Spartan basketball victory snatched away in seconds

Tanner Siems takes control of the opening tip against Oakwood earlier this month. Last night, the junior led SJO with 20 points against the Beecher Bobcats.

Photo: PhotoNews Media

BEECHER - The undefeated Bobcats, boasting an 11-0 record, made two critical free throws with less than two seconds remaining in the game to hand St. Joseph-Ogden (9-1) their first loss of the season. The two top-ranked Class 2A basketball programs played to an epic down-to-the-last-second 55-53 conclusion.

In his best outing of the season, Tanner Siems finished the barnburner with 20 points and four rebounds. The junior forward made 62% from the field and was 2-for-2 from the charity stripe.

Missing every three-ball shot, Luke Landrus tallied all 11 of his points in the paint and collected five rebounds.

The last 14 seconds of the game went like this:

Screenshot from 'X'

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Tanner Jacob and Collin Thomey led the team's rebound effort with six each. Jacob finished the game with 11 points, and Thomey chipped in a field goal, closing-out the game with two points.

It was a rough evening for Logan Smith, who shot just 17% from the field, but was 6-for-8 from the free-throw line. The senior dished ten assists in the two-point loss.

With one loss on the books, St. Joseph-Ogden will start their repeat title run at the State Farm Classic this Wednesday against East Dubuque (5-7). The game tips off at Normal Community West at noon.

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