Area Roundup: Fieldcrest basketball, Coach Matt Winkler reach 600-win milestone

TREMONT — The Fieldcrest Knights boys basketball program — and the only head coach in program history, Matt Winkler — reached 600 victories Saturday with a 69-39 road triumph over Heart of Illinois Conference foe Tremont.

The Knights [6-1] were in control throughout, leading by 13 at the halftime break and 19 heading into the fourth quarter.

Andrew May [14 points], Henry Lorton [11], Cory Land [10], Jaxon Cusac-McKay [10] and Noah Nordstrom [nine points] led the Fieldcrest offense.

The 600 victories placed Winkler in top 50 in IHSA history. He has been Fieldcrest’s head coach since the formation of the school in 1992-93, capturing 14 regional and two sectional titles, including one of each last season.

Flanagan-Cornell 60, Lexington 58: At Lexington, the visiting Falcons [6-6, 5-3 HOIC] carried a dozen-point lead into the fourth quarter and held on for the league “W.”

JD Ruddy scored nine of FCHS’s 11 fourth-quarter points on his way to a game-high 28. William Weber tallied 11 points, with Chancesaye Maxon adding nine.

Streator 66, Reed-Custer 46: At Braidwood, the visiting Bulldogs snapped a two-game schnide with the Saturday road win, leading by five after three and then taking command with a 28-point fourth quarter ignited by A.J. Benning’s 18 last-quarter points — including a made-for-social-media 3-pointer where he turned around and celebrated with his teammates while the shot was still hoop-bound.

A.J. Benning finished with a game-best 24 points, Amarion Ford scored 16, and freshman call-up Christian Benning scored eight for the Bulldogs [5-2, 3-2 IC8], who are scheduled to return to The Pops on Tuesday to host Manteno.

Seneca 42, Henry-Senachwine 32: At Henry, it wasn’t the prettiest win, but it was a win — and a Tri-County Conference road win at that — for the Fighting Irish on Saturday.

Seneca trailed 23-20 at the break, but held the Mallards scoreless in the third to take control. AJ Stiegler and Given Siegel each scored seven points, with Dominic Traina and Chase Hauch adding five apiece for the Irish [5-3].

Roanoke-Benson 62, Woodland 20: At Roanoke, the state-ranked Rockets weren’t able to completely shake the visiting Warriors until the second half, leading just 12-8 after one quarter and 29-14 at halftime.

Phoenix Cooper scored 11 points and Sean Bundy five for WHS.

Hinckley-Big Rock 59, Earlville 41: On Saturday morning, the Red Raiders fell to 2-2 [2-1 Little Ten] with the defeat. Griffin Cook led Earlville with 12 points.

Newark 51, Serena 30: At Newark, the hosts won their fourth straight with Jared Slivka netting a game-high 18 points and Austin Tollefson adding 10. Serena received nine points from Hunter Muffler and seven courtesy of Camden Figgins.

The Norsemen are now 5-1 [3-0 Little Ten].

Girls basketball

Roanoke-Benson 60, Marquette 54: At Roanoke, the Lady Crusaders battled but came up short despite Lilly Craig’s 14 points and 10 rebounds. Eva McCallum added 10 points, Josie Eager nine and Miah Ferracuti eight for MA.

Seneca 55, Henry-Senachwine 40: At Seneca, the host Lady Irish improved to 7-0 overall [5-0 Tri-County Conference] with another tour de force triumph.

Madi Bromberek with 16 points, Addie Eltrevoog with 11, Kennedy Hartwig with 10, Brooklyn Giertz with eight and Addie Olson with five paced the Lady Irish.

Tremont 58, Fieldcrest 50: At Tremont in a battle of unbeatens, the Lady Knights [7-1] suffered their first loss of the season to Tremont [7-0] in part due to 12-of-30 free-throw shooting and 30 turnovers. Sophomore Ashlyn May led FHS with 15 points, six steals and five rebounds, while freshman Kaitlin White added 11 points and seven rebounds.

Streator 39, Reed-Custer 29: At Braidwood, the Lady Bulldogs [3-3 overall, 3-2 IC8] avenged one of their losses with the road win, dominating to a 12-a lead after one quarter and 27-8 by halftime.

Natali Haynes scored a game-best 15 points, with Anna Hoffmeyer adding nine and Jozie Cole tallying eight.

Boys bowling

Geneseo 3,559, Ottawa 3,141: At Dettore’s Town Lanes on Friday, Nelson Brandt rolled a 584 series [219 high game] and Ty Trovero a 580 [210], with Zander Parise adding a 221 high game in the Pirates’ loss.

Sophomore/JV boys basketball

Marquette 58, Putnam County 29: At Bader Gym, the Crusaders used a 22-4 second quarter to blow the game open. Tom Durdan led MA with 16 points, while Griffin Walker added 12 and Alex Graham nine.

Wyatt Grimshaw had 10 points and Austin Mattingly nine for the Panthers.

Sophomore/JV girls basketball

Roanoke-Benson 48, Marquette 14: At Roanoke, Lindsay Kaufman popped in eight points for the Lady Crusaders in the loss.

JV boys bowling

Geneseo 2,283, Ottawa 1,912: At Ottawa, the Corsairs received a 441 [162] from Aaron Goff and a 449 [159] courtesy of Landon Mcalpine.