SJO basketball games rescheduled

The St. Joseph-Ogden boys junior varsity and varsity basketball game against Bloomington Central Catholic, originally scheduled for Tuesday, will played on Monday, March 1, at St. Joseph-Ogden High School. The JV game will start at 5:30pm and the varsity contest to start afterwards according to an email from Activities Director Justin Franzen.

SJO's girls' JV and varsity teams play their postponed game on March 11 at Central Catholic. As with the boys times above, the junior varsity girls their game at 5:30pm. The varsity game will follow after a brief intermission and warm-up period.

All four games will be streamed on the NFHS Network for Spartan fans.

Unity basketball tips off tonight

Unity's Blake Kimball brings the ball down the floor
Unity's Blake Kimball dribbles the ball down the floor during first half action in last year's home game against St. Joseph-Ogden. The Rockets will host the Spartans on February 19.

Photo: PhotoNews/Clark Brooks

The Unity varsity boys basketball team open their 2021 season on the road tonight at Maroa-Forsyth.

Under normal circumstances due to the COVID-19 state health department protocols, spectator capacity is limited to just 25 spectators for the away team. However, Rocket fans can catch tonight's game on the NFHS network from the comfort of their home at 7pm. The junior varsity contest at 5:30pm will also be streamed.

The cost to watch NFHS Network streaming events start a monthly subscription cost of $10.99 per month. Fans can save almost half of the year fee by purchasing an annual subscription at $69.99. The NFHS will donate a portion of the annual subscription fee to the school you select when you sign up. Schedule and times for all Unity high school and middle school basketball games can be found here.

The Rockets will host seven opponents on their 13-game schedule this season. Here is the current schedule for the 2021.


2021 Unity Boys Basketball Schedule

02/02/2021     Tue • 7:00 PM     @ Maroa Forsyth High School
02/05/2021     Fri • 7:00 PM     vs. Paris High School
02/09/2021     Tue • 7:00 PM     vs. IVC High School
02/12/2021     Fri • 7:00 PM     vs. Pontiac High School
02/16/2021     Tue • 7:00 PM     @ Prairie Central High School
02/19/2021     Fri • 7:00 PM     vs. St. Joseph-Ogden High School
02/20/2021     Sat • 3:30 PM     @ PBL High School
02/23/2021     Tue • 7:00 PM     @ Olympia High School
02/26/2021     Fri • 7:00 PM     vs. Monticello High School
03/02/2021     Tue • 7:00 PM     @ St. Thomas More High School
03/05/2021     Fri • 7:00 PM     vs. Rantoul High School
03/06/2021     Sat • 4:30 PM     vs. Tuscola High School
03/09/2021     Tue • 7:00 PM     @ Central Catholic High School

Spartan basketball schedule is out and players are ready

The first St. Joseph-Ogden basketball game of the season tips off next Thursday when the girls' team will square off in a rematch at home against Villa Grove on February 4. The Blue Devils, who were eliminated from the IHSA postseason by the Spartans a mere 51 weeks - give or take a few days - ago, will be seeking revenge for the 50-34 loss in 2020.

Peyton Jacob drives to paint for the Spartans
Payton Jacob drives to the paint during the St. Joseph-Ogden's girls last home game in 2020. The Lady Spartans debut in their first home game of year next Thursday against Villa Grove. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
The boys squad also opens at home next week. On Friday, the SJO boys squad will take the floor against Cissna Park in the main gym at the high school. The Spartans will have six more home games before closing out their season on the road at Monticello.

The Spartans' ultra shortened season for both the girls and boys will end on March 8 and 9 respectively with no postseason play as per the recently released IHSA schedule that is squeezing normally ten months of prep sports and activities into five. Both varsity and junior varsity squads on each side will play a 12-game schedule this season.

Despite the low number of contests, players are excited to finally be able to get out on the court and compete.

"I know my teammates are all just as excited as I am," said St. Joseph-Ogden junior Taylor Wells. "We have all been waiting for answers on whether or not our season would happen since November. My team and I are very excited to be back in the gym getting to work."

Ty Pence, whose skill set and work ethic on the hardwood is paying dividends as his stock rises as a top college prospect in Illinois, echoed Wells' enthusiasm.

