In Local Sports, in girls high school hoops, Serena beat Sandwich 30-23. Makayla McNally led the way with 11 and Jenna Setchell added 10. Woodland downed Earlville 49-45. Madyson Olson scored 21 for Earlville. In boys high school hoops, Streator crushed Peotone 67-35. Christian Benning dominated with 32 for the Bulldogs. Earlville rolled Hiawatha 61-27. Sandwich defeated Morris 49-33. Serena rolled Indian Creek 77-56. For the Huskers, Tanner Faivre scored 16. Cam Figgens and Richie Armour both added 15 apiece. Lasalle-Peru pulled out a victory over Mendota 55-45. The Ottawa Pirates lost to Kaneland 82-61. Levi Sheehan had 20 and Payton Knoll chipped in 13.
>>Cubs, Taillon Reach Four-Year Deal
(San Diego, CA) — The Chicago Cubs are adding one of the top free agent arms to their starting rotation. Multiple reports say the Cubs have reached a four-year deal with right-hander Jameson Taillon [[ TIE-own ]]. The deal is worth 68-million dollars. The 31-year-old had one of his best years with the Yankees this past season, going 14-and-5 with a 3.91 ERA in 32 starts. Taillon spent the last two seasons in New York after playing his four years with the Pirates.
>>Report: Cody Bellinger Signs With Cubs
(Chicago, IL) — A marquee free agent is heading to the Chicago Cubs. ESPN reports Cody Bellinger agreed to a one-year, 17.5-million dollar deal to join the NL Central ball club. The former Los Angeles Dodger hit .210 last season while slugging 19 homers and 68 RBI. Bellinger won the National League MVP in 2019 after hitting .305 with 47 homers and 115 RBI. The outfielder rejected multi-year deals from other teams, according to his agent.
>>Bulls Host Wizards
(Chicago, IL) — The Chicago Bulls will try to snap a three-game losing streak when they host the Washington Wizards at United Center tonight. The Bulls are coming off a 110-101 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. The Bulls are in 12th place in the Eastern Conference at 9-and-14, and they lost to Washington 102-100 back in October.
>>Blackhawks Get Blanked By New Jersey
(Newark, NJ) — The Chicago Blackhawks couldn’t sneak one past Vitek Vanecek in a 3-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center. The Blackhawks surrendered one goal in the first period and two in the second. Arvid Soderblom made 26 saves in the losing effort. Chicago remains in last place in the Central Division with 18 points and a 7-14-and-4 record. The Blackhawks host Winnipeg on Friday night.
>>Illinois Basketball Knocks Off Texas
(New York, NY) — The number-17 Illinois Fighting Illini took down number-two Texas in an 85-78 overtime victory during the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden. Jayden Epps made a pair of free throws for the Illini with eight seconds left in regulation to send the game to the extra period, where Illinois outscored the Longhorns 17-10. Matthew Mayer led the team with 21 points, and Terrence Shannon Jr. chipped in with 16. Illinois is 7-and-2 overall and 0-and-1 in the Big Ten. The Fighting Illini host Penn State on Saturday.
>>Notre Dame Take On Boston
(South Bend, IL) — The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will try to get back in the win column when they host Boston University at Joyce Center tonight. The Irish were defeated by Syracuse 62-61 on Saturday to fall to 6-and-2 overall and 0-and-1 in the ACC. Tonight’s game gets underway at 6:00 PM Central time.
>>College Basketball Roundup
(Undated) — In other college hoops action yesterday, Loyola crushed Green Bay 70-46, Bradley beat SIU-Edwardsville 56-54. Tonight, Illinois State hosts Eastern Michigan.
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