Digging themselves out of an 8-0 deficit early in the first quarter against the visiting Pioneers, the Spartans rallied to finish the first half ahead 29-27. After relinquishing their fragile lead in the opening minutes of the third quarter, St. Joseph-Ogden absorbed its second loss of the season in a 64-51 decision. Here are a few moments from the game at St. Joseph-Ogden High School on Friday.
St. Joseph-Ogden controlled the game from tip to buzzer, rolling past Charleston to improve to 7-1.
CHARLESTON - After a five-game win streak was snapped by Maroa-Forsyth more than two weeks ago, the Spartans continued to build momentum Saturday night, rolling past Charleston 68-37 to extend their current run to two straight victories.
Senior Katie Ericksen led the way with a team-high 20 points, scoring 15 in the second half as St. Joseph-Ogden pulled away. Ericksen knocked down a 3-pointer in every quarter except the second, setting the tone for an offense that connected on 12 shots from beyond the arc.
The Spartans seized control from the opening tip, jumping out to a 20-7 lead after one quarter. Charleston briefly found some footing in the second, fueled by Sadie Phillips, who scored 11 of her game-high 25 points in the period to trim the deficit to 10 at halftime.
Any momentum the Trojans built didn’t survive the break.
For the second night in a row, St. Joseph-Ogden came out of the locker room with purpose, pouring in 17 third-quarter points — a total that exceeded Charleston’s entire second-half output. The Spartans kept their foot on the gas in the fourth, adding 19 more points to turn the game into a rout.
Hayden Dahl continued her recent shooting surge, drilling four 3-pointers for the second straight game to finish with 14 points. Kayla Osterbur added 11 points in the post and went 3-for-4 from the free-throw line. Addie Brooks chipped in nine points.hitting three 3-pointers in the first half.
The Trojans, whose lone win this season came against Tuscola, fell to 1-9 and face Martinsville at home on Monday.
St. Joseph-Ogden improved to 7-1 and will host Watseka on Monday before a short break. The Spartans return to action the day after Christmas against El Paso-Gridley at the State Farm Classic in Bloomington.
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After a nearly two-week layoff, St. Joseph-Ogden found its rhythm in the second half Friday night. Kayla Osterbur led the surge with strong post play. SJO pulled away for a 59-40 win.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Kayla Osterbur flashes a big smile as she heads to the locker room after dropping a game-high 19-point night in SJO's home win Friday night over LeRoy.
by Clark Brooks The Sentinel ST. JOSEPH - The rust showed early, but once it shook loose, St. Joseph-Ogden looked every bit like a team that had been waiting to play.
After nearly two weeks away from game action because of weather-related cancellations, the Spartans needed time to find their footing Friday night at LeRoy. Trailing by two at halftime, St. Joseph-Ogden flipped the switch in the third quarter, clamping down defensively and rolling to a 59-40 victory on their home court over the Panthers.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Timera Blackburn-Kelley takes a shot during the second half. The senior contributed 10 points in SJO's win.
LeRoy managed just four points in the third quarter as the Spartans seized control with back-to-back scoring runs, first a nine-point surge, then another eight-point burst that broke the game open.
“It was a good response,” SJO head coach Brian Brooks said. “We hadn’t played in a couple of weeks, and it probably showed in the first half. Our energy and effort just wasn’t very good, and we were fortunate to be only down two.”
Brooks made adjustments at halftime, leaning into opportunities inside with senior Kayla Osterbur. With the guards delivering the ball, Osterbur went to work in the paint, scoring eight points in the third quarter and closing the frame with a pair of free throws.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Hayden Dahl makes a second-half pass. The junior delivered four of SJO's 11 three-pointers.
Osterbur finished with a game-high 19 points, 17 coming in the second half.
While the post game opened the door, the perimeter slammed it shut. St. Joseph-Ogden buried 11 3-pointers, hitting three each in the first, second and fourth quarters. Hayden Dahl happily knocked down four from long range, and Katie Ericksen added three as both finished with 12 points.
Osterbur, Ashlyn Miller and Addie Brooks each connected from beyond the arc, while Timera Blackburn-Kelley chipped in a 3-pointer and finished with 10 points.
“I thought Katie was great tonight at the point, especially in the second half,” Brooks said. “She made some really good reads.”
Ericksen expected the slow start.
“I knew it was going to be a mind game for us being off for two weeks,” she said. “We knew we were going to have to put in a lot of effort to get back to where we were.”
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Spartans' Katie Ericksen looks for an open teammate to pass the ball during first quarter action against the Panthers.
The Spartans (6-1) face a quick turnaround, traveling to Charleston for a 12:30 p.m. nonconference game before hosting Watseka on Monday ahead of the State Farm Classic.
LeRoy was led by Parker Mann with 15 points and Annie Coon with 11. The Panthers fell to 8-3 and play Saturday at El Paso-Gridley.
Box Score
SJO 12 15 19 13 - 59
LeRoy 9 20 4 7 - 40
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St. Joseph-Ogden's Parker Fitch makes a pass in the second half while being pressured by Normal University's Austin Kruger. Fitch led the Spartans' offense, delivering a 17-point performance against the Pioneers. Despite a stellar night, SJO fell 64-51 to U-High.
Here are scores and recaps for Friday December 19 area prep basketball games.
Boys Basketball
Knights drop road game at Monticello
MONTICELLO - Will Hilligoss scored 15 and Brennon Hutson added another 12 in Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond's 59-41 loss to Monticello on Friday. Hutson and Cooper Shoemaker led the team in rebounding with four each.
Unity Christian trio notch double figures in win over the Sabers
CHAMPAIGN - Trailing by one at the end of the third quarter, Unity Christian roared back to win their non-conference outting at St. Thomas More, 66-61. Kenyon Greer scored a team-high 21 points for the Lions. Qayden Bond and Monty Wilson, both seniors, finished with 14 points and 12, respectively.
SJO drops home game, Fitch scores 17 in loss
ST. JOSEPH - The Spartans led by as many as nine points in the second quarter before falling 64-51 in their non-league bout against Normal U-High. Pioneers' Cameron Johnson led all scorers with 22 points for non-conference win heading into next week's State Farm Classic tournament.
The Spartans were led by Parker Fitch and his 17-point output. Nolan Franzen and Ryker Lockhart contributed 11 points each in the loss.
Cornjerkers quiet the Storm
ST. JOSEPH - The Hoopeston Area defeated the Salt Fork 42-28 on the road. Alandez Barnett scored 14 points and Nick Cardenas added another 14. Cole Miller led the team in rebounds with 10 rebounds.
Hoopeston Area is set to play their first home game on January 6th against the Comets of Oakwood.
Boys' Area Scoreboard
Normal University 64, St. Joseph-Ogden 51
Unity 50, Pleasant Plains 39
Monticello 59, Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond 41
Unity Christian 66, St. Thomas More 61
Peoria 73, Centennial 57
Champaign Central 72, Bloomington 57
Heritage 81, Arthur-Okaw Christian 75
LaSalle-Peru 59, Rantoul 38
Armstrong 63, Oakwood 52
Mahomet-Seymour 62, Effingham 48
Hoopeston Area 42, Salt Fork 28
Girls Basketball
Girls' Area Scoreboard
St. Joseph-Ogden 59, Leroy 39
Peoria Notre Dame 70, Urbana 20
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