Throwback Thursday | Spartans beat Momence by 12

SJO wins at home

St. Joseph-Ogden's Aaron Woller dribbles the ball around a Momence player during the Spartans' home game on February 8, 2013. Woller drained two free throws in the fourth quarter to help SJO defeat the visiting Redskins, 53-41. Woller and the St. Joseph-Ogden program went on to finish the season fourth in the state in Class 2A.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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Photo of the Day | December 30, 2022

McGwire Atwood celebrates SJO win
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

SJO holds on the win semifinal at SFHC
BLOOMINGTON - St. Joseph-Ogden's McGwire Atwood celebrates his team's 72-69 win over Rockford Lutheran at the State Farm Holiday Classic on Thursday. With less than four seconds on the clock and Crusaders with possession, Atwood managed to snag the ball on the last play of the game to keep it from going into overtime. The Spartans, who started the tourney as the #1 seed, advance to the title game on Friday against Normal University High at 5:15pm. The game will be played at the Shirk Center on the Illinois Wesleyan University Campus.

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Prep Sports Notebook | Frick drops 20 in SJO's road game at Oakwood

  • St. Joseph-Ogden 56, Oakwood 23: Addison Frick was perfect at the free throw line, 2-for-2, while leading the Spartans to their second-straight victory heading into the Christmas holiday lull. The 5-foot-7 junior finished the night with a game-high 20 points in the non-conference game moved to Wednesday evening to avoid inclement weather bearing down on East Central Illinois. Classmate Addison Seggebruch scored 10 points in SJO's sixth win of the season.

    Seven other players contributed in the team effort heading into the State Farm Classic, where they will open tournament play against the Sherrard Tigers (9-2) in the Small School bracket.

    Senior Addie Wright carried the Comets scoring effort with eight points and Jaydah Arrowsmith added a free throw, a three-pointer, and short-range bucket in the the loss.


  • Just a mid-season reminder to varsity coaches at Unity, Urbana Uni-High, Urbana High School or St. Joseph-Ogden, please send us your box scores, statistical leaders for each game, and other info via email to sports@oursentinel.com or editor@oursentinel.com.

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    Prep Sports Notebook | Hoopeston drops close game at Watseka tourney, SJO picks up win

    Cornjerkers suffer heartbreaking loss

    WATSEKA - The Hoopeston Area basketball team dropped their first conference game of the season to Milford at the Watseka Christmas Tournament on Thursday. Despite seven players contributing to the final outcome, the Cornjerkers (4-6, 1-1) came up short, 70-67.

    Anthony Zamora led Hoopeston's scoring effort with 19 points. Preston VanDeVeer finished the night with a 13-point effort. Kendrick Sigrill, who hauled down 12 rebounds, and Wyatt Eisenman chipped in 12 points apiece. Owen Root added another 8 points, Mason Rush finished with 2 points, and Ethan Steiner added one more in the conference loss.

    Cornjerkers continue their quest at the Watseka tournament facing St. Anne tomorrow.

    Hug drains 5 treys

    BISMARCK - St. Joseph-Ogden Taylor Hug led all scorers with a game-high 19 points in her team's 50-31 win over Bismarck-Henning. The senior was also a perfect 2-for-2 from the free throw line. She swished a three-pointer in every quarter except for the third, where she drained an extra.

    Teammate Addison Frick hit three shots from behind the arc on her way to a 12-point finish for the Spartans. Addie Martinie contributed 12 points, and Addie Seggebruch rounded out the team's scoring effort with nine points.

    The road win improves SJO's season record to 4-6. The Spartans travel to Pleasant Plains on Saturday for another non-conference contest.

    Uni-High falls to Salt Fork at home

    URBANA - The Illineks scored 10 points in all four quarters but came up short in their non-conference home game against the visiting Storm from Salt Fork 74-40 on Wednesday. U-High is 1-11 on the season after the loss.

