John Supowitz of Coach and Company wonders if Shedeur Sanders' play style might have hurt his draft stock considering the way many franchises are shifting to more mobile or true dual-threat quarterbacks ARCOLA — Mike Phillips and Jeff Thomas had coached together at the high school level but when they had sons of their own they decided to take a stab at youth coaching the dads wanted a travel team nearby so they created the Illinois Black Sox a travel team that had a team last year and had a couple of teams throughout their sons' youth “I think it was 12 years when we first started When you develop the bonds with the parents the players were going to start moving in different directions just to benefit them Arcola's Braden Phillips poses for a portrait at Kelly Moore Memorial Park in Arcola on Monday Phillips and Thomas are coaching both of their sons at the high school level in another stint at Arcola After Thomas was the head coach and Phillips was an assistant they switched roles for this run where their sons have starred Phillips has two sons on this year’s team in Brody and Braden and the Purple Riders are off to a 13-0 start and are favorites for another regional title Jeff's got a tremendous background in baseball And so just being able to learn from him and develop those attributes has been awesome.” Thomas was a former assistant and pitching coach at Illinois and Butler and his son Tanner is one of the state’s top players as a senior and will play at Louisville next season he’s given up just one unearned run and three hits in 21 innings with 50 strikeouts Brody Phillips has a 1.05 ERA in 20 innings to provide a pitching combo that gives Arcola a chance at a deep run so they do all play the same sport,” Phillips said Arcola senior Tanner Thomas poses for a portrait at Kelly Moore Memorial Park in Arcola on Monday Brody and Tanner combined with Braden to have a successful basketball season last year and also were a part of the team’s Sweet 16 basketball appearance two years ago They’ll have a chance at a similar run on the diamond Brody worked hard to get where he's at,” Phillips said “Started as a freshman in a basketball team it's just been a blessing to be able to watch that and experience it as a dad.” Other key contributors have been Brevyn Whisman who has pitched quality innings with a team-high five homers at the plate who has 11 stolen bases and 19 runs scored He missed most of last season due to injury Jackson Griffith has also cemented an everyday spot in the lineup That group has been the most dominant team in the area this season and it’s taking it a day at a time before the postseason gets here “We're trying not to get distracted from the main focus and playing deep into postseason,” Phillips said so I'm sure that's probably when it'll hit home.” Email notifications are only sent once a day John Supowitz of Coach and Company wonders if Shedeur Sanders' play style might have hurt his draft stock considering the way many franchises … Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account Rain showers this evening with clearing overnight Several teams put up big offensive numbers on a busy preps Thursday Brevyn Whisman drove in eight runs and hit a pair of home runs to key the Purple Riders (13-0) past the Titans (4-10) in Lincoln Prairie Conference play with Brody Phillips adding three hits and Braden Phillips garnering two hits to round out a triumphant effort A run in the sixth inning and another in the seventh inning helped the Knights (9-8) put away the Hawks (4-11) in Lincoln Prairie Conference play with John Williams and Marcus Otto tallying two hits apiece and Maxton Boddy striking out 10 batters to secure the home win Aiden Bell had two hits and Caleb Clutteur hit a double to lead the Bearcats (9-10) in an interstate road loss Thomas Vandeventer had two hits — including a double — while Cooper Clark struck out seven batters to lead the Blue Devils (5-9) in a nonconference loss to the Pirates Nolan Sanderson and Max Young hit home runs for the Bulldogs (10-4) in a dominant road victory Austin Wike and Nolan Johnson collecting two hits apiece to round out a strong offensive showing Logan Wade had three hits for the Sabers (6-13) Two hits apiece from Luke McClure and Ben McDaniel led the Maroons (11-10-1) on offense while Tre Cole chipped in six strikeouts to a nine-inning road loss Ike Young hit a home run and Dawson Gaitros garnered two hits to lead the Sages (17-3) to an Illini Prairie Conference win against the Panthers on their home turf Monticello starter Hayden Romano struck out nine batters Jackson Dudley collected three hits and Brandt Hobick and Carsen Dudley had two hits apiece to lead the Comets (10-9) to an interstate win on their home field Four hits apiece from Bryson Houchens and Coy Taylor two hits apiece from Logan Rosenthal and Jared Altenbaumer and eight strikeouts from Asher Pruemer lifted the Spartans (18-2) past the host Indians in an Illini Prairie Conference game Two-hit days from Austin Morris and James Newell helped the Warriors (2-9) dispatch the Dragons in nonconference play with Frankie Shervino hitting a double and Mason Galyen striking out three batters to help the Warriors' cause Chance Quick had four hits and Ben Johnson had three hits to power the Tigers (15-1) to a win in Indiana with Matthew Darling totaling four strikeouts in four innings of work to help the winning cause Morgan Fleming and Lilly Long helped the Panthers (20-2) take down the host Bulldogs in a nonconference game Addison Lucht had a double and scored two runs while Kami Muehling struck out three batters and allowed seven hits in seven innings of work to lead the Bearcats (10-6) to an interstate win a double from Lucy Leatherwood and five strikeouts from Madison Highland helped the host Sages (15-4) cruise past the Panthers in IPC play with Joie Gallagher and Hallee Johnson collecting the Panthers' two hits Grace Osterbur hit a double in the seventh inning of an IPC game to break up a no-hitter from Stanford signee Elena Krause with Timera Blackburn-Kelley countering with a three-hit five-strikeout effort of her own in the circle for the Spartans (13-7) Izzy Dodd and Cameron McGaughey had three hits apiece and Hayden Thomas hit a triple to lead the Blue Devils (9-3) in a comfortable Lincoln Prairie Conference win against the host Hawks (0-13) Jayden Schrock and Lilly Perkins drove in runs for Heritage Izzy Lietz and Jaycee Fancher helped the Bulldogs (7-4-2) secure an Apollo Conference win against the Braves on their home field strikes from Vanya Zuniga and Megan Allen and an own goal led to the Sages (16-2) picking up a home win against the Trojans Thomas More defeated Urbana in a 7-2 decision that featured singles wins from Hunter Madigan (6-0 10-8) and doubles wins from Madigan and Jack Rentschler (6-3 Urbana's wins came from Theodore Nevins (6-3 Zion thanks to singles wins from Jameson LaFave (6-1 with doubles wins coming from Pan and Kyle Fan (6-2 Centennial and Urbana squared off in a girls' soccer match in Champaign on Thursday — sporting pink for a good cause Centennial played "beautiful soccer" to earn a shutout win over Urbana while raising breast cancer awareness Faces of Spring photo shoot at the News-Gazette in Champaign on Sunday  Faces of Spring photo shoot at the News-Gazette in Champaign on Sunday Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: This present-day Nigerian morality tale of sexual politics is adapted from Lola Shoneyin’s bestselling novel he has created a treat of exceptional theatre heightened and unabashed which cuts to the quick of the story The rich man Baba Segi already has three wives and seven children but he’s taken a fancy to university graduate Bolanle.  