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Extra Effort: Normal three-sport athlete Dexter Niekamp an academic all-stater
NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — Dexter Niekamp may have to pinch himself to make sure this isn’t a dream. The Normal Community senior played in a state semifinal football game in November and now has his basketball team in the state semifinals. “It’s a dream come true,” said Niekamp. “You dream about these moments as a […]
College hoops recap for March 6, 2024
ST. LOUIS (WMBD/WYZZ) — Two Bradley basketball players were named first-team all-Missouri Valley Conference at the league’s awards dinner on Wednesday. Guard Duke Deen and forward Malevy Leons were named to the six-player MVC all-conference first team. Leons was named the league’s defensive player of the year for the second straight seaosn. Drake’s Tucker DeVries […]
New York native Myles Foster adjusting to life in central Illinois
NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — Illinois State head coach Ryan Pedon didn’t have to go out on a limb when talking about newcomer Myles Foster. “Central Illinois is a not like Brooklyn, New York. Myles will tell you that,” said Pedon. “But he’s been such a welcome addition to our (ISU) family.” Brooklyn native Myles Foster […]
Improving Christian Davis hopes to be difference maker for Bradley
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — Christian Davis says college basketball was eye-opening when he first came to Bradley about two years ago. “The skill level, the athletes. That was the biggest thing,” said Davis. “I had to put on 23 pounds to be able to compete on defense.” Now Davis is one of those guys bigger, […]
Prep sports recap for March 5, 2024
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — After a crazy ride to a state championship, the Notre Dame girls basketball team got a chilly ride to on a fire truck to celebrate on Tuesday. The Irish, who won the class 2A girls basketball title Saturday, took their championship trophy around to area parochial schools on a fire engine. […]
Boys basketball super-sectional recap for March 4, 2024
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — Lathan Sommerville scored 11 of his game-high 32 points in the third quarter as Richwoods beat top-ranked Harvey Thornton 58-52 to capture the class 3A Ottawa super-sectional title on Monday. The win sends the Knights to the state semifinals on Friday at 11: 15 a.m. in Champaign. Richwoods will face Chicago […]
Prep sports recap for March 1, 2024
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — Normal Community ushered in March Madness with a crazy finish on March 1. Jaheem Webber grabbed a loose ball and dunked home the game-winning shot just before the buzzer as Normal Community beat Quincy 44-43 to win the class 4A Pekin sectional championship on Friday. The Ironmen advance to play Downers […]
Extra Effort: Three-sport athlete Brigid Dooley a true ambassador for Notre Dame
PEORIA, Ill. (*WMBD/WYZZ) — Brigid Dooley came to Peoria three years ago when her family moved to central Illinois from Boston. She said it was culture shock. “It didn’t seem like it was going to go so well,” Dooley said as she stepped off the plane and noticed corn fields. “But I’m here in Peoria […]
PND, Illini Bluffs win semifinal games, advance to state championships Saturday
NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — Two central Illinois schools will play for girls basketball state championships after winning semifinal games Thursday at CEFCU Arena. Notre Dame made a state finals record-tying 12 three-pointers and beat Wilmette Regina Dominican, 71-25, in a class 2A semifinal. Lexi Baer hit six of those three-pointers and scored 18 for the […]
College sports recap for Feb. 28, 2024
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — Illinois, Bradley and ISU all won home basketball games on Wednesday. The Illini beat Minnesota, 105-97. Terrance Shannon, Jr. scored 29 points for Illinois. Bradley defeated Southern Illinois, 86-67. Darius Hannah scored 22 points for the Braves. Illinois State edged Missouri State, 75-74. Johnny Kinziger and Malachi Poindexter scored 20 points […]
Prep sports recap for Feb. 28, 2024
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — The Macomb Bombers pulled off a big upset in the class 2A boys basketball postseason. The Bombers erased a 17-point deficit in the second half to beat the Manual, 41-40, in the sectional semifinal at Canton on Wednesday. The Rams were the top seed in the sectional. Elsewhere, Lathan Sommerville scored […]
Prep sports recap for Feb. 27, 2024
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — There will be a new Illinois state basketball champion in class 4A. Niko Newsome scored 20 points to lead Normal Community past Moline, 61-44, in a sectional semifinal at Pekin High School on Tuesday. The Ironmen eliminate 2023 state champ Moline and advance to play Quincy in Friday’s sectional championship. Other […]
Illini Bluffs can finally start talking about state
GLASFORD, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — It was always out there, but Illini Bluffs never wanted to talk about it. “We’ve never once talked about going to state,” said IB girls basketball coach Jim Belville. “Not because we didn’t think we had the talent or couldn’t get there, it was always what is in front of us […]
Brian Wardle enjoying family’s version of March Madness
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — Bradley basketball coach Brian Wardle has a big week ahead. Wednesday is BU’s final home game of the season and the Braves play at Drake in the Missouri Valley regular season finale on Sunday. In between, it’s a trip to state with his daughters who have helped Notre Dame to its […]
Illini Bluffs earns trip to state by knocking out No. 1 Galena
BRIMFIELD, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — Lily Luczkowiak scored 21 points to lead Illini Bluffs to a 47-41 win over top-ranked Galena in the 1A super-sectional at Brimfield High School on Monday. The win sends the sixth-ranked Tigers to state for the first time in 12 years. IB (31-4) will play Regina Dominican of Wilmette in Thursday’s […]
Longtime ISU Sports Information Director heading into MVC Hall of Fame
NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — When Tom Lamonica came to Illinois State in February 1980, he admits he didn’t know a whole lot about the university. But he knew a lot about the Missouri Valley Conference. “We needed to get into a conference and I thought the Valley was the right one,” said Lamonica. Hired as […]
Prep sports round-up for Feb. 25, 2024
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — Two area girls basketball teams are set to play in super-sectional games on Monday. Notre Dame will play Rock Island Alleman in the class 2A super-sectional at Manlius. The Irish, who are ranked No.1 in class 2A, are looking for their first ever trip to the state finals. “They got the […]
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WMBD-TV is a CBS–affiliated television station licensed to Peoria, Illinois, United States and serving the North-Central Illinois television market, while the Bloomington-licensed Fox affiliate WYZZ-TV operates under a local marketing agreement (LMA) with owner Cunningham Broadcasting. https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/
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