Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
6-foot-3 senior Austin Langendorf gets a hand slap from a young Unity basketball fan after his team's tough 45-43 overtime loss to Pleasant Plains on Saturday.
Prep Sports Notebook | Area basketball teams post losses
SJO basketball coaches earn IBCA accolades
Coach Kiel Duval goes over the Spartans' game plan during their home game against Cissna Park last November. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
Normal -- SJO basketball head coaches Drew Arteaga and Kiel Duval will be recognized as coaches of the year at the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association annual luncheon today at Redbird Arena. The two St. Joseph-Ogden award winners are among a class of 185 Illinois basketball coaches selected this season. Arteaga led the girls' program to a 24-8 finish in his inaugural season at the helm. Duval's boys' team also finished with a 20-win season with a 23-10 record.
Coach Arteaga watches his team play against the Unity Rockets on February 5. SJO won 49-27 on their way to perfect 10-0 conference record. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
SJO seeking new head basketball coach
St. Joseph-Ogden High School is currently searching for a new head coach for the girls' basket program.
Early last month, head coach Kevin Taylor, who led the Spartans to a third-place state finish during the 2018-2019 season and secured four regional titles during his tenure, announced his retirement from the position. His five years at the helm resulted in 86 wins and 25 losses.
The successful candidate and subsequent staff will inherit a battle-tested, talented senior class with the potential to carry the program to another state final appearance.
The official position announcement is listed below.
Notice of Position Opening
School Name: St. Joseph-Ogden CHSD 305
Building Name: St. Joseph-Ogden High School
Job Title: Varsity Head Girls Basketball Coach Job Description: To fulfill the duties of high school head varsity girls basketball coach as related to the St. Joseph-Ogden High School Girls Basketball Program. Qualifications: A valid Illinois Professional Educators License or valid ASEP Certification Job Posted: 5/5/2021
End Date: Until filled
Starting Date: Upon Hire To Apply: Please send letter of interest, resume, references, and a copy of your teaching license or ASEP Certification to: Gary Page Principal
St. Joseph Ogden High School 301 N Main
St. Joseph, IL 61873
Phone: 217-469-7321
Email: pageg@sjo.k12.il.us
Building Name: St. Joseph-Ogden High School
Job Title: Varsity Head Girls Basketball Coach Job Description: To fulfill the duties of high school head varsity girls basketball coach as related to the St. Joseph-Ogden High School Girls Basketball Program. Qualifications: A valid Illinois Professional Educators License or valid ASEP Certification Job Posted: 5/5/2021
End Date: Until filled
Starting Date: Upon Hire To Apply: Please send letter of interest, resume, references, and a copy of your teaching license or ASEP Certification to: Gary Page Principal
St. Joseph Ogden High School 301 N Main
St. Joseph, IL 61873
Phone: 217-469-7321
Email: pageg@sjo.k12.il.us
An unusual season: Coaches describe basketball challenges and success
St. Joseph-Ogden's Nolan Grindley tries to reel in a loose ball in the Spartans' home game against Teutopolis on March 5.
Sentinel: This is the last week of the basketball season. What are your thoughts going into it?
Dave Ellars, Unity girls head coach: "Glad we got to play. The girls gave outstanding effort, win or lose. They are a great bunch of girls and glad I have the opportunity to coach them this year."
Kiel Duval, St. Joseph-Ogden boys head coach: "I hope our guys finish strong. It has been tough knowing there is not a post season. I've been proud of the guys daily approach. They have grown as a team. I just wish we could have had them for an entire year."
Kevin Taylor, St. Joseph-Ogden girls head coach: "It’s hard to believe the season is almost over. It has gone really fast. Overall I’m glad the girls got a chance to play But we would like to finish as strong as we can. Even with no postseason I feel it’s important to have a good finish."
Matt Reed, Unity boys head coach: "I'm just relieved that we got the entire season in. We didn't miss any games. We had a few kids get quarantined, but no one was tremendously sick, so that was a blessing."
Sentinel: How well did you and the team handle the COVID protocols? Of all the things required, what was the hardest to adapt?
Ellars: "I think we handled it very well, we were didn’t have any cases. The hardest thing is playing and coaching with a mask. Not having any fans at most away games was tough on the kids."
Taylor: "No question the girls have done an amazing job dealing with all the covid protocols. It is very difficult to play in a mask and try to maintain social distancing. But they have done the best they could."
Matt Reed: "The kids adapted very well. The biggest issue with all teams was the kids wearing the masks properly. Its hard to tell a kid to constantly pull up their mask when they are playing as hard as they can, but that was the mandate."
Sentinel: What did you learn personally coaching basketball this season and what has been the most memorable moment so far?
Matt Reed: "Our team has really improved from the beginning of the season. We have had a chance to win every game since our game with St. Joe. We competed well in that game, beat PBL and Olympia, then lost two straight games by 2 points."
Ellars: "Kids are willing to adjust so they can play. Senior night, In January I never thought we would have a season."
Taylor: "This year, seeing the emotional struggle of the pandemic and seeing how it has affected everyone. The thing I had the chance to realize is how important the team atmosphere is. Seeing everyone go through tough times but In the end how the girls have come together and develop that team bond and support each other has been a really good thing to see as a coach."
