The beat goes on for the PORTA-AC Central Lady Bluejay basketball team as they picked up four more wins last week to move to 9-0 on the season. The girls knocked off Pittsfield and North Fulton on the road before winning twice on Saturday over Carlinville and Sullivan in the Red Kettle Showcase at Lincoln Land College.
It was a quiet week for the PORTA-AC Central boys’ basketball team with just one game on the docket.
The Jays welcomed the Havana Ducks to Ashland last Friday then sent them home on the wrong end of a 55 to 32 score, outscoring them in every quarter.
The A-C Central FFA chapter attended the National FFA convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. Students attended leadership sessions, listened to keynote speakers, and toured local agriculture attractions. Pictured (L to R) front: Mallory Guillou, Abby Taft, Keagan Dale, Tara Taft, Karissa Thaxton. Back: Griffin McClure, Leland English, Camden Hays, Ethan Mahoney, Wyatt Ratliff, and Riley Green.
There is little doubt that new PORTA-AC boys’ basketball coach Steven Price would have loved to win the Championship at the Saukee Turkey Tournament but he’s surely proud of his team after the Bluejays came away with a 3-1 record and the Sportsmanship Award. Only a frustrating loss to the host Saukees in game three kept the Jays from going unbeaten and hoisting the first-place trophy.
The PORTA-AC Central Lady Bluejays won both of their games last week to remain unbeaten and push their record to 5-0 on the season.
The Bluejays found themselves in a dogfight to open the week at home against Dunlap. PORTA-AC jumped to a 14-11 first quarter lead and extended it to 29 to 19 at the half. The Eagles would not go quietly though and outscored the Jays 13 to 5 in the third to cut the lead to just one basket at 34 to 32. A high scoring fourth quarter saw the Bluejays outscore the Eagles 16 to 14 to secure the 50 to 46 victory.
It took an exciting overtime victory over Deer Creek Mackinaw in game two, but the PORTA-AC Central Lady Bluejays are the 2023 Clinton Turkey Tussle Champions. An opening game win over Decatur St. Teresa and a Saturday victory over Stanford Olympia gave the Bluejays the title and a 3-0 start.
Entering his tenth and final year, retiring PORTA-AC Central head basketball coach Eric Kesler (overall record of 165-71) is hoping to go out on a high note and he has the weapons at his disposal to do so.
With last year’s head mentor, Colin Arthalony, deciding to ride out on the coattails of his departing senior son (and who can blame him) and all stater Gavin, the PORTA-AC Central boys’ basketball will enter a new era. Steven Price, a 2017 Buffalo Tri-City graduate, will take over as head coach, comfortable in the fact that a winning environment is already in place at PORTA-AC, stating “if you have a culture, you can do some great things and I’m lucky I don’t really have to reinvent the culture,” Price said. “I just hope to add to it.”
Arenzville - Christmas in the Village: Nov. 25, 1-4 p.m. - Santa Claus will be at Isaac's Coffee Shop. Hot chocolate bar and cookie decorating will be at Trinity Lutheran Church/School. Christmas activites and caroling will be at the Methodist Church. Snow Globe crafts with St. Peter's Church will be at Village Hall. Vendors will be on site through out the event. A Tree Lighting Ceremony will conclude the event at Burgoo Park.
The Beardstown seventh and eighth grade boys’ basketball teams each picked up their first win of the season in an exciting night of basketball at home against AC-Central.
The younger boys jumped out to an early lead and cruised to the win. The Tigers led 10 to 3 after one an