Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Up and away, Spartans hand visiting Bullets 10-point loss
Area high school basketball results for January 3
Here is a quick roundup of basketball scores for area team on Saturday, January 3.
Girls Basketball
Girls' Area Scoreboard
Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley 55, St. Joseph-Ogden 54
Heritage 47, Fisher 37
Boys Basketball
Boys' Area Scoreboard
Unity 82, Paris 50
LeRoy 74, Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond 26
Rantoul 63, Normal West 58
Addie Brooks powers St. Joseph-Ogden past Watseka in shootout win
St. Joseph-Ogden used balanced scoring and composure on the road to beat Watseka 65-54. Brooks, Ericksen and Hayden Dahl combined for 45 points for the Spartans.
by Clark Brooks The Sentinel
WATSEKA - St. Joseph-Ogden arrived at Watseka High School on Monday facing a Warriors team that had built its reputation on defense, but the Spartans left with a statement road win and a familiar formula: balance, patience and perimeter shooting.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Addie Brooks follows through on a shot during the Spartans home game against LeRoy. The senior scored 18 points in last Monday's game against Watseka.
Ericksen leads offense, SJO long-range threat secures another win
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.
Photo of the Day |Aggressive rebound, SJO falls in first trip to state
![Ashley [Runck] Krisman playing basketball for St. Joseph-Ogden](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdL8RfdbABQ8cooVkamnw0QfTbYFl-ULbCyGHfQNh8nnL7Srh_xisKPlDc8ZH7SYSeh24SUc_PH_nl9FCxQ4U4E2xu8q_Cs08X04zM6KDmyTUhrZ_FT4_bIWkH70h18ZV47YhhqHgGgMlfStraVyiPaDcy1rdSibg8j1miJdUmIz1iRK5KkWiuWsQ058/s1600-rw/07gbbst_sjovbc202.JPG)
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
Normal - St. Joseph-Ogden's Ashley Runck snatches a loose ball away from Breese Central's Lauren Budde during their Class 1A state quarterfinal game at Redbird Arena on January 23, 2007. In the final year of the girls' two-class system, the Spartans fell to the eventual state champion Cougars 56-39 in the state quarterfinals. It was deepest post season run for SJO since the start of the girls' basketball program in 1973. Runck led the Spartans (29-4) in the loss with 12 points. Twelve years later, the St. Joseph-Ogden girls' basketball program returned to Redbird, finishing third in Class 2A.
SJO Hosts Toyota of Danville Classic, McNamara returns to defend title
The Toyota of Danville Classic returns to St. Joseph-Ogden next week where basketball fans can enjoy the mix of high-energy basketball, strategy, and fast breaks.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
St. Joseph-Ogden's Ryker Lockhart fights to snag a rebound with McNamara's Callaghan O'Connor under the rim during the Toyota of Danville Classic championship match in 2024. The Fightin' Irish defeated the 2023 champion Spartans in a fierce battle 57-48. O'Conner finished with seven points, while Lockhart led SJO with 12 points. The two juniors and their teams are projected to square off again in the title game on December 6.
ST. JOSEPH - St. Joseph-Ogden High School will welcome some of the region’s top teams next week for the annual Toyota of Danville Classic, an early-season basketball tournament that promises five days of fast-paced action and intense competition. Known as The Leader Classic for nearly three decades before being renamed in 2018, this year’s tournament runs Tuesday, Dec. 2, through Saturday, Dec. 6. Last year’s champion, Bishop McNamara, who edged St. Joseph-Ogden 57-48 in the title game, returns along with all seven teams from the previous field. Pool A features Cissna Park, Charleston, PBL, and Bishop McNamara, while Pool B includes Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond, Oakwood, host St. Joseph-Ogden, and Watseka. Fans can look forward to 16 games over the course of the tournament, highlighted by the 35-second shot clock and the usual mix of high-energy play and early-season matchups. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students per night, covering all three games scheduled each evening. Tournament play opens Tuesday at 5 p.m., kicking off what promises to be another memorable edition of the Classic.
