Skyhawks sweep Kish; Oregon wrestling wins twice

The Sauk Valley Skyhawks men’s basketball team stepped up the defense in the second half on Thursday in a 71-59 win over Kishwaukee at Sauk Valley Community College.

The score was tied at 40 at halftime, but the Skyhawks (16-4, 4-0 Arrowhead) held the Kougars to 19 points after the break.

“We didn’t change anything defensively, we just upped the intensity more,” Sauk coach Russ Damhoff said.

Matt Ross had 16 points, seven blocks, six assists and only two turnovers. Ryne Vrana had 14 points and five second-half rebounds. Mike Mann added 15 points.

Women’s basketball

Sauk Valley 52, Kishwaukee 48: The Skyhawks picked up a big Arrowhead conference win at home.

Lydia Box made four 3-pointers and scored a game-high 18 points. Holly Nicklaus chipped in 14 points and 10 rebounds for Sauk (13-6, 2-2), while Shamika Williams had nine points, 11 rebounds and eight assists.

Wrestling

Oregon sweeps two at home: The Hawks beat AFC 68-12 and Futon 63-12 in a meet at the Blackhawk Center. AFC edged Fulton 37-35 in the other dual.

Bailey Hoover (132 pounds) and Casey Howard (170, 182) were the only Hawks to win two contested matches. Howard earned two pins, while Hoover had a pin an 8-5 decision over AFCs Josh Kaecker.

Matt Nelson (152) had two pins for AFC. Fulton’s Ethan Jones (138) won by pin and technical fall for Fulton.

Amboy splits TRAC triangular: The Clippers beat Kewanee 46-16, but lost to Riverdale 45-33 in a pair of duals in Amboy.

Amboy’s double-winners in contested matches were Collin Doege (113) and Trevor Ulrich (126).

West Carroll wins two on road: The Thunder topped Polo-Forreston 54-18 and Durand-Pecatonica 59-12 in Polo. The Marcos lost to Durand-Pecatonica 46-24.

West Carroll had three wrestlers pick up two wins in contested matches. Morgan Hartman (145) and Jacob Klein (182) each had two pins, while Jeff Casey (120) had a pin and a technical fall.

Kenyon Janicke (170) was the lone Marco to earn two contested wins.