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Lena’s ONLY Insurance Company

Serving the communities in Stephenson County

Shopper’s Guide

VOL. 78 • NO. 51

YOUR FREE HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER

West Point Mutual 2016 Holiday Drawing Winners Eleanor Holmes Kathryn Slamp

CMYK Version

Since 1896

ROCKF ORD M UT UAL I N S U R A N C E C O M P A N Y

815-369-4225 Putting Lives Back Together

SM

PMS Version

Since 1896

ROCKF ORD M UT UAL I N S U R A N C E C O M P A N Y Putting Lives Back Together

SM

Raders Insurance Agency 2016 Holiday Drawing Winners Donna Otte Louise Lameyer

www.radersinsuranceagency.com • www.westpointmutual.com

240 W. Main St., Suite A, Lena, IL 61048

265933

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2016

Panthers faces snares in Forreston Invitational By Chris Johnson

Lena-Winslow faced a familiar face in the opening round of the Forreston Boys’ Basketball Holiday Classic. The Panthers were issued the 13-seed out of the 16 available to receive. They faced the four-seed Polo Marcos and stayed within reach after the first period of play. Polo jumped ahead 18-12 but couldn’t keep the Panthers from causing them problems. The defense was more successful in the second period as the Panthers worked through the period. The Polo offense was slowed slightly, but the edge built in the first period was added upon. At the half it was Polo 32 and Lena-Winslow 20. The four-seed Marcos outscored Lena-Winslow 14-5 in the third period and carried a comfortable 46-25 advantage into the final period. Additional players got time on the floor as the Panthers won the period 13-7 but couldn’t overcome the third quarter deficit, losing 53-38. The loss pushed the Panthers into the consolation bracket and set up a night two meeting with five-seed Byron. The Tigers ran into their own problems in the opening round game when they were stunned by twelveseed Orangeville, losing 67-57. Byron found a comfortable rhythm in the Consolation Championship semi-final and pulled away from the panthers, 48-30. Byron moved on to face Forreston as Lena-Winslow dropped down to face Dakota. The pairing seemed fair on paper as the Indians have worked through their own questions during the first half of the season. After the opening period was in the books, the parity showed as the Panthers held the three-point edge, 11-8. In the second quarter Dakota found a pace that they preferred more and held the Panthers to just five points in the period. The Indians’ scoring total helped the roles reverse at the half as they put nine through. Entering the third period, Dakota was in front 1716. The Indians won the third period

7-5 as both teams struggled to find offense. The Panthers trailed 24-21 after three periods. A comeback was required and Lena-Winslow nearly completed the task. With free throw shooting taking its toll the Panthers worked back to a 36-all tie forcing an extra period. In overtime the Indians held back the Panthers just enough and won 4543. The loss sent Lena-Winslow into a meeting with the Stillman Valley Cardinals and the tournament’s final game. Lena-Winslow exited Forreston with an 0-4 mark after they fell 41-35. The Panthers returned to the season at hand and a scheduled Tuesday, Dec. 20 meeting with the Dakota Indians before the Christmas recess. NUIC matches against Warren, Galena, Durand and Scales Mound wait for Lena-Winslow when they tip-off the 2017 portion of their winter sports season on Jan. 5. The 2016 Girls Class 1A State Basketball Regionals begin the week of Feb. 21. Lena-Winslow closes the regular season facing a couple teams they may be battling for position, Scales Mound and River Ridge, in the days before the IHSA Selection Committee determines how high the Panthers will be seeded when the playoffs begin later in February.

COURTESY PHOTO Shopper’s Guide

The true spirit of the season

Mary Gerbode, Gina DeVoe, Leah Goebel, Bonnie Broge gathered at Lena Winslow school to do the paperwork on this year’s Thanksgiving and Giving Tree and Angel projects. This year, 35 Baskets were given to families feeding a total of 158 folks in the different families, and between the Angel and Giving Tree projects, 54 families were affected totaling 184 family members. Zoe Bardell was a helper, but was unavailable for photo.

Broncos break bracket in Forreston Tournament By Chris Johnson

SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

There are certain advantages to being a lower seed. There is a feeling that upsets could happen on any given night. The Orangeville Broncos seemed to understand that and have been pulling off a lot of upsets recently. On Friday, Dec. 16 they claimed fourth place in the annual 16-team Forreston Boys’ Basketball Christmas Classic. They pulled off some big upsets to get there. Action commenced on Saturday, Dec. 10 and the Broncos were issued the twelve seed. They knew they would face the five-seed Byron Tigers in the opening round. In many tournaments featuring a

16-team lay-out, fans can see how a twelve-seed has the potential to surprise and take out the higher seed. Orangeville proved it and powered past the Tigers 67-57 to move to round two in the Championship Bracket. The win put Orangeville in the path of another team, fully-expected to win. The Polo Marcos were given the four-seed. They dispatched LenaWinslow by 15 points in their opening round game. The Broncos didn’t seem

concerned and went with the hot hand and captured their second consecutive upset win. Orangeville approached the game with the right attack. They got the ball into the hands of sharpshooter Austin Guy. His 37 points helped lead the team as his teammates found holes in the Polo defense. The 82-66 win shipped Orangeville off to the semifinal round and a meeting with the top-seed and defending tournament

champion Winnebago Indians. Orangeville didn’t have the firepower to stay with Winnebago in the early minutes and quickly fell behind by scores of 20-9 and 45-22. Winnebago won 75-50 and moved on to the Championship Game to face Sterling Newman. Guy would eventually be named to the Forreston Christmas Classic First-

See TOURNAMENT, Page 2

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Christmas and New Year’s Holiday Meats! Call Today to Order!

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SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

500 West Main Street • Lena, 815-369-4522 Email: mpax@frontier.com • www.ajslenamaidmeats.com

Mon - Fri 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sat 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 189271

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