Prep Sports

Darth Winkler football player of the year portrait

December 6, 2010

Lewistown High School's Darth Winkler is the 2010 Small School Football Player of the Year for the Peoria Journal Star.

Peoria Notre Dame wrestling tourney

December 4, 2010

Springfield's Kris Kramer reacts as he fights off a pin from Eureka's Chris Griffieth during a tournament on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010, at Notre Dame High School.

The referee watches closely as a Limestone wrestler attempts to pin his Springfield counterpart during a tournament on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010, at Notre Dame High School.

Peoria Heights-Beardstown basketball

December 3, 2010

Peoria Heights' Zach Wilson (54) peeks out at the court as teammate Jon Lowry, right, holds the ball ready to lead the team out of the locker room before a game against Beardstown on Friday, Dec. 3, 2010, in Peoria Heights.

Peoria Heights' Jimmy Smith (24) chases a loose ball in front of Beardtown's Deion Summers and Jared Rohn (20) during a game on Friday, Dec. 3, 2010, in Peoria Heights.

Richwoods-Morton girl’s basketball

December 2, 2010

Richwoods guard Mariah Smith (25) reacts as she draws contact from Morton's Kate Byrne, left, and Lexi Ellis during a game on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010, at Richwoods High School.

Morton's Lexi Ellis (4) reacts after the team committed a turnover in the second half of a game on Thursday, Dec 2, 2010, at Richwoods High School.

Peoria Manual-Chicago Marshall basketball

November 27, 2010

On Friday I covered high school basketball for the first time this season. The paper sent me over to Canton, Ill. to shoot a portrait then cover Peoria Manual in the basketball tournament there. The gym where the tourney was held isn’t very well illuminated so I strobed it up. I had never strobed basketball with speedlights before coming into the game. I ended up sticking a couple Nikon SB-800s on light stands in the bleachers on each side and aimed them at the top of the key. On the stands each speedlight ended up being elevated about 10 feet above court level and were about 10 feet off the court perpendicular to the baseline. They were fired at 1/4th power at 70 mm zoom. That gave me an exposure of 1/250th of a second, f/2.8 at 400 ISO. I made it into the third quarter before I killed the batteries on one of them. Always remember to bring some extra batteries if you’re using speedlights.