The young woman accepts his proposal much to her mother’s disgust comes the back story of how each of the first three wives came to marry Baba Segi his main objectives being to satisfy his lust and to procreate.  Each wife in turn is berated by Baba Segi for not getting pregnant Baba Segi wants to take her to the tribal doctor he reluctantly decides to take her to the hospital for tests instead With a mainly female black British audience (on the night I was there) it is a credit to the production that it captures the imagination so well with a true depiction of sex and family hierarchies.  The show benefits from many humorous moments with audiences not totally safe from Baba Segi’s lustful eye It is a show to enjoy to its fullest enhanced by the use of Yaruba music and dance with simple instruments and rhythmic movements interspersed throughout The lack of any set is certainly not missed as it would just prove to be an intrusion into this fertile show The magnificent cast multi-roles with exceptional attention to detail each movement is a depiction which offers clarity of experience without the ‘pretence’ of ‘acting’ a mention to the charming portrayal of the two young sons and there are so many other moments to enjoy and live in the mind for some time to come.  The show is a pure delight.  The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives Novel by Lola Shoneyin | Adapted by Rotimi Babatunde | Directed by Femi Elufowoju jr Femi Elufowoju jr is the founding artistic director of tiata fahodzi the UK's leading British African heritage contemporary theatre company What's on Reviews Articles Theatre News Pub theatre profiles Getting into Theatre SO Award Nominations LPT Award Winners LPT Awards 2022 in pictures Subscribe to Newsletter Advertise with us Getting into theatre Our Team Request a reviewer Contact We are very proud to announce that LONDON PUB THEATRES MAGAZINE is now an OFFIE AWARD WINNING publication A ONEOFF Special Award (February 2024) has been awarded to London Pub Theatres Magazine and Editor Heather Jeffery for providing a vital forum for highlighting the excellent work that happens in rooms in pubs and an acute sense of the importance of tiny fringe venues to the health and development of British Theatre London pub theatres magazine is published in Rickmansworth by London Pub Theatres Magazine Ltd  ISSN 2977-6724  Emma Bang of Academy of the Holy Angels competes in the girls golf NJSIAA state championships at Raritan Valley County Club in Bridgewater NJ on Tuesaday May 14 .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Craig Epstein | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comHoly Angels won the Arcola Invitational for the second straight year shooting a 114 to beat out Bergen Tech by 23 strokes at Arcola Country Club in Paramus and Holy Angels was led by Olivia Lee and Mikhayla Herrera The duos of Inha Jun and Emma Bang and Angelina Kim and Ava Bang shot a 39 to contribute to the Angels’ win while Northern Highlands placed sixth with a 161 The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter) Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices Enroll a Student: Contact Ellen Austin, Registrar PTA / PTOLearn how to participate/volunteer for our PTA/PTO program Principal Andrew Stevens41740 Tall Cedars ParkwayAldie, VA 201057039574390 Enroll a Student: Contact Ellen Austin, Registrar Office Phone: 703-957-4390Office Hours: 7:30 AM - 2:30 PM School Hours: 7:30 AM - 2:15 PMAttendance Phone: 703-957-4391 Learn how to participate/volunteer for our PTA/PTO program Welcome to the new Loudoun County Public Schools website updated look full of features and solutions that will improve your user experience Explore the user-friendly menu buttons for quick access to commonly used sections the events calendar and the improved search function Visitors are encouraged to explore the new changes and updates with patience and understanding and we apologize if you encounter any instances of downtime or unexpected issues Service for our rapid notification system has been restored after a short vendor technology outage this morning LCPS and Administrative Offices are closed Monday All activities on school campuses are canceled Monday Loudoun County Public Schools and Administrative Offices are closed on Tuesday All activities on school campuses are canceled on January 7 as well all schools serving as polling places will remain open unless otherwise announced by The Loudoun County Office of Elections The Annual School Board Organizational Meeting that is scheduled for Tuesday To the extent inclement weather makes it impracticable and unsafe for a quorum of the School Board to meet in person at the Administrative Building at that time the School Board will plan to hold such rescheduled meeting virtually to provide for the continuity of its operations additional information will be provided prior to that meeting Loudoun County Public Schools and Administrative Offices are closed Wednesday An announcement will be made by NOON on Wednesday if after school activities on campuses may take place Loudoun County Public Schools campuses will be allowed to reopen today Please check your school’s website for updates on canceled or confirmed activities Loudoun County Public Schools are on a 2-hour delay Thursday 9 with Administrative Offices opening on time Loudoun County Public Schools are on a 2-hour delay Friday January 10 with Administrative Offices opening on time Please check our website for specific program information to see how the delay could affect you After further assessment of neighborhood roads and sidewalks this evening after sunset we have determined that Loudoun County Public Schools will remain closed Thursday January 9 due to additional freezing and icy conditions Administrative offices will operate on a delayed schedule and will open at 10:00 a.m An announcement will be made by NOON on Thursday if after school activities on campuses may take place The Annual Loudoun County School Board Organizational Meeting Thank you for your understanding and stay safe Loudoun County Public Schools campuses will be closed today The Loudoun County School Board Organizational Meeting will continue as scheduled