2025 Toyota of Danville Classic Schedule
Pool A:
Cissna Park
Charleston
PBL
Kankakee Bishop McNamara
Pool B:
Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond
Oakwood
St. Joseph-Ogden
Watseka
Tuesday, 12/2/25:
5:00 PM: Kankakee Bishop McNamara vs. Charleston
6:30 PM: ALAH vs. St. Joseph-Ogden
8:00 PM: Cissna Park vs. PBL
Wednesday, 12/3/25:
5:00 PM: Watseka vs. Oakwood
6:30 PM: PBL vs. Kankakee Bishop McNamara
8:00 PM: Charleston vs. Cissna Park
Thursday, 12/4/25:
5:00 PM: Oakwood vs. ALAH
6:30 PM: Watseka vs. St. Joseph-Ogden
8:00 PM: Charleston vs. PBL
Friday, 12/5/25:
5:00 PM: Cissna Park vs. Kankakee Bishop McNamara
6:30 PM: ALAH vs. Watseka
8:00 PM: Oakwood vs. St. Joseph-Ogden
Saturday, 12/6/25:
1:00 PM: 7th Place Game
2:30 PM: 5th Place Game
4:00 PM: 3rd Place Game
5:30 PM: 1st Place Game
Christie Clinic Shootout returns in January: Unity, Monticello, SJO are back
The 2026 Christie Clinic Shootout tips off Jan. 10 at SJO, featuring six top varsity matchups and a full day of basketball excitement.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Monticello's Ike Young tries to dribble past Seneca's Grant Siegal. The Sages return to the Christie Clinic Shootout without Young in January 2026.
by Clark Brooks
Sentinel Sports
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Collin Thomey snags a rebound for St. Joseph-Ogden in the 2025 Christie Clinic Shootout. SJO will play Tremont in the shootout finale on January 10.
Mt. Zion returns to the shootout after a narrow 65-60 loss to Moline in last year’s lineup, while Bismarck-Henning also comes back following a hard-fought 68-62 victory over Normal University earlier this season. Between these returning programs and the IPC contenders, fans can expect fast play, defensive grit, and more than a few highlight moments. All JV and varsity games will feature eight-minute quarters, with roughly 12 minutes between contests for warmups. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for students with valid IDs. One ticket grants access to the entire day — a chance to see six competitive varsity games and an equally engaging lineup of JV contests.
2026 Christie Clinic Shootout Schedule
1:30 PM: (SE Locker Room) Metamora vs. Mahomet-Seymour (NW Locker Room)
3:00 PM: (SW Locker Room) Peoria vs. Mt. Zion (NE Locker Room)
4:30 PM: (SE Locker Room) El Paso-Gridley vs. Monticello (NW Locker Room)
6:00 PM: (SW Locker Room) Warrensburg-Latham vs. Unity (NE Locker Room)
7:30 PM: (SE Locker Room) Tremont vs. St. Joseph-Ogden (NW Locker Room)
Junior Varsity (SJO PRACTICE GYM) 10:00 AM: (SE Locker Room) Eureka vs. BHRA (NW Locker Room)
11:30 AM: (SW Locker Room) Metamora vs. Mahomet-Seymour (NE Locker Room)
1:00 PM: (B103) Peoria vs. Mt. Zion (B106)
2:30 PM: (B102) El Paso-Gridley vs. Monticello (B105)
4:00 PM: (B103) Warrensburg-Latham vs. Unity (B106)
5:30 PM: (B102) Tremont vs. St. Joseph-Ogden (B105)
More Christie Clinic headlines
Parker Fitch’s 27 points lead St. Joseph-Ogden past Eagles
RANTOUL - Parker Fitch had a career night, scoring 27 points in his 29-minute appearance for St. Joseph-Ogden in the team's road game against the Eagles (13-14). The junior went 7-for-7 from the free-throw line and finished 6-for-11 from three-point range in SJO's 77-55 Illini Prairie victory on Tuesday.
Senior Tanner Siems recorded a double-double, scoring 19 points and dominating the paint with 14 of the Spartans' 32 rebounds.
Starting guard Coy Taylor rounded out the top three scorers with 10 points, five rebounds and two assists, helping secure SJO's 18th win of the season and ending a two-game skid.
The win improved St. Joseph-Ogden to 6-1 in the Illini Prairie Conference, setting up a dramatic matchup Friday night at home against Unity with conference title implications. The Rockets are the only undefeated team in the conference at 7-0. The forecasted freezing rain could be a factor, but if conditions hold, it promises to be an exciting night of high school basketball on Valentine's Day.
St. Joseph-Ogden Basketball dominates in Illini Prairie Conference road win
CHAMPAIGN - Four St. Joseph-Ogden players scored in double figures as the Spartans cruised to an 85-33 victory over St. Thomas More in an Illini Prairie Conference matchup Tuesday night. The nearly complete team effort propelled SJO to a dominant performance on the road.
