December 2011

Jordan Johnson scored 14 points to power Shawnee to a 38-25 win over visiting Egyptian in South Egyptian Conference high school girls’ basketball Thursday, Jan. 19.

Sanni Ahokas added 9 points for the Lady Reds. Taylor Loveless chipped in 7 points and Haley Murphy, Lindsay Crane, April Kutak and Elena Houston each scored 2.

Shawnee led 11-4 after one quarter and 18-8 at halftime. The Lady Reds increased their lead to 29-15 after three periods.

Meridian defeated Dongola 39-36 in overtime in first-round action of the South Egyptian Conference high school girls’ basketball tournament at Joppa Monday, Jan. 23.

The Lady Demons led 8-5 after one quarter and 18-9 at halftime.

The Lady Bobcats outscored Dongola 15-6 in the third quarter to tie the game 24-24 tie heading into the final quarter.

The score was tied 32-32 at the end of regulation. Meridian outscored the Lady Demons 7-4 in overtime.

Joppa is scheduled to host the South Egyptian Conference high school girls’ basketball tournament Jan. 23-28.

Shawnee is the top seed in the tourney, followed  by Cobden, Century, Meridian, Dongola, Egyptian and Joppa.

First-round games will be played Monday and Tuesday.

Monday, Jan. 23, Meridian will play Dongola at 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 24, Cobden will play Joppa at 6 p.m. and Century will play Egyptian at 7:30 p.m.

The top-seeded Shawnee Lady Reds have a first-round bye.

 SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Pat Quinn announced late Thursday, Jan. 19, his plan to close two state-run facilities, one that provides services for those with developmental disabilities and the other for mental health, to save the state nearly $20 million.

(The plan does not include the Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna.)

Quinn’s plan targets the Jacksonville Developmental Center and  Tinley Park Mental Health Center, and says the state’s savings will come from transitioning the 229 patients at those facilities to community care.