Loudoun County Public Schools campuses will be closed Saturday All activities on school campuses are canceled at this time Scheduled activities on school campuses may be allowed after 12:00 PM Please check our website for specific program information to see how the closure could affect you Loudoun County Public Schools campuses will remain closed today For the status of Loudoun County Parks and Recreation activities held in LCPS buildings, please visit: https://www.loudoun.gov/fieldstatus After the impacts of this past week’s inclement weather we wanted to let you know that LCPS will resume regular operations on Monday We appreciate everyone's flexibility and understanding during this time Please be assured that we checked road conditions with VDOT and other partners and our staff has worked diligently to ensure the safety and readiness of our facilities for students and staff All schools will operate on their regular schedules Buses will operate on their normal schedules Thank you for your patience and adaptability during the weather disruptions We look forward to welcoming our students and staff back to school Loudoun County Public Schools and Administrative Offices are closed Sunday All activities on school campuses are canceled Loudoun County Public Schools and Administrative Offices are scheduled to be closed Monday all activities on school campuses are canceled for Monday Loudoun County Public Schools are on a 2-hour delay on Thursday Please check your school’s website to see how the delay could affect you Loudoun County Public Schools campuses will be allowed to reopen today, January 21 beginning at 4:00 p.m. for scheduled activities. For the status of a particular event, please confirm the status with the event coordinator. For the status of Loudoun County Parks and Recreation activities held in LCPS buildings, please visit: https://www.loudoun.gov/fieldstatus Please be advised our team is currently surveying roads and a decision will be made later today regarding tomorrow Loudoun County Public Schools are on a 2-hour delay January 22 with Administrative Offices opening on time We will continue to monitor road conditions through the morning and will let families and staff know as soon as possible if anything changes please check your email or your school’s website at to see how the delay could affect you Due to the unpredictability of the current weather forecast and in an effort to give families ample time to plan Loudoun County Public Schools are on two-hour delay on Thursday with administrative offices opening on time all LCPS campuses will be closing at 9:00 p.m We appreciate your understanding and will continue to monitor conditions Loudoun County Public Schools will close three (3) hours early Tuesday due to the predicted afternoon snowfall for our area Schools will dismiss 3 hours early and all bus routes will operate three (3) hours earlier than their normal time All after-school activities are canceled for Tuesday Administrative Offices will also close 3 hours earlier than their scheduled time The School Board meeting scheduled for Tuesday will be rescheduled for Thursday February 13 with the work session starting at 4:30 p.m We will continue to monitor the weather and let you know if anything changes. As a reminder, optional snow day enrichment activities are available for your student at lcps.org/snowdayresources LCPS is aware that there is potential for precipitation in the form of snow and rain throughout the day Saturday We wanted to let you know we will remain open on Saturday especially as weather conditions can vary across the county and to check their school’s website for any updates to scheduled activities We will continue to closely monitor the weather and temperatures After surveying road conditions and deeming them suitable for travel We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work to ensure a smooth and safe return to school Please disregard the previous message you may have received about a Negative Balance on your student’s cafeteria meal account (LINQ Connect) It was sent out in error and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience To verify the balance in your child's account please log into https://linqconnect.com/ and you will be able to view the current balance If there are any issues with the parent portal LINQ Connect may be experiencing higher traffic due to this error and we request you check back tomorrow morning Once again we apologize for the inconvenience LCPS is closely monitoring the weather forecast which predicts light snow starting tomorrow morning We are currently operating on a normal schedule Thursday we will be sure to update you as soon as possible Thank you for your understanding as we continue to monitor any potential impacts of weather and road conditions Final Reminder: LCPS Annual Staff Survey Closing Soon The deadline to complete the LCPS Annual Staff Survey is March 21 Your voice matters—help us improve LCPS by sharing your feedback School-based staff, check your email for the survey link and submit your responses today! Need support? Contact Research@lcps.org or visit the Stakeholder Surveys 2025 Information webpage federal safety inspectors have fined Elmer Miller and his construction company based in Arcola Last year in Savoy and Mahomet, officials said in inspection documents that Miller had continued to repeatedly expose his workers to falls from unsafe heights. None of his employees had protection from a harness, guardrail or safety net system, the reports from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) said the administration fined Miller Building Systems LLC about $355,000 in penalties for the continued violations Miller is among the most fined roofing companies in Illinois “Elmer Miller’s repeated failure to follow federal workplace safety rules shows a disturbing disregard for his employee’s lives and well-being,” Edward Marshall, the Peoria area OSHA director, said in a press release Miller did not return four calls for comment He and his company have been cited for 65 violations in the past decade In total, there are 4,800 roofing companies licensed to work in Illinois, according to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Illinois officials inspected about 1,700 of these roofing businesses and fined them about $22 million During these inspections, officials found about 5,500 violations in about 2,500 inspections, according to the OSHA enforcement database officials found 2.2 violations per inspection with about 80% of inspections finding a violation In 2023, roofing had the second-highest death rate of any civilian profession nationwide.  