hillsboro led 14–10 after one and pushed that to 27–15 by halftime. Taylorville made a strong push in the third to get within one possession, but Hillsboro’s Amaya Greenwood helped the Hilltoppers rebuild a double-digit lead. The Tornadoes’ late comeback effort came up short as Hillsboro controlled the pace down the stretch, handing Taylorville a 51–36 loss. Baileigh Jackson was named The Chill Nicole Patrick Country Financial Player of the game. 

But the Tornadoes responded in a big way in their second game—a rematch of last year’s regional semifinal—taking down Rochester in a dramatic 37–32 overtime win. Taylorville trailed 18–7 at halftime and fell behind by as many as 18 points in the third before Baileigh Jackson sparked a furious comeback with back-to-back threes. Freshman Reagan Funderburk helped chip the margin to 10 heading into the fourth. Jackson added another three midway through the quarter, and with 92 seconds left, Taylorville grabbed its first lead at 30–29. Rochester forced overtime after sinking three free throws with 21 seconds left, but in the extra period Taylorville’s defense took over. Thea Suslee hit a key free throw, giving Taylorville the only point they needed as the Tornadoes shut out Rochester in OT to earn a gritty 37–32 victory. Grace Rogers was named The Chill Nicole Patrick Country Financial Player of the game. 

Taylorville carried that momentum into Saturday’s matchup with Jacksonville, dominating start to finish in a 61–24 rout. A smothering defense and fast-paced offense pushed the Tornadoes to a 19–8 lead after one and a 38–13 advantage at halftime. Another 19-point quarter in the third gave Taylorville a 57–19 lead heading into a running-clock fourth quarter, where they cruised to the 61–24 win. Thea Suslee was named The Chill Nicole Patrick Country Financial Player of the game.

The Tornadoes now sit at 2–1 in the Thanksgiving Tournament and will close out the week with matchups against Mt. Zion on Friday and Civic Memorial on Saturday.

As heard on Genuine Country 94.3 WMKR…

Central A&M – 38 vs. Raymond-Lincolnwood – 30

Seitz Funeral Homes Player of the Game: #31 Kloee Dial (13 points)

Central A&M Girls Basketball improves to 2-1 on the young season. Kloee Dial led the Raiders with 13 points and a game sealing layup to put the Raiders up by 8 in the 4th quarter. Olivia Kerby poured on the second half offense with multiple threes and trips to the free throw line, she finished with 11 on the night.

Next game: Central A&M @ Argenta-Oreana (11/25/2025)

Taylorville Senior Malique Pearse was recognized as the Taylorville High School football Player of the Year sponsored by WTIM & Nicole Patrick, Your Country Financial Agent on Sunday evening. Malique, a wide receiver, led the team in receiving yards per game, total touchdowns, and receiving touchdowns.

Pearse credited his teammates and how much he loves the game for this award. 

Pearse says to him, scoring a touchdown is his happy place. 

Pearse praised his parents and thanked many of his coaches. 

Pearse won player of the game twice this year: Freeburg and Mattoon.  Also honored were the other players of the game this season, including Owen Mateer, Lane Riva, Blake Ladage, Isaac Repscher, Jackie Cargle, Wyatt Younker, Ben Peabody, Maddex Havera, and Cameron Smith.  Regional Radio News salutes the Taylorville Football team on a very successful season. 

The Lake Land College Lakers volleyball team clinched the 2025-2026 Region XXIV Championship by defeating the Vincennes University Trailblazers on Sunday, Nov. 2.

The Lakers jumped to an early advantage in the match and secured the win in four sets, 25-19, 25-20, 25-27, 29-27. The victory marked an impressive upset for the third-seeded Lakers over the top-seeded Trailblazers, who were looking to clinch their fifth consecutive Region XXIV title. For Lake Land, the victory marks the College’s first Region XXIV Championship since 2014.

“We’re incredibly proud of our volleyball team for capping off another strong year with this impressive victory,” Director of Athletics Bill Jackson said. “Our Laker teams across all sports have enjoyed a lot of recent success, and this is just the latest example of the hard work and dedication our athletes, coaches, trainers and staff across the College have put in to making Lake Land a top-tier destination for community college athletes.” 

Lake Land opened the tournament on Saturday, Nov. 1 against Frontier Community College, defeating the Bobcats 3-1 before besting John A. Logan College 3-0 to reach the championship round.

The 2025-2026 Lake Land College Volleyball team consists of the following student-athletes.