SJO picks up second victory in as many days
After squeaking by Unity the night before 58-51, the Spartans got up the next morning and hit the road to Robinson (3-4) for a non-conference game. Behind the one-two punch of Ty Pence and Evan Ingram, St. Joseph-Ogden closed the book on the contest, 53-43.
Head coach Kiel Duval credited his team's "limiting turnovers and (having) a couple guys stepping up and hitting big shots" as the key factors securing the W on Saturday, February 20. He add, "Ingram and (Andrew) Beyers gave us a huge lift with some big time shots."
A tough game the night before and a long bus ride less that 12 hours later for the Spartans did not lead to a very impressive start against the Maroons.
"I wasn't impressed in the first 3 minutes of the game with how we came out of the gates. We were not ready to play right away," Duval said. "(We) didn't lock into the scouting report or details that we talked about before the game."
After Robinson's Jeff Goble banked one in from inside the free throw lane to put the first digits on the scoreboard, Jackson Rydell found net for the first SJO bucket on a pass from Ingram to tie the score at 2-all in the first quarter.
The Spartans sloppy play contributed to a five point deficit, falling behind 10-5 at one point in the period. During a timeout Duval reminded each player of their role and strategy that was laid for the game. Their focus where it needed to be, the team got it into gear.
"We responded well after that," Duval said. "(They) got stops - made some big buckets when we needed them."
In the final 2 minutes and 14 seconds of the quarter SJO clawed their way back into the contest. Outscoring the Maroons 9-5 and still behind on the scoreboard, the Spartans trailed by one to start the next quarter, 15-14.
The second quarter looked much like first with Robinson pulling ahead by five again. And once again, St. Joseph-Ogden played catch-up basketball until the last 1:10 of the half when a Luke Hutcherson shot passed through the rim to give his team a 24-23 advantage.
The lead was short-lived. Fifty-some seconds later Goble, who finished the game with a team-high 12 points for the Maroons, hit a jumper from in front of the free throw line to give his team a 25-24 halftime lead. Gobel went on to lead his team's scoring effort with 12 points and secured nine of team's 25 total rebounds.
After the two teams returned to play the second half, St. Joseph-Ogden would go on to outscore the Robinson 29-18 to stretch their perfect record to 5-0.
Pence led all scorers with 16 points for the Spartans, eight of those from inside the free throw lane. The sophomore had 10 rebounds and was credited with one assist.
Ingram led the team in steals with two and qualified as the game's second leading scorer with 13 points. Beyer added another needed 12 points to the SJO cause.
Box Score
| Robinson | 15 | 10 | 5 | 13 | - 43 |
| St. Joseph-Ogden | 14 | 10 | 14 | 15 | - 53 |
Robinson
Gilmore 3 (0) 4-4 -- 10,
Goblee 6 (0) 0-0 -- 12,
Jackson 4 (0) 0-0 -- 8,
Johnson 0 (1) 0-0 -- 3,
King 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0,
N. Weber 0 (1) 0-0 -- 3,
Shindler 2 (0) 3-5 -- 7.
St. Joseph-Ogden
Brazelton 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0,
Costa 0 (1) 0-0 -- 3,
Hutcherson 2 (1) 0-2 -- 7,
Smith 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0,
Burch 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0,
Grindley 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0,
Wetzel 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0,
Rydell 1 (0) 0-0 -- 2,
Beyers 4 (0) 4-4 -- 12,
Atwood 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0,
Pence 4 (1) 5-7 -- 16,
Ingram 0 (4) 1-2 -- 13.
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Food & Dining |
Recipe-of-the-week:
3 Layer Arkansas Possum Pie
The star of your next spread can be hidden away in the refrigerator for a surprise delight for your guests. It's topped with chocolate syrup and chopped pecans, and your loved ones just may vote it to be their favorite dish.
It's an Arkansas Possum Pie, made with three delicious layers and crunchy toppings for a show-stopping dessert.
Recent study suggests childhood trauma could haunt Illinois adults for life
New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed 75% of U.S. high school students said they have had at least one adverse childhood experience, or ACE.
Research has shown ACEs can alter a child's brain chemistry and produce a prolonged toxic stress response. Experiencing at least one ACE as a child is linked to having alcohol and substance use problems in adulthood, and chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity.
Op-Ed |
Tipped wage system isn't working, removing taxes won't save it
Both major presidential candidates have called for eliminating taxes on tips. But that won’t help most restaurant workers.
What will? Replacing the subminimum wages that tipped workers make with one fair wage nationwide.
The federal minimum wage for most workers is just $7.25. But for workers who get tips, employers are allowed to pay them $2.13 an hour. If tips don’t raise your hourly pay to at least the ...
What will? Replacing the subminimum wages that tipped workers make with one fair wage nationwide.
The federal minimum wage for most workers is just $7.25. But for workers who get tips, employers are allowed to pay them $2.13 an hour. If tips don’t raise your hourly pay to at least the ...
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Is it depression, ADHD or bipolar disorder?
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The culprit? She says symptoms of common mental health issues like depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and bipolar disorder can overlap. So, it’s important to stay in contact with your provider to make ...
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