According to an OSHA press release federal inspectors were met with hostility at one of Miller’s worksites the year prior Of Miller’s 65 violations, 26 came from a lack of fall protection. In 2023, this was also the most common violation officials found in the roofing industry nationwide The next five most common violations are the unsafe use of ladders general safety requirements and abatement verification General safety requirements lay out the general requirements employers must fulfill employee training and ensuring each employee has personal protective equipment When employees use equipment or perform actions with specific standards these standards override the general requirements Once a business is cited by OSHA, it has 15 working days to correct the violation or contest it. If the employer does not eliminate the workplace hazard within the given timeframe, they are found in violation of abatement verification which is the process an employer goes through to confirm their workplace follows safety guidelines In a 2019 inspection officials found Miller’s employees using an extension ladder to access a roof without the proper safety precautions The ladder’s rails did not extend three feet past the roof’s surface which exposed them to a fall greater than 10 feet Because officials already found Miller in violation of this standard over the past five years In comparison to single-instance violations repeat citations have their maximum penalty amount increased tenfold from about $16,500 to $165,000 in this case Within 15 working days of receiving a citation employers can schedule an informal conference with an OSHA area director If the employer can show they have taken steps toward remedying the problem “The informal conference presents a situation where the parties are attempting to resolve the case before the employer has to contest,” Philip Siegel then the two parties move into an administrative dispute resolution process Employers typically use one of two defenses during these hearings either they say no violation occurred or that their employee’s misconduct was unforeseeable the company needs to prove they provide sufficient training inspect their job sites to ensure the rules and trainings are understood administer effective discipline and have work rules that were violated by the employee “OSHA could have a smoking gun video or photographic evidence of a violation,” Siegel said “But if the employer can prove unforeseeable employee misconduct even when there’s actually been a violation.” When the company does not have a good defense it can try to compromise with OSHA and promise to improve their safety program this depends much more on the official they are negotiating with “Every area office has its own area director They don’t have the same personality,” Siegel said “Some are more willing to work with the employer and others are not.” Rotimi Babatunde’s stage adaptation of the Lola Shoneyin novel runs until 31 May Sophia A Jackson Leading man Patrice Naiambana has reprised his role as Baba Segi in Rotimi Babatunde’s stage adaptation of Lola Shoneyin’s The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives and you can tell he’s living his best life on the round of Arcola Theatre’s main stage Meet our polygamous protagonist Baba Segi and his four wives played by Kemi Adekoya and despite being described as an “over-fed orangutan” he enjoys an active sex life with each of his wives who all live under the same roof with their seven children but newbie Bolanle threatens to disrupt their cosy circle often taking on dual roles as key characters or doubling up as musicians – all done with aplomb Ultz’s production design features a stripped-back set – a beige carpet and a few armchairs interspersed amongst the front row seats – so expect to be part of the action and despite not understanding the language Simisola Majekodunmi’s lighting design of subtle orange and yellow hues works well in transporting us to the sunshine of Nigeria and the sound music and rhythm are all integral in keeping up with the fast-paced narrative Whether it’s the cast clapping to signal scene changes the gentle hum of Yoruba beats or the wooden instruments The story and character development are thorough and the writing is acutely funny We are instantly invested in learning the backstories of each of the wives The first half comes to a rousing climax in the fertility clinic that left me with my mouth agape and the lady next to me repeatedly muttering “I don’t know what I’ve just seen” there’s a reason why this play is only recommended for those aged 18 or over “traditional” roles of men and women in the home and child mortality are explored with integrity and tackled through an authentic Nigerian lens under Femi Elufowoju Jr’s expert direction but the second half’s big reveal keeps the audience enjoying revelation after revelation as we get to the crux of the play in learning about those shocking and secret lives of Baba Segi’s wives The production is an incredibly enjoyable watch from start to finish as you immerse yourself in Nigerian culture and leave the theatre with a greater understanding of the complexities of being in a polygamous marriage The pair of Tony Award nominees performed a selection of numbers Get the best deals and latest updates on theatre and shows by signing up for WhatsOnStage newsletter today The broom palace is nearing completion in Arcola A new broom place is nearing completion (top) and sidewalk work is ongoing (above) in downtown Arcola Storm drainage work will also take place in one intersection ARCOLA — A new broom palace is nearing completion The arrival of spring promises new beginnings in Arcola who helped to spearhead construction of the palace Arcola bills itself the “Broomcorn Capital of the World.” and there’s a couple of decorations on the outside” that have to be finished Graber Building Supply is doing the work on the approximately $900,000 project Peoples Bank & Trust announced via social media this week it had donated $5,000 as part of its $20,000 pledge for the palace “I think it’s a sign of a wonderful town we live in because it’s been a team effort,” Monahan said “It’s a project that basically everyone supports — a big help to bringing tourists and new business and hopefully new residents to Arcola.” A grand opening of the 45-foot-by-45-foot palace will be announced later It is a permanent replica of a temporary broom corn place erected for the town’s 1898 broom corn festival The palace will feature a film about the history of broomcorn making; a display of craft brooms; Libman’s Outlet will be open for business; a chamber of commerce information center about local attractions; and the Arcola museum will one day occupy the building’s second floor A viewing deck will be available on the third floor April 24 is the date selected for the 5 p.m grand opening of the city’s first dog park It will be located in the city park at the corner of Vine and First South streets There will be treats for dogs and humans (refreshments) and photo opportunities City Administrator Bill Wagoner said the Rotary foundation came up with $2,000 for the park which was matched by the local Rotary club “They started the planning process last summer The fenced-in park includes double entrances a bench with