Bailey Herr going to girls state

By KEVIN HIERONYMUS khieronymus@bcrnews.com

Putnam County-Hall’s Bailey Herr earned a berth to the girls state wrestling tournament out of the Geneseo Sectional by placing in the top four on Saturday, Feb. 11.

After losing in the 170-pound semifinals to eventual champion Nydia Martinez of Joliet Catholic, Herr bounced back with a 49-second pin in the wrestleback.

In the third-place match, Herr pinned Minooka’s Sidney Ray in 4:25.

The state tournament is Feb. 24-25 in Bloomington.

Girls Basketball

Newark 32, Putnam County 19: The Lady Panthers lost to the Norseman in a nonconference game in Granville in a potential regional title game preview Wednesday, Feb. 8.

Putnam County is the No. 2 seed in the sub-sectional, while Newark is No. 3. Both teams will compete in the Class 1A Putnam County Regional next week.

Ava Hatton led the Panthers with

AT PUTNAM COUNTY (1A)

Team(s) to beat: (2) Putnam County (21-9), (3) Newark (21-7)

Saturday, Feb. 11 – (9) Midland 26, (10) Henry-LW 24 (6) St. Bede 55, (11) DePue 12

Mon., Feb. 13: Game 3 – (2) Putnam County vs. (9) Midland (9-22)

Game 4 – (3) Newark vs. (6) St. Bede (9-20)

Thursday, Feb. 16: Championship – Winners 3-4, 7 p.m.

At a glance: Newark just scored a 32-19 win Wednesday on the Lady Panthers’ home court in a probable title-game preview. PC coach Jared Sale said the regular season matchup would be a “chess match” in which neither team wanted to show much. “My initial thought was I absolutely do not like having to see them twice in 10 days,” Sale said. “The more I thought about it, I actually like it a little better. It really gives you a chance to see what they’re going to do against you. Part of our job as a coaching staff is to find a way to exploit things we see and make some adjustments.” However, Sale is not looking past the semifinal game against Midland. The Lady Panthers have beaten Midland three times. Last year, PC beat Midland three times in the regular nine points, while Maggie Richetta added seven points and six rebounds.

Boys Basketball

Putnam County 56, Henry-Senachwine 39: Austin Mattingly scored 18 points to lead the Panthers to a Tri-County Conference victory at Senior Night on Friday, Feb. 10. Jackson McDonald had a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds for PC.

Girls Basketball Preview

Lady Bruins, who reached the regional finals last year, would have to get past Newark to return.

Last year’s regional finals: Newark 64, St. Bede 35

Next: The regional winner advances to the Serena Sectional to play the Des Plaines winner (Willows Academy is 1 seed) on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m.

Other Area Regionals

At Amboy (1A): Team to beat – (1) Amboy (24-4).

At Dwight (1A): Team to beat – (1) Serena (22-8). Area team: (4) Marquette (15-16).

At Wethersfield (1A): Team to beat – (2) Brimfield (20-9). Area teams: (3) Annawan (22-7), (6) Wethersfield (19-12).

At Bureau Valley (2A): Team to beat – (2) Princeton (26-4). Other area team: (5) Hall (17-13), (9) Bureau Valley (15-15).

Boys Basketball Postseason Pairings

Putnam County will host a boys Class 1A Sectional.

The No. 3 Panthers will play out of the Dwight Regional, opening with a home game at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18 vs. No. 13 South Holland Unity Christian Academy.

Here’s a look at area postseason pairings:

Putnam County Sectional

Tue., Feb. 28

Game 1 at 7 p.m.: Winner Chicago Corliss Regional vs. Winner Dwight Regional

Wed., Mar. 1

Game 2 at 7 p.m.: Winner Midland Regional vs. Winner Chicago Horizon/Southwest Chicago) Regional

Fri., Mar. 3

Game 3 at 7 p.m.: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

Dwight Regional

Sat., Feb. 18

Game 1 at TBA: (14) Chicago Morgan Park Academy at (2) Serena

Game 2 at TBA: (8) Gardner (G.-South Wilmington) at (7)

Dwight

Game 3 at 6 p.m.: (13) South Holland Unity Christian Academy at (3) Putnam County

Game 4 at 1 p.m.: (9) Chicago Fenger at (5) Yorkville Christian

Wed., Feb. 22

Game 5 at 6 p.m.: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

Game 6 at 7:30 p.m.: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4

Fri., Feb. 24

Game 7 at 7 p.m.: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6

Midland Regional

Sat., Feb. 18

Game 1 at 2 p.m.: (11) Streator Woodland at (10) St. Bede

Game 2 at TBA: (15) DePue at (4) Midland

Game 3 at TBA: (12) Henry at (6) Newark

Wed., Feb. 22 season before losing to the Timberwolves in the regional. “You just never know when you have to play a team that many times,” Sale said. “All it takes is one bad night by you or one good one for them.” ... St. Bede ended the regular season on a high note with a 44-42 win over Ridgeview and opened the regional with a 55-12 route over DePue. The

At Wilmington (2A): Team to beat –(1) Fieldcrest (28-3). Other area team: (4) Seneca (21-9).

At Dixon (3A): Team to beat – (1) Dixon (26-5). Other area team: (7) Sterling (3-26).

At Ottawa (3A): Team to beat – (1) Geneseo (25-6). Other area teams: (4) Ottawa (24-6), (6) La Salle-Peru (16-13), (9) Streator (4-27).

Game 4 at 6 p.m.: (1) Ottawa Marquette vs. Winner Game 1

Game 5 at 7:30 p.m.: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3

Fri., Feb. 24

Game 6 at 7 p.m.: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5