With the win, the St. Joseph-Ogden basketball team improved to 16-5 overall and remains tied with Unity at the top of the IPC standings, both teams holding a perfect 4-0 record in conference play.
Kody McKinney led the Spartans with 16 points, including six of eight shots from the field and 4-for-6 from the free-throw line. The 5-foot-10 junior also dished out three assists in just 16 minutes of play. Collin Thomey and Nolan Franzen each added 15 points, while Parker Fitch contributed 13 points to round out the top scorers. Franzen also led the team in rebounds with eight, followed by senior Tanner Siems, who grabbed six boards.
The Spartans showcased their depth, with five additional players contributing to a combined team shooting percentage of 51%. Meanwhile, St. Thomas More struggled offensively, making only 14 of 39 field goal attempts and converting just one of nine free-throw opportunities.
SJO will look to continue its strong Illini Prairie Conference campaign when it hosts Monticello (11-9) this Friday at the high school. Despite conference losses to Paxton-Buckley-Loda and Central Catholic, Monticello remains a tough opponent after an impressive victory over Seneca at the Christie Clinic Shootout.
Kody McKinney is all smiles after earning his 2025 Christie Clinic Shootout Player of the Game award. On Tuesday, the junior led the Spartans to a conference win over St. Thomas More with 16 points.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Tanner Siems logs another double-double, SJO wins IPC game at IVC
CHILLICOTHE - In another thrilling display on the hardwood, St. Joseph-Ogden showcased their prowess, securing a hard-earned victory over Illinois Valley Central with a final score of 58-53. Tanner Siems proved to be a standout for the Spartans, delivering his second double-double of the week. The senior dominated beneath the basket, racking up 22 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. His defensive tenacity was on full display with three steals, contributing crucially to his team's defensive effort.
Leading the charge in scoring was Coy Taylor, who notched an impressive 23 points, including a stellar 12-for-16 performance from the free-throw line. Taylor, a senior leader for St. Joseph-Ogden, also tallied nine rebounds and led the team in assists, further solidifying his impact on the game.
Despite a lean bench rotation that saw action from only eight players, the Spartans managed to convert 19 of their 52 field goal attempts, showing efficiency particularly from the charity stripe where they sank 18 of 28 attempts. Parker Fitch and Collin Thomey were perfect from the line, each contributing crucial points in the victory.
Looking ahead, the 13-5 Spartans remain focused as they prepare to host the Prairie Central Hawks (6-13) later today at 5:30 PM. Seeking their third conference win, St. Joseph-Ogden aims to maintain their momentum in the competitive Illini Prairie Conference.
More SJO Sports ~
- Kearney leads Spartans in conference loss at Monticello
- "You got to be ready" - SJO bench steps up when called in SFHC opener
- Photo Gallery | St. Joseph-Ogden vs Warrensburg-Latham
- SJO continues to dominate IPC foes at conference meet, defeats Rantoul 58-16
Kearney leads Spartans in conference loss at Monticello
MONTICELLO - Coming off an 18-point decision over St. Thomas More earlier in the week, the St. Joseph-Ogden girls' basketball team lost 34-24 on the road at Monticello on Thursday.
Going 3-for-4 from the free-throw line, Sara Kearney led St. Joseph-Ogden with 10 points. Katie Ericksen finished with eight points. Kayla Osterbur collected four points in the second quarter, and Timera Blackburn-Kelley was held to just a third-quarter field goal.
The Spartans held a one-point lead after the first quarter, but the Sages found their stride in the second quarter, outscoring their visitors 21-13 over the next two frames. Each team made just one field goal in the fourth quarter, with the remainder of the scoring coming from free-throw conversions.
Monticello enjoyed scoring from seven players. Megan Allen led all scorers with 13 points. Sophomore Sara Cresap finished with 10 points, contributing in all four quarters for the Sages. Ali Weidmer, another sophomore, contributed five points, and Annie Robinson, who scored the only bucket in the final quarter, drained a trey to round out Monticello's top scorers.
St. Joseph-Ogden drops to 2-3 in the Illini Prairie Conference and 8-12 overall.
Monticello improves to 2-2 in the conference and 12-8 overall. The conference is currently led by Bloomington Central Catholic at 4-0, followed by Illinois Valley Central. The Unity Rockets round out the top three spots in the IPC.
Next week, St. Joseph-Ogden hosts St. Teresa on Monday at the high school. On Thursday, the Spartans travel to Bloomington to take on the undefeated Saints.
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