additional benches to be added along with dog attractions such as a fire hydrant Arcola received a $1.04 million Rebuild Illinois Downtowns and Main Streets grant last year and is in the process of replacing all downtown sidewalks after last year undertaking water main and water service work The city will also do storm drainage work to the intersection of Locust and Main streets and a bump-out to enable the corner to be ADA-compliant The city projects an early July completion Dave Hinton is editor of The News-Gazette's 'Our Communities' section. He can be reached at dhinton@news-gazette.com Joesph (Mont.) connects on the tee box during the Blue Devil Invitational at Echo Lake Country Club in Westfield on Monday took their first spring break together down to Myrtle Beach they returned back to competition to get back to business and pick up right where they left off St. Joseph (Mont.) freshman Rory Asselta shot an even par 72 to win individual medalist honors for the third time this season help lead the Green Knights to the team title at the Arcola Invitational at Arcola Country Club in Paramus “I had a great time on the course today as it was very challenging especially with the green speeds I hit the ball very consistently and putted very well on the crazy greens,” said the younger Asselta “I am very happy to have started out my high school golf career so well with three wins I feel like with how close our team is with each other; it isn’t a surprise that we have won everything and played so well.” we enter every tournament and dual match expecting to win These boys love to compete; they thrive on the biggest stages and seem to play their best on the hardest courses We do not take any of this for granted; when you are the #1 team the competition will bring their best and we expect teams to compete just as hard as we do We are looking to finish the regular season strong with a few more matches and then peak at the right time so we can be our best at the county and state tournaments,” said Green Knights head coach Kevin Rooney “We are witnessing something special with Rory and these young men are focused on the team results We are blessed to have a group that goes 5-to-6 deep who can all shoot sub-80 rounds.” The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter) Lou Monaco can be reached at lmonaco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X: @loumonaco Monticello senior Russ Brown has had plenty to smile about this spring with the Sages now at 12-3 ahead of Thursday’s Illini Prairie Conference home matchup with Unity Familiar names remain at the top while a couple newbies join the fun in the bottom half It’s always fun seeing just how long teams can stay undefeated and we’re lucky enough to have one baseball team still going strong in Arcola Along with seeing how long the Purple Riders can stay unbeaten is seeing how long they can stay atop the area power rankings Here’s how preps coordinator Zach Piatt sees it on the baseball diamond: ➜ Quick hit: That zero in the loss column holds a lot of weight and looking at what’s left on the schedule the Purple Riders have the potential to keep it there for a while batting .630 at the plate while not allowing any earned runs on the mound ➜ Quick hit: The Spartans are proving that no matter what players are on the roster they’re a team that will compete with the best of the best they do still have some unreal talent to work with Nolan Earley has been a great two-way player for SJ-O Jared Altenbaumer and Bryson Houchens have also been major problems for opposing teams throughout the spring ➜ Quick hit: We’re still three weeks away from the Sages’ annual battle for Illini Prairie Conference supremacy with rival St Monticello will host a red-hot Unity team on Thursday The Sages have been a model of consistency for the last couple years Complementing future Illini baseball player Ike Young‘s production Eli Craft and others have played solid baseball ➜ Quick hit: Last year was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Bulldogs after losing star pitcher Blake Wolters to the MLB draft they had their best season since the turn of the new millennium many key players are back for coach Nic DiFilippo’s team but the Tigers have flown under the radar while turning into one of the area’s most consistently successful teams No blemishes on the record outside of an 18-5 loss to Monticello and they have key wins against Unity and Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley ➜ Quick hit: Everybody knew the Rockets would get back on the right track A less-than-ideal 2-4 start against some quality opponents but they’ve returned to their winning ways since Brayden Henry and Emmerson Bailey have sparked the offense while Tyler Henry Parr and Coleton Langendorf have shut things down on the mound ➜ Quick hit: A brief six-game win streak was snapped by back-to-back losses to Rantoul and Paxton-Buckley-Loda but the Storm got right back in the win column with a 13-3 win against Hoopeston Area earning the win on the mound while going 3 for 3 with four RBI at the plate Look for this to be the start of another win streak ➜ Quick hit: Tough few days for the Maroons getting swept by Normal Community and losing a grinder to Normal West to put a dent in their Big 12 Conference championship hopes This is a young team with a lot of potential Luke McClure and Carter Bleakney are the main faces but freshman Ryan Pipkins and sophomore John Timmons have lightened the load with solid play The loss of All-State talent Kollin Asbury would hurt any team which has won three straight Class 1A regional titles The Trojans’ only losses are to Salt Fork and LeRoy both teams that have been featured on this list Traxton Roberts and Davyn Franzen have things going in the right direction ➜ Quick hit: The Falcons were 6-3-1 through their first 10 games last year and ended up putting a Class 1A state trophy in the trophy case for the first time in program history even though the expectation is to get back to that stage there’s no need to panic that GCMS isn’t lighting the world on fire Conner Kinzinger and Brayden Elliott have it under control Zach Piatt covers high school sports at The News-Gazette. His email is zpiatt@news-gazette.com but there are a handful of other teams definitely in the hunt Arcola edges Tuscola in a thrilling girls' basketball Class 1A regional title game at Tuscola on Thursday Arcola's team celebrates the win in the final seconds in a girls' basketball in a Class 1A regional title game at Tuscola on Thursday Arcola celebrates winning in the final seconds in a girls' basketball in a Class 1A regional title game at Tuscola on Thursday Arcola celebrates in a girls' basketball in a Class 1A regional title game at Tuscola on Thursday get the plaque in a girls' basketball in a Class 1A regional title game at Tuscola on Thursday Arcola shares the plaque with their fans in a girls' basketball in a Class 1A regional title game at Tuscola on