"I was very excited when I heard the news," he said. "I’m glad that our seniors will have a chance to have their season and hopefully we can be the best we can be.

Below are this year's boys and girls junior varsity and varsity schedules.


St. Joseph-Ogden Junior Varsity Basketball Schedule

Boys

02/05/2021
Cissna Park High School
SJO Main Gym • 6:00 PM

02/09/2021
St. Thomas More High School
SJO Main Gym • 5:30 PM

02/12/2021
Rantoul High School
Rantoul High School • 5:30 PM

02/16/2021
Bloomington Central Catholic High School
SJO Main Gym • 5:30 PM

02/19/2021
Unity High School
Unity High School • 5:30 PM

02/23/2021
Pontiac High School
SJO Main Gym • 5:30 PM

02/26/2021
Prairie Central High School
Prairie Central High School • 5:30 PM

03/02/2021
Illinois Valley Central High School
SJO Main Gym • 5:30 PM

03/05/2021
Olympia High School
SJO Main Gym • 5:30 PM

03/06/2021
Teutopolis High School
SJO Main Gym • 1:00 PM

03/09/2021
Monticello High School
Monticello High School • 5:30 PM

Girls

02/04/21
Villa Grove High School
SJO Main Gym • 06:00 PM

02/08/21
St. Thomas More High School
St. Thomas More High School • 05:30 PM

02/11/21
Rantoul High School
SJO Main Gym • 05:30 PM

02/15/21
Bloomington Central Catholic High School
Bloomington Central Catholic • 05:30 PM

02/18/21
Unity High School
SJO Main Gym • 05:30 PM

02/22/21
Pontiac High School
Pontiac High School • 05:30 PM

02/25/21
Prairie Central High School
SJO Main Gym • 05:30 PM

02/27/21
Paris High School
Paris High School • 11:00 AM

03/01/21
Illinois Valley Central High School
Illinois Valley Central High School • 05:30 PM

03/04/21
Olympia High School
Olympia High School • 05:30 PM

03/06/21
Teutopolis High School
Teutopolis High School • 01:00 PM

03/08/21
Monticello High School
SJO Main Gym • 05:30 PM


St. Joseph-Ogden Varsity Basketball Schedule

Boys

02/05/21
Cissna Park High School
SJO Main Gym • 07:30 PM

02/09/21
St. Thomas More High School
SJO Main Gym • 07:00 PM

02/12/21
Rantoul High School
Rantoul High School • 07:00 PM

02/16/21
Bloomington Central Catholic High School
SJO Main Gym • 07:00 PM

02/19/21
Unity High School
Unity High School • 07:00 PM

02/23/21
Pontiac High School
SJO Main Gym • 07:00 PM

02/26/21
Prairie Central High School
Prairie Central High School • 07:00 PM

03/02/21
Illinois Valley Central High School
SJO Main Gym • 07:00 PM

03/05/21
Olympia High School
SJO Main Gym • 07:00 PM

03/06/21
Teutopolis High School
SJO Main Gym • 02:30 PM

03/09/21
Monticello High School
Monticello High School • 07:00 PM

Girls

02/04/21
Villa Grove High School
SJO Main Gym • 07:30 PM

02/08/21
St. Thomas More High School
St. Thomas More High School • 07:00 PM

02/11/21
Rantoul High School
SJO Main Gym • 07:00 PM

02/15/21
Bloomington Central Catholic High School
Bloomington Central Catholic • 07:00 PM

02/18/21
Unity High School
SJO Main Gym • 07:00 PM

02/22/21
Pontiac High School
Pontiac High School • 07:00 PM

02/25/21
Prairie Central High School
SJO Main Gym • 07:00 PM

02/27/21
Paris High School
Paris High School • 12:30 PM

03/01/21
Illinois Valley Central High School
Illinois Valley Central High School • 07:00 PM

03/04/21
Olympia High School
Olympia High School • 07:00 PM

03/06/21
Teutopolis High School
Teutopolis High School • 02:30 PM

03/08/21
Monticello High School
SJO Main Gym • 07:00 PM