The Pantagraph Bloomington, IL

Central Catholic Scores Just Enough

BLOOMINGTON - Defense was a constant Thursday night at the Central Catholic High School Gym. Offense was far more sporadic, and the host Saints found just enough to defeat Eureka, 46-38, in a Corn Belt Conference girls basketball game. The closest thing to an offensive flurry came in the third quarter from Central freshman guard Allie Norton, who scored eight points in a 51-second span. Norton hit back-to-back 3-pointers and added a layup after a steal, pushing a 25-20 advantage to 33-20.

Seibring's Late Free Throw Makes Winner of Nchs

A Katy Seibring free throw with 0.7 seconds remaining gave the Normal Community High School girls basketball team its first victory of the season in a 50-49 victory over Decatur MacArthur in a Big 12 Conference game at Normal Thursday. The Ironmen (1-6, 1-3) got off to a slow start and trailed 28-18 at the half before rallying to outscore the Generals 14-6 in the third quarter to pull within 34-32.

Eureka Girls Claim 7-3a Title

ASSUMPTION - Eureka blanked Paris Mayo in the fourth quarter to claim the Illinois Elementary School Association Class 7-3A state basketball championship Thursday. The game had been tied at 20-20 at halftime and 24-24 after three quarters.

Bloomington Girls Fall in 7-4a Title Game

NORMAL - Springfield Franklin set an Illinois Elementary School Association single-game scoring record in a 77-34 victory over Bloomington in the Class 7-4A state championship basketball game Thursday. Hope Walker led Bloomington (21-4) with nine points. Shayla Rodgers added seven.

Illini's Pruitt Limited by Sprained Ankle

CHAMPAIGN - Injuries are nothing new in the world of University of Illinois basketball. But for every ache and pain that comes to Brian Randle, and every raw blister and muscle pull that finds Chester Frazier, there's another day of production for center Shaun Pruitt.

Bowl Tickets Could Beavailable On Tuesday

CHAMPAIGN - It looks as if there may be some Rose Bowl tickets available for the general public when they go on sale to University of Illinois football fans at 9 a.m., Tuesday. The university received an allotment of 25,000 tickets for the Jan. 1 game against Southern California. Tickets went on sale Monday for donors, season ticket holders and students and more than 18,000 of those tickets had been sold by Thursday morning.

Ridgeview Rallies by Epg

The Ridgeview High School girls basketball team rallied to outscore El Paso-Gridley 20-15 in the second half and 9-6 in the fourth quarter to eke out a 39-37 victory in a Heart of Illinois Conference game Thursday at El Paso. The Titans led 22-19 at the half and 31-30 heading to the fourth quarter before a Katie Hardman basket with 2:37 to play gave the Mustangs a 38-35 lead. Maggie Murphy scored to pull EPG within 38- 37 with 2:20 left before an Amanda Thompson free throw with 24 seconds to ...

Nchs Grad's Season Stalled by Injury

A breakout junior season for North Central forward Chris Drennan has been interrupted by a broken hand. Cardinals coach Todd Raridon said Thursday the Normal Community High School graduate will miss about six weeks after breaking his right (shooting) hand in practice earlier this week.

Sprinter's Comeback Dreamson the Line at Isu Track Meet

NORMAL - The stage is set for either a train wreck or the feel good story of the year at Saturday's Redbird Open indoor track and field meet at Horton Field House. Running unattached in the 10:30 a.m. men's 60-meter dash prelims - after eight years away from the sport - will be Casey Combest, 27, of Henderson, Ky.

Thunder Essentials

Prairie Thunder at Generals Time: 6:30 p.m. today

Hudson Rises Up

NORMAL - While she was an all-stater in her own right at Naperville Central High School, Tiffany Hudson was often overlooked playing alongside superstar teammate Candace Parker. In her first three seasons with the Illinois State women's basketball team, Hudson was a solid but unspectacular performer.

Minor Injuries Will Be Tough to Sell to New Coach

It just became more difficult to sit out a practice if you're a Bloomington Extreme player. It certainly became more difficult to miss a game with Thursday's hiring of Kenton Carr as head coach of the United Indoor Football team. No need to go to Carr with a bruised shin, a sore wrist, a tender ankle. They won't get you time off.

Extreme Puts Carr Behind Wheel

BLOOMINGTON - Passing on candidates with coaching experience, the Bloomington Extreme went for continuity by giving its former backup quarterback Kenton Carr his first head coaching job Thursday. The Bloomington native, 38, replaces Ted Schmitz, who became the United Indoor Football team's assistant general manager on Nov. 13. Schmitz, who had been coaching and recruiting, will focus on recruiting.

Intercity Boys Capsules

Intercity boys capsules Urbana vs. Bloomington