Thursday Arcola’s Ema Simpson (13) and Tuscola's Reese Davis (1) in a girls' basketball in a Class 1A regional title game at Tuscola on Thursday Arcola’s Crystal Ramirez (14) blocks a shot by Tuscola's Allison Pettry (5) in a girls' basketball in a Class 1A regional title game at Tuscola on Thursday Arcola’s Crystal Ramirez (14) and Tuscola's Taylor Gordon (50) get tangled up on the floor in a girls' basketball in a Class 1A regional title game at Tuscola on Thursday Arcola’s Ava Simpson (32) and Arcola’s Kiera Leal (12) drop in as Tuscola's Ava Boyer (3) stumbles with the ball in a girls' basketball in a Class 1A regional title game at Tuscola on Thursday Arcola’s Kacie Sisk (23) shoots as Tuscola's Reese Davis (1) guards in a girls' basketball in a Class 1A regional title game at Tuscola on Thursday Arcola’s Kacie Sisk (23) and Tuscola's Ava Boyer (3) and Tuscola's Reese Davis (1) in a girls' basketball in a Class 1A regional title game at Tuscola on Thursday Tuscola's bench cheers in a girls' basketball in a Class 1A regional title game at Tuscola on Thursday Tuscola's Addy Revell (11) and Arcola’s Kiera Leal (12) in a girls' basketball in a Class 1A regional title game at Tuscola on Thursday Arcola’s head coach Corey Roberts talks with Arcola’s Kacie Sisk (23) in a girls' basketball in a Class 1A regional title game at Tuscola on Thursday Arcola's Crystal Ramirez (14) and Tuscola's Addy Revell (11) in a girls' basketball in a Class 1A regional title game at Tuscola on Thursday Tuscola's head coach Michael Rosenbaum in a girls' basketball in a Class 1A regional title game at Tuscola on Thursday gets a hug from Tuscola's Ava Boyer (3) after making a three as the basket is celebrated by Tuscola's Reese Davis (1) in a girls' basketball in a Class 1A regional title game at Tuscola on Thursday Tuscola's Ava Boyer (3) and Arcola's Ava Simpson (32) in a girls' basketball in a Class 1A regional title game at Tuscola on Thursday Tuscola's Reese Davis (1) and Arcola’s Kacie Sisk (23) in a girls' basketball in a Class 1A regional title game at Tuscola on Thursday Tuscola's fans in a girls' basketball in a Class 1A regional title game at Tuscola on Thursday Sisk stars as Arcola girls' basketball holds off Tuscola in Cola Wars postseason showdown Written by Bronagh for Theatre & Tonic Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review Content warnings – scenes of an adult nature The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives transports us to Nigeria where we meet Baba Segi and his three wives Babe Segi sets his sights on a fourth wife who sends ripples through the dynamic and uncovers a major secret a wealthy Nigerian man with three wives and three children Bolanle disrupts the existing clique of wives which triggers a series of events that go on to uncover family secrets completely rocking the boat and sending shockwaves through the family.  Baba Segi’s Wives is a beautifully acted ensemble piece with the actors playing dual roles and all partaking in the dancing and playing instruments with energetic traditional dancing delighting the audience allowing our ensemble to move about with no obstructions Simisola Majekodunmi’s lighting is beautifully designed to transport us to Nigeria Baba Segi’s Wives stays true to Nigerian traditions with the use of drums and bells and proverbs throughout with the wives dressed in stunning Nigerian fabrics.  Baba Segi’s Wives explores many complex themes We see the shock at a news bulletin regarding abortion with the three wives saying Bolanle cannot possibly be shocked and upset by this considering she hasn’t carried her own child Bolanle can very much relate as we find out from a flashback to a distressing evening where her rapist tells her she should be happy as she ‘is a woman now’ This is one of the rare moments where the audience is silent hearts in mouths as we see Bolanle sobbing Dolapo Oni’s portrayal of Bolanle is beautifully vulnerable there are many laugh out loud moments throughout One scene that I have no doubt audience members are still talking about is a rather epic masturbation scene which includes Vaseline The sex scenes that we see in the second act have the audience hooting with laughter Baba Segi’s Wives is undoubtedly a very joyful production despite exploring oppression and those darker moments in life seamlessly going between characters and keeping up the pace throughout are a joy to watch from the scheming against Bolanle to them confessing to their secret encounters The whole ensemble work brilliantly together making Baba Segi’s Wives an absolute hit amongst the audience Baba Segi’s Wives is a remarkable production intertwining the darker themes with sheer joy and entertainment Made with Squarespace Based on a book discovered by the play’s director Femi Elufowoju jr at a bookstall under Waterloo Bridge The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives is a portrait of life in a Nigerian family in Ibadan as befits his status and prosperity as he sees it He has traditional attitudes and expects obedience and subservience from his wives and children was written in 2010 and reflects her own family history The book has been sensitively adapted for performance by Rotimi Babatunde The current production is a revival and was first seen in Nigeria in 2013 and at the Arcola in 2018 Some of the cast were in that earlier Arcola production but all seem totally at ease with what is essentially an ensemble piece A great strength of the production is the choral singing In what is essentially an attack on the overarching patriarchy of much of Nigerian society the writer has created a range of strong female roles but there is a particularly heart-rending performance from Kemi Adekoya as the first and senior wife Iya Segi Various male roles are well delineated by Ayan de First (particularly as the teacher whom Baba still respects) and Usifu Jalloh (memorable as Baba’s driver) is fourth wife and university graduate Bolanle She is also the character who chooses to walk away from the system into which she had been drawn and stands perhaps for the future of Nigerian women Patrice Naiambana is appropriately commanding but then increasingly bewildered as his comfortable life is challenged and his masculinity seems to be doubted but Naiambana is impressive too as the shattered man at the end of the play It is a mark of how much we believe in him as Baba Segi that he has to break the fourth wall at one point when he tells us he will Baba Segi is also at the centre of the riotous scene at the fertility clinic which closes the first half but it is clear that the interval could only come after what can only be described as the climax of that scene Elufowoju’s production is played in the round at the Arcola Costume designs (Ultz/Shola Ajayi) help to create the Nigerian context (as do the cloths on the tables in the Arcola bar) but the only scenic element is a ceiling fan Music is accompanied by various West African instruments