Coal City Courant

Coalers come up short in opener

Published by admin on Tue, 11/20/2018 - 5:23pm

by shawn long
staff writer
    The Coal City boys baskeball team rallied during the first game of their Turkey Tournament, but came up short 55-53 to Serena on Monday.
    The Coalers (0-1) scored  12 points in the first quarter but they allowed Serena 23 to build an 11-point lead.
    The Coalers outscored Serena in the second quarter, drawing within nine points at the break.
    After the break, Coal Ciity went on a 19-12 run to draw within two as the score was 48-46 with just eight minutes to play.

Lady Coalers make it to championship game before falling

Published by admin on Tue, 11/20/2018 - 5:20pm

by shawn long
staff writer
    The Lady Coaler basketball squad came up short to Reed-Custer, 51-29, on Saturday in the Comet Class Championship game.
    Coal City (3-2) scored just four points in the first quarter and was down by eight before coming alive in the second quarter for 13 points but trailed 25-17 at half-time.
    Coal City was pressured by Reed-Custer in the second half, scoring just 12 points in total to the Comets’ 26 points to fall.

Challenges will be bigger for Coal City matmen

Published by admin on Tue, 11/20/2018 - 5:18pm

by shawn long
staff writer
    The Coaler wrestling program faces new challenges after being bumped up from 1A to 2A this season.
    “It was based on enrollment,” said head CC coach Mark Masters. “We had 637 last year and this year, we have 662. It will definitely be more difficult due to the larger schools and more talent pools.”
    Coal City has won eight state trophies, most recently third last season and five seconds, but those have all been at the Class 1A dual team level. Being in 2A means the road to state won’t be easy for the program.

Two area teams advance to the state finals

Published by admin on Tue, 11/20/2018 - 5:10pm

by shawn long
staff writer
    It’s down to just two teams in each class as the State football finals will be played starting Friday in Champaign.
Class 1A
    Six seeded Forreston(10-2) pulled the upset against Lena Winslow #4, 34-28  and Camp Point #2 did the same to top seeded Argenta, 35-22. The two will meet up in the early game on Friday, set for 10 a.m.
Class 2A

Lady Coalers scratch Lady ‘Cats for starters

Published by admin on Tue, 11/13/2018 - 5:47pm

by shawn long
staff writer
    The Coal City girls basketball team took Wilmington down to the wire in the night cap of the Comet Classic on Monday, beating the Lady ‘Cats 41-34.
    The Lady Coalers (1-0) jumped out to a 10-8 lead in the first quarter.
    The Lady Coalers came back with 11 in the second quarter to Wilmington’s nine to lead 21-17 at half-time.

Coalers look to their talented junior class

Published by admin on Tue, 11/13/2018 - 5:45pm

by shawn long
staff writer
    As members of the Coal City boys basketball team make the transition from the football field to the court, there may be a period when the starters may be in question.
    Don’t expect that period to last too long as the Coalers welcome several skilled athletes.

Herscher is the only I-8 team that remains

Published by admin on Tue, 11/13/2018 - 5:42pm

by shawn long
staff writer
Three area teams—one a member of the Interstate Eight Conference—have reached the semi-final round of the football playoffs. Herscher, Joliet Catholic and Bishop McNamara - Kankakee survived the quarterfinal round.
Class 3A
    Herscher, seeded 15th, upset Monmouth (Mt. Roseville) #6, 24-20. They will play Byron #1 in the semifinal. Byron (12-0) upended the other I-8 team, Lisle #4, 49-7.

Coalers fall in football quarterfinal

Published by admin on Sat, 11/10/2018 - 6:06pm

The Coal City football team watched their season sail through the uprights when Richmond-Burton kicked a field goal with 1:45 left to win the Class 4A quarterfinal 17-14.

The Coaler season concludes at 10-2 after winning 10 straight.

What hurt most were a pair of Coaler turnovers and allowing the visiting Rockets good field position in the closing minutes in an otherwise balanced game between two steadfast teams.

Three Interstate Eight schools advance to quarterfinals

Published by admin on Tue, 11/06/2018 - 5:39pm

by shawn long
staff writer
Class 1A
    Three undefeated teams fell by way of the upset in the second round of the state football playoffs.  Princeville #1, Ottawa Marquette #2 and Milledgeville #3 were eliminated this week.
    Princeville (10-0) was shutout by 9th seed Aurora Christian, 41-0. Ottawa Marquette took their game down to the wire with Dakota before losing by a two point conversion. Dakota (8-3) will play Forreston #6 ,who upset Milledgeville 10-0 by the way of a two-point conversion as well.

Undersized Lady Coalers welcome back skilled players

Published by admin on Tue, 11/06/2018 - 5:24pm

by shawn long
staff writer
    The Lady Coaler basketball team is hoping their size won’t be an issue during the 2018-2019 season.
    Last year coach Brad Schmitt and his Lady Coalers went 12-18 and 5-6 within conference play. He will be assisted by Jack Micetich, sophomore coach Jen Savoie and freshman coach Brad Boresi.
    They come back experienced but small and Schmitt thinks that their experience will make up for their size.