SportShorts for Thursday, March 10, 2022

Area well-represented on AP All-State team

Six boys basketball players from the Sauk Valley were honored on the Associated Press All-State Team, announced Wednesday.

Dixon, Sterling, Newman, Eastland, Fulton and Bureau Valley were all represented on the team, voted on by a panel of sportswriters throughout Illinois.

Eastland senior Kellen Henze was a first-team pick in Class 1A, and Newman senior Marcus Williams was named to the second team. Fulton sophomore Baylen Damhoff was an honorable mention selection.

In Class 3A, Dixon senior Jacob Gaither and Sterling junior JP Schilling were named honorable mention, while Bureau Valley senior Carter Salisbury was an honorable mention pick in 2A.

BNC announces all-conference teams

The Big Northern Conference released the lists of its all-conference players for boys and girls basketball on Wednesday.

On the boys side, Dixon senior Jacob Gaither was the only local named to the first team, while Rock Falls senior Booker Cross was a second-team selection. Dixon senior Riley Abell, Oregon senior Isaac Reber, and Rock Falls sophomore Ayden Goff were named honorable mention.

For the girls, Dixon senior Sam Tourtillott was a first-team pick, while junior teammate Harvest Day and Rock Falls senior Mallory Pinske were second-team selections. Dixon senior Rylee Pfoutz, Oregon junior Hadley Lutz, and Rock Falls junior Brooke Howard were named honorable mention.

Roby hits double-figures again for Thunder

Dixon native Isaiah Roby was back in the starting lineup for the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night, and he scored 12 points in a 142-115 loss at home to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Roby, who missed Sunday’s game against the Jazz with lower back soreness, shot 5-for-7 from the field (including 1-for-2 from 3-point range) and hit his only free throw for his 12 points. He added three rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot.

Roby also started for the ninth time in his last 11 games played on Wednesday night, as the Thunder visited the Minnesota Timberwolves. He finished with 15 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals in 36 minutes, shooting 5-for-9 from the field (1-for-4 on 3s) and 4-for-8 from the free-throw line. Oklahoma City lost 132-102.

The Thunder will play next on Sunday evening as they host the Memphis Grizzlies at 6 p.m.