    ** This page will be updated as results are reported oursentinel.com **
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    Photo-of-the-Day: January 2, 2022

    Nate Michael
    Dribbling in his father footsteps
    St. Joseph-Ogden's Nate Michael brings the ball down the court on the same floor that his father once did as a member of the Illinois basketball team at the State Farm Center on Saturday, December 7, 2013. The Spartans, who placed fourth in last year's state tournament in Class 2A, defeated the Sages 70-53 in the Centennial Shootout at the University of Illinois' State Farm Center. SJO improved to 3-0 on the season while Michael finished the game with 13 points and five steals. See more photos from this game.

    Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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    First quarter run seals SJO's first tournament win

    Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
    St. Joseph-Ogden's Hayden Brazelton goes up for an offensive rebound with Cissna Park's Tyler Newkomm during their first pool play contest at the Toyota of Danville Classic on Tuesday. Taking advantage of a 13-point first-quarter run and burying 10 three-pointers during the game, the Spartan (2-0) offensive firepower yielded a 78-53 win. Next up, SJO faces Oakwood at 8pm on Tuesday, December 1.
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    Spartans cruise past Chargers at Turkey Tournament

    Ella Armstrong takes the ball to the hole
    St. Joseph-Ogden's Ella Armstrong dribbles between Centennial's Aleah Emers and Kennedy Ramshaw on her way to the basket. Armstrong scored a game-high 18 points in the Spartans' third game of the season. See more photos from this game here.

    St. Joseph -- St. Joseph-Ogden had 17 points on the scoreboard before the Centennial Chargers lit up digits on their side in the last 18 seconds of the first quarter with a couple of free throws during the third game of the Toyota of Danville Turkey Tournament last Thursday. Building up a comfortable 25-6 first-half lead, the Spartans went on to a convincing 54-26 victory.

    Senior Ella Armstrong scored eight points in the first half and ten in the second, finishing with a game-high 18 points.

    Ashlyn Lannert had 11 points, Payton Jacob finished with eight, and Peyton Jones added another seven to round out the top three scorers for the Spartans (3-0).

    "It's amazing. I'm so proud of our girls," said first-year SJO girls coach Drew Arteaga, who now coaches on the very same hardwood he played on himself as a Spartan. He was proud that his team won their inaugural girls' holiday tournament. "It happened because of all of their hard work."

    The Chargers scoring effort was led by Mia Dejesus and Avery Loschen, both with nine points apiece. Centennial finished the tournament with a 1-2 record.


    Box Score

    St. Joseph-Ogden 54 - Centennial 26

    St. Joseph-Ogden -
    Lannert 11-0-11, Frick 2-0-2, Jacob 8-0-8, Wells 2-1-3, Jones 5-2-7, Martinie 0-1-1, Kearney 2-0-2, Armstrong 17-1-18.
    Totals: 49-5-54

    Centennial -
    Ramshaw 4-0-4, Loschen 7-2-9, Dejesus 6-3-9, Yahnke 0-2-2, Emers 2-0-2
    Totals: 19-7-26

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    Photo of the Day - November 10, 2021

    Jake Pence looking to pass the ball

    Spartans win by 13

    St. Joseph-Ogden's Jake Pence keeps the ball away from Notre Dame de La Salette Boys Academy's Michael Carlisle during the early-season game back on December 2, 2014. Pence recorded one field goal and was 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the Spartans' 73-60 win over the visiting Lions. The Spartans would go on to win 24 games while suffering just six losses during the 2014-15 season. For a limited time only, click here to see more photos from this game.
    PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
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    Photo of the Day - December 16, 2020

    Spartan girls fall at home
    Josey Fruhling dribbles past a Danville player on her wait to the basket during St. Joseph-Ogden's home game on January 28, 2012. The Spartans (20-9) fell 43-38 in the non-conference game against the Vikings, who improved to 9-14 with the victory.

    Photo:
    PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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    Dismal fourth quarter sinks Spartans

    It was a really bad fourth quarter.

    Spartan Ashlyn Lannert's two baskets was best the offense could produce against visiting Teutopolis (8-1) in the final quarter of their non-conference 41-38 loss on Thursday.

    SJO trailed 34-27 heading into the final quarter where they were subsequently outscored 13-4 by the Lady Shoes.

    Ella Armstrong and Atleigh Hamilton teamed up for 15 of SJO's 31 points. Armstrong's team-high nine points and Hamilton's six was supplemented by a full house of three Spartan