The Spartans secured the 2016 Class 2A championship with decisive performances in the state semifinals and finals. St. Joseph-Ogden defeated Breese Central after a strong second half in the semifinal. The following day, the team topped Rockridge behind balanced scoring and a standout second quarter.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
Spartans' Kohlten Johnson slashes to the paint in SJO's semifinal game against Breese Central. Johnson and the 13 members of the 2016 basketball team will be honored on Friday, February 13, in a 10-year anniversary celebration.
ST. JOSEPH - On Friday, Feb. 13, St. Joseph-Ogden will hold a 10-year anniversary recognition ceremony for the school’s first and only state championship basketball team. The celebration will be held between the JV and varsity home games against Bloomington Central Catholic. The Spartans won the Class 2A title on the strength of a 10-game winning streak to close the season. After a rough start against Breese Central in the first half of the state semifinal, the Spartans gelled into a dominant force at Carver Arena, overpowering the Cougars in the second half offensively and defensively for a 60-48 finish. A day later, SJO faced Rockridge for the title and put on a dazzling shooting display in the second quarter that matched the Rockets’ entire first-half 22-point output. Behind a game-high 20 points from Brandon Trimble and 14 from Jake Pence, St. Joseph-Ogden secured the state title in another dominant display, 61-43.
Photos: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
RIGHT: Jake Pence unloads a shot against Breese Central in Friday's semifinal game. LEFT: Brandon Trimble takes a shot over a Rockridge player in the Class 2A title game. Trimble led all scorers with 20 points. BELOW: St. Joseph-Ogden fans cheer for their team on Friday in the team's game against the Cougars.
“We had high expectations coming into the year. The guys set a goal of coming to Peoria,” SJO head coach Brian Brooks told reporters in the postgame presser. “We started slow but football went deep, which was great. Those experiences, I believe, bled over into basketball and being able to handle those.” Prior to the 2016 title run, St. Joseph-Ogden had made two previous state appearances, once in 2007 and again in 2013. All three state finalist teams were under the leadership of Brooks, now the superintendent and currently coaching the Spartan girls' basketball team for one year due to the head coach on deployment with the National Guard. The JV game against the Saints tips off at 5:30 p.m.
2015-16 St. Joseph-Ogden Boys Basketball Roster
| No. | Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ty Brown | G | 6-0 | 165 | Sr. |
| 3 | Brandon Trimble | G | 6-2 | 170 | Jr. |
| 4 | Brandon Dable | F | 6-2 | 190 | Jr. |
| 10 | Drayke Lannert | G | 5-10 | 150 | Jr. |
| 11 | Kolten Taylor | G | 5-11 | 160 | Jr. |
| 12 | Garrett Grimsley | G | 5-9 | 140 | Sr. |
| 15 | Aaron Schluter | F | 6-2 | 210 | Sr. |
| 21 | Tegan Poole | F | 5-9 | 175 | Jr. |
| 22 | Jake Pence | G | 6-0 | 160 | Sr. |
| 23 | Kohlten Johnson | F | 6-3 | 185 | Sr. |
| 30 | Jordan Brooks | G | 5-10 | 145 | So. |
| 32 | Brody Trimble | F | 6-3 | 190 | Sr. |
| 33 | Eli Oltean | F | 6-2 | 190 | Sr. |
| 35 | Ryan Ferriman | F | 5-11 | 195 | So. |
Managers: Bryce Kelly, Kenzie Pence, Madi Smith, Emma Melchior
Photos: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
SJO student fans show their enthusiasum before the start 2016 title game.
Photos: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
Jordan Brooks gives his dad and coach Brian Brooks a hug during the awards ceremony.
Photos: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
Garrett Grimsley holds SJO's Class 2A championship trophy during the postgame awards ceremony.
