The Sentinel: 12/03/24

St. Joseph-Ogden girls’ basketball squad secures first win of the season

TUSCOLA - The St. Joseph-Ogden girls' basketball team notched its first win of the season Tuesday night, defeating Tuscola 38-30 in a hard-fought road game. The Spartans used a strong second-half surge to seize control after a tightly contested opening.

The Spartans (1-3) were paced by standout Kayla Osterbur, who delivered a game-high 17 points, including nine in a decisive fourth-quarter performance. Timera Blackburn-Kelley added nine points, while Hayden Dahl provided a crucial spark off the bench, sinking four of six free throws en route to seven points. Contributions from Addie Brooks and Katie Ericksen rounded out the Spartans’ balanced attack.

Tuscola (2-3) held a slim 7-5 lead at the end of the first quarter and remained in front by a point at halftime, 16-15. Ava Boyer led the Warriors with 15 points, while Reese Davis added six. However, Tuscola struggled to maintain momentum as St. Joseph-Ogden turned up the defensive intensity in the second half.

The third quarter saw the Spartans shift gears, holding the Warriors to just five points while gaining a 24-21 lead. Key three-pointers from Osterbur and Dahl, combined with Blackburn-Kelley’s field goal and plus one free throw, fueled the rally. In the final period, the Spartans found their offensive rhythm, tallying their highest-scoring quarter with 14 points to seal the win.

Looking ahead, and still on the road, St. Joseph-Ogden faces Oakwood (2-5) on Wednesday before hosting their first home game of the season Thursday against Danville.

Haas and Meharry lead Unity in tough loss at Clinton

CLINTON - In their first game following the Thanksgiving holiday, the Unity girls basketball team struggled to gel on offense, falling 54-30 on the road to Clinton on Monday night. The Rockets were unable to contain the balanced attack from Clinton's offense while facing difficulty generating scoring opportunities.

After trailing 19-7 after the first quarter, the Unity was unable to generate enough momentum to close the initial gap on the Maroons. The loss drops the Rockets to 4-2 on the season, ending a three-game win streak. Meanwhile, Clinton improved to an identical 4-2 record. The victory marks the second straight win for the Maroons after a pair of tough losses to Deer Creek-Mackinaw and Decatur MacArthur.

The deficit was engineered by Clinton's Clara Dempsey, who poured in a game-high 16 points. Teammates Regan Filkin and Avery Smith added nine points each, while Lilah Cluver contributed eight to round out the team's scoring effort. The victory marks Clinton’s second consecutive win after two earlier losses against Deer Creek-Mackinaw and Decatur MacArthur.

For Unity, seniors Lauren Haas and Clair Meharry each scored nine points, providing much of the Rockets' offensive output. However, the team couldn’t find consistent scoring support, with McKinley Weller and Mackenzie Pound adding three points each. Josie Cler, Grace Bickers, and Emily Decker scored two points apiece.

The loss marked a temporary setback for the Rockets, who now turn their focus to a four-game home stand starting tonight against Cissna Park. The Rockets look to rebound by capitalizing on their home-court advantage, facing Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond on Thursday before hosting Urbana next Monday and Watseka the following Saturday.

Collin Thomey leads Spartans in win over ALAH at Toyota of Danville Classic

Ryker Lockhart comes up with a loose ball

St. Joseph-Ogden's Ryker Lockhart and Tim Blackburn-Kelley try to grab a loose ball during their team's season opener at the Toyota of Danville Classic on Monday.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

ST. JOSEPH - St. Joseph-Ogden opened their season in commanding fashion Monday, defeating Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond 77-33 in the Toyota of Danville Classic. Led by senior Collin Thomey’s 20-point performance, SJO utilized decisive scoring runs to overpower the Knights and showcase their explosive offensive сapabilities.

With ALAH's Kendall Schrock guarding him, Spartan Collin Thomey slashes to the basket. The senior led all scorers with 20 points.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

The Spartans (1-0) jumped out to a 9-0 lead before Will Hilligoss put ALAH on the board, setting the tone for the game. A six-point run midway through the first quarter, highlighted by strong interior play from Tanner Siems, pushed the score to 22-11. Another six-point burst in the second quarter stretched the lead from 22-14 to 31-14, creating a cushion that the Knights could not overcome.

SJO’s dominance peaked in the third quarter with an 11-point scoring run out of the halftime break. Siems fueled the charge with back-to-back buckets before Thomey scored three consecutive baskets to put the game out of reach at 53-21.

SJO’s offensive firepower was evident, with four players finishing in double figures. Thomey led all scorers with 20 points, converting six of seven free throws. Siems contributed 13 points, including pivotal moments during the Spartans' runs. Lane McKinney provided a spark off the bench with 11 points in the fourth quarter, while Tim Blackburn-Kelley added 10 points in limited action.

SJO's Tanner Siems swats a shot attempt by ALAH's Will Hilligoss during the second half. The senior finished with 13 points in the team's first game of the season.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

The Spartans’ defense stifled ALAH (0-2), holding the Knights to just five points in the third quarter and forcing numerous turnovers. Nate Hale led ALAH with 11 points, followed by Hilligoss with eight, while Brennon Hutson and Kendall Schrock chipped in four apiece.

SJO faces Watseka tonight at 6:30 PM in the Main Gym after ALAH's 5 PM matchup against Charleston, who also seeks redemption after a 59-44 loss to Triad last week.

McNamara Overpowers Oakwood in Toyota of Danville Classic opener

Oakwood's Brandt Hobick tries dribble into the paint past McNamara's Teddy Fogel during their first game in Toyota of Danville Classic at St. Joseph-Ogden High School. Hobick delivered a game-high 11 points for the Comets.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

ST. JOSEPH — In a battle of unbeaten teams, Bishop McNamara stormed past the Oakwood, 74-31, in the opening round of the Toyota of Danville Classic on Monday. McNamara's dominant performance highlighted their offensive depth and resilience on defense, while Oakwood’s struggles tarnished their previously unbeaten record.

The Fightin’ Irish (4-0) set the tone early, racing to a 20-point first quarter and maintaining pressure with 23 and 21 points in the second and third quarters, respectively.

Willie Felton led the charge with 17 points, delivering all his scoring by the end of the third quarter. Trey Provost added 12 points, while Coen Demack and Callaghan O’Connor contributed eight apiece. McNamara’s 34 baskets, all but two from inside the arc, showcased efficient ball movement and consistent finishes at the rim.

Bishop McNamara's Teddy Fogel tries to block a fourth-quarter shot by Oakwood's Jaethan Perez.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Oakwood (5-1) struggled to match McNamara’s pace, scoring just seven points in the first quarter and eight in the second. Brandt Hobick paced the Comets with 11 points, while Carsen Dudley scored nine and Alex Wallace added six. Despite hitting five three-pointers, Oakwood was unable to find its range at the free-throw line, going 4-for-13 and managing just two points in the final quarter.

The win solidifies McNamara’s place as an early favorite in the tournament. Next, they face Paxton-Buckley-Loda on Wednesday, a team coming off a solid 60-37 win over Cissna Park.

Oakwood looks to regroup quickly for their nightcap matchup against PBL in the round-robin tournament tonight at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.