including Naiambana playing various pipes and kalimba (thumb piano) Drumming is an essential part of African music and the production benefits greatly from the talking drums of Ayan de First Anyone unfamiliar with the Nigerian accent may miss some of the asides and implications but that is no reason to miss this fascinating account of a lifestyle now very much under challenge by African women and cleverly involves the audience in the action at various points The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives plays at London’s Arcola Theatre until 31 May, with further info here. Advertising Website design by: Tess Robinson ARCOLA — Braden Phillips spends a lot of time in Arcola basketball coach Greg Gisinger’s office Phillips is a fixture in the Arcola High School community who leads in just about every aspect and leads a school bible study at his house “I don't even know if I can list everything he's involved with,” Gisinger said I called him in my office before the season Arcola's Braden Phillips grabs the ball between Tuscola's Caiden Russo and Parker James during the Cola Wars boys basketball game at Tuscola High School on Tuesday Phillips says he can’t sit still and wants to be involved and he’s juggled all of those responsibilities well as a senior He was an all-area selection by the Herald & Review for football and basketball this season and Arcola baseball is off to an 8-0 start “His leadership and his character as a person Phillips will play basketball and compete in the triple jump for the track team at Millikin after his high school athletics career is over Phillips wants to become a gym teacher and follow in the footsteps of his mother so I feel like that's kind of always pushed me to be a teacher but I also think the leadership stuff and how involved I am in school now really just placed a passion on my heart to stay in school,” Phillips said “And I love doing that kind of stuff and serving the community and giving back to like the little kids.” recruiting has become more complicated for high school players who have had to wait longer for schools to reach out with interest Phillips didn’t hear from schools until near the end of his senior season but after talking with the coaching staff at Millikin he thought a school close to home would be a good fit “I feel like it was a little stressful because everyone else is making college decisions,” Phillips said “And here I am just trying to sort out all my options late and making a fast decision Becoming a college-level basketball player meant a couple of seasons expanding his game As a sophomore starting for the Purple Riders Gisinger trusted and pointed Phillips into ways to expand his game Phillips was one of the most complete offensive post players in the area with the ability to cut shoot from outside and make important offensive reads in the team’s spread motion offense That growth in skills will make a big difference at the college level with the Big Blue and his work ethic to whatever we asked him to do he wanted more and more and more of it,” Gisinger said “And he was extremely coachable in the four years that we had him.” After becoming a 1,000-point scorer for the Purple Riders Phillips will get to extend his basketball career beyond a Sweet 16 appearance as a junior and a 22-win season as a senior and I think that it was relieving to me that I'm going to get that extra four years but I'm just excited that I get to play four more years in a sport I love.” Phillips didn’t expect to get an offer to compete on the track at the collegiate level but it’s something that appealed to him after he competed in track the past few seasons “I had never actually thought about doing track in college and then I think going to a smaller school and having those connections on the different sports teams,” Phillips said Phillips’ leadership and work ethic have endeared him to the Arcola community He says that when he goes to the gas station people come up to him and ask about college and are happy they can drive up to Millikin to watch him He’ll take what he’s learned from Arcola into his college career “I can't say enough about him,” Gisinger said “I've coached 21 years and I don't think I've ever had a kid quite like him as far as just a player The Amish Heritage Center plans to start constructing a new 10,000-square-foot museum and visitor center this month and to hold its annual She… The "No Kings" protests planned on Saturday include one at noon at Morton Park in Charleston Arcola’s Crystal Ramirez(14) and Kacie Sisk (23) and Salt Fork’s Taylor Remole(11) In a prep girl’s basketball game at Arcola on Thursday The trio have each topped 1,000 career points Ssk and her Purple Riders teammates aiming for a Class 1A regional title tonight in Tuscola while Phillps and Thomas are trying to lead the Purple Riders boys' basketball team on another deep postseason run ARCOLA — Doesn’t matter the class at Arcola High School Braden Phillips and Tanner Thomas are always trying to one-up each other in a friendly The same standard holds true in the sports realm the duo is excelling on the basketball court for the Purple Riders And for the Douglas County school of just 200 students Arcola boys’ basketball can boast of having two players with at least 1,000 career points in Phillips “It usually get us both fired up and makes us try a little bit harder to top the other one,” Thomas said It’s just fun to get under each other’s skin sometimes.” But they’re not even the most prolific basketball scorer walking the hallways at Arcola despite Phillips having 1,295 career points and Thomas having 1,087 career points Or even among the 55 seniors they’ll walk across the stage with and go through graduation ceremonies this spring a 5-8 do-it-all offensive dynamo for the Arcola girls’ basketball team “Tanner and I aren’t really close to Kacie when it comes to career points,” Phillips said with a laugh Sisk is the all-time leading scorer in Arcola girls’ basketball history with 1,751 points and she’ll try to add to that total at 7 p.m Thursday when the Purple Riders (21-9) make the short trip north to play at rival Tuscola (17-13) in a Class 1A regional championship game that shouldn’t lack for atmosphere “Every one in the town knows when we’re playing Tuscola,” Phillips said Thomas and the rest of the Arcola boys’ basketball team won’t be in the stands in Tuscola on Thursday night because the Purple Riders (22-6) have a makeup game at Argenta-Oreana (15-12) at the same time But they’ll certainly know the result shortly after in this tight-knit community that fully supports its athletic programs Phillips and Thomas understood that concept last February and March when the Arcola boys’ basketball team won a 1A regional title and advanced to a sectional championship game The Arcola side of the gym in those games in Bethany and Effingham were filled to the brim with fans decked out in purple and white apparel Playing in front of those crowds has this team