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Marian Catholic's Ulis and his teammates won the program's first sectional title on Friday. The Spartans face Edwardsville tonight in the Class 4A Illinois State Supersectional. Ulis is averaging 21.9 points, 4.8 assists, 2.8 steals and 3.6 rebounds for the 29-3 Spartans.

Bloom's Johnny Griffin is an impact player

Bloom Township's Johnny Griffin, right, is averaging 14 points and nine rebounds per game and is a big reason the Blazing Trojans have won 15 in a row and are looking to make a return trip to Peoria.

Seton Academy's Mark Weems Jr.

Seton Academy's Mark Weems Jr. shoots over Marist's Zack Cody during a recent game. Weems is the program's all-time leading scorer with 1,270 points and was a Class 2A all-state selection last year.

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Bloom Township's Bria Gaines recently reached the 1,500-point mark in her outstanding career. Gaines, The Times 2012 Player of the Year, will play at Western Kentucky next year.

John Konecki named Crete-Monee director of football operations and head coach

Crete-Monee offensive coordinator John Konecki has been named the program's director of football operations and head coach.

T.F. South's James Cooper lookng for success at SSC meet

T.F. South's James Cooper, left, has been consistent this season. He will wrestle at 145 pounds for the South Suburban Conference meet and the state tournament.

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Marian's Tyler Ulis drives around Bloom Township's Dejahown Freeman in the championship game of the McDipper Tournament. The Spartans are 16-1 after beating state power Quincy. They face Benet Academy Thursday in a big East suburban Catholic Conference showdown.

Marian Catholic boys basketball team

Marian Catholic celebrates its 61-58 win over Bloom Township to win the recent McDipper 40. It marked the first time the Spartans have won the tournament.

MARIAN CATHOLIC WRESTLER NATE JACKSON AT 3A REGIONAL

Marian Catholic wrestler Nate Jackson was named the The Times Illinois Male Athlete of the Year.

MARIAN CATHOLIC WRESTLER NATE JACKSON

Marian Catholic wrestler Nate Jackson won the Class 2A state title at 170 pounds, and he is The Times Illinois Male Athlete of the Year.

Elise Seufert

Elise Seufert sets in a 2010 game against Lemont. She is one of the reasons the Rebels hope to contend for the South Suburban Blue title this season.

Chris Irsa

Portage police Cpl. Chris Irsa demonstrates how to use splayed fingers to poke attackers in the eyes in order to escape.

One last run for C.P.'s McCarroll

Last fall Crown Point's Lauren McCarroll won the Rich Dust Invitational in Lansing with a time of 19:38. This season McCarroll will be No. 1 on a talented Bulldogs' team.

Yuki Matsumoto

RailCats catcher Yuki Matsumoto signs an autograph for Cash Montipetit, during the 2008 season. Matsumoto is playing baseball in his native country of Japan, where he lived through the March 11 earthquake and says that daily life has changed.

Clay ends campaign due to prostate cancer

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, left, and Gary Mayor Rudy Clay applaud during a campaign rally for Indiana Democrats at the Wicker Park Social Center in Highland in October 2008.

Boys basketball, Class 2A Lake Station Sectional

Bishop Noll coach Drew Trost talks to his team during a sectional game against Lake Station. Noll won 39-35 in double overtime.

Transportation moves ahead in region

Construction slows traffic in May on the westbound Borman Expressway between Broadway and Interstate 65. The Northwestern Regional Planning Commission's formulation of a plan that could have a profound effect on transportation and land use in the region for decades to come is in the home stretch.

Freight study

Trucks travel on the Borman Expressway between Broadway and Interstate 65. From 4 million to 16 million more trucks per year will roll on Northwest Indiana and Chicago roadways by 2035, according to a freight study by consultant Cambridge Systematics.

Clark running back Cameron Copeland

Clark running back Cameron Copeland has 54 career touchdowns heading into Friday's Class 3A Sectional 17 game against Andrean.

State infrastructure rated D+

Hoosier roads received a C-. Officials with the study question long-term maintenance of highways in Indiana.

Girls Golf, Bishop Noll Sectional

Highland senior Brianne Torrenga's round of 83 at Lost Marsh during Friday's Bishop Noll Sectional was the lowest 18-hole score ever carded by a Highland girls golfer.

NIRPC plan will guide region transportation for decades

Construction slows traffic on the westbound Borman Expressway between Broadway and Interstate 65 in May. The Northwestern Regional Planning Commission's formulation of a plan that could have a profound effect on transportation and land use in the region for decades to come is in the home stretch.

Chicago mull future without Daley

Gary Mayor Rudy Clay, left, shares a laugh with Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley during an October 2008 Democratic fundraiser at the Wicker Park Social Center in Highland. Daley, who on Tuesday announced he won't seek a seventh term next year, worked with Gary mayors on Gary/Chicago Internatio…

Centier comes back strong

Centier Bank President and CEO Michael Schrage said the bank's improvement in performance in the first half of 2010 was the result of strong net interest margins, loan growth and reduced write-downs of loans and securities.

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Centier Bank's Merrillville headquarters is shown. Although Centier received a 2-star rating for the first quarter from independent ratings agency BauerFinancial, bank President and CEO Michael Schrage maintains the 115-year-old institution he leads is strong and its strategic plan implement…