which returns many key players from the team that reached the Sweet 16 a year ago The Arcola boys’ basketball team begins postseason play at 6 p.m this upcoming Monday when the Purple Riders host Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City in a regional quarterfinal game that is part of the Central A&M Regional Anthony — which Arcola stunned last season 57-52 to win a regional title — could await on Feb If Sisk and her Arcola girls’ basketball teammates are still having practices on the last day in February that means the Purple Riders will have won a 1A sectional title and getting ready for a super-sectional game in Farmer City Having Arcola host a girls’ basketball sectional next week is plenty of motivation for Sisk But just winning a regional title is more than enough for Sisk right now considering the Purple Riders have played in three during the first three seasons of her high school career and have lost all three falling to Salt Fork in 2024 and then Tri-County in both 2023 and 2022 “We’re all really excited and ready to play hard,” Sisk said Getting more games next week means Sisk could have a shot at becoming Arcola’s all-time leading scorer in basketball currently holds that title with the 1,820 points he produced Sisk passed 1990 graduate Chad Graves and his 1,737 points with a 24-point outburst during Arcola’s 45-38 victory against Casey-Westfield on Monday night in a regional semifinal game Sisk surpassed former Arcola standout Taylor Edwards earlier this season in becoming the girls’ all-time leading scorer after Edwards Sisk is one of 10 Arcola girls’ basketball players to have at least 1,000 points with 1985 graduate Angie Little (1,351 points) 2021 graduate KayLee Hohlbauch (1,079 points) 2004 graduate Jessie Reece (1,061 points) and 2022 graduate Arianna Warren (1,022 points) all hitting that mark along with 1979 graduate Abby Ingrum and 1981 graduate Angie Dilliner but complete scoring records for the trio are unknown Sisk deflects the attention thrown her way “It’s really cool to be able to be the one to break the records and just play well,” Sisk said “but I’m very grateful for all the people that have helped me from my teammates to my coaches to my family Even when the basketball seasons end for Sisk they’re poised to help the Purple Riders in the spring who is not planning on playing sports in college when she begins her studies next fall at Parkland College in Champaign is a pitcher and shortstop on the Arcola softball team who signed with the Louisville baseball program last November after committing to the Cardinals when he was a freshman is a pitcher and center fielder on the baseball diamond who wants to play college basketball and holds an offer from Greenville but is waiting to see what else might be out there and Thomas and Phillips also compete on the Arcola boys’ track and field team they’re focusing on basketball and adding to their impressive point totals that not many in Arcola basketball history can lay claim While trying to add more postseason memories for all of Arcola to enjoy “You’re more focused on the games and trying to make it further with each game but to see the younger generation and the kids that were there through some of the pictures and videos we saw after the fact last year that’s the type of stuff you don’t really realize in the moment,” Thomas said “The younger kids growing up now and having those memories because of us is really cool.” Matt Daniels is sports editor at The News-Gazette. His email is mdaniels@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@mdaniels_NG) LondonThis firecracker adaptation of the 1990 Johnny Depp film pokes fun at American conservative values in rockabilly songs bursting with biting ironies the Musical review – John Waters’ teen rebels will have you in tears of joyThis article is more than 1 month oldArcola theatre It is a deliciously satirical creation: dark It sends up not only a genre of musicals that feature teen love across the divide but acerbically pokes fun at Wasp-y values and America itself – from its constitution to its sense of exceptionalism This first professional UK production was long overdue and in director Mehmet Ergen’s hands it is a firecracker of a show – faster funnier and more intelligent than so much other retro teen musical fare in the West End where the upper-class “squares” are at war with the leather-clad “drapes” – though they rather ridiculously enact their enmity through singing battles The titular rebel Wade “Cry-Baby” Walker (Adam Davidson) in his sleeveless leather jerkin and bandana is a drape while “good girl” Allison (Lulu-Mae Pears) is the square who instantly falls for him Love across the class divide … Adam Davidson and Lulu-Mae Pears as Cry-Baby and Allison Photograph: Charlie FlintWhere the 1990 film (starring an electric Johnny Depp) is more absurdist This is an America that buzzes with McCarthyist anxiety and panic over the atomic bomb The first scene features a polio inoculation picnic and the reprised song I’m Infected encapsulates not just the infectious nature of love but “respectable” America’s fear of a “diseased” underclass Performances shine with eyebrow-raised irony So do the songs by David Javerbaum and Adam Schlesinger The music is a highly infectious mix of rockabilly and lyrics explode with gleeful satire and ironies that make you laugh out loud A small band sit on an exposed mezzanine level and create an astonishing sound Allison looks like Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz at the start (“My grandmother told me never to loosen up It’s not upper class”) but gathers shades of Rocky Horror’s Janet as she ventures into sexual rebellion Davidson matches her in scrubbed-faced wholesomeness as Cry-Baby Chris Whittaker’s choreography is sophisticated in the ensemble numbers Photograph: Charlie FlintHis posse bring thrilling characterisation too from pregnant Pepper (Jazzy Phoenix) to “Hatchet-Face” Mona (Kingsley Morton) while Chad Saint Louis as Dupree blows the roof off with songs such as Jukebox Jamboree as does Eleanor Walsh as Cry-Baby’s stalker It is all as darkly exhilarating as The Producers (the book is co-written by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan the latter of whom also wrote the book for Mel Brooks’s musical) And like the most recent London production of that show this is inventively staged in a modestly sized space with performers using the entirety of the auditorium Chris Whittaker’s choreography – an amusingly twirling pastiche – becomes more sophisticated in the ensemble numbers without seeming cramped Robert Innes Hopkins’ set design is light on its feet with banners raised and lowered like the American flag for changing scenes and the star-spangled banner projected on a back wall And who can fail to feel the bite of the last song which insists that things couldn’t be better in America to chime with America’s endeavour to make itself great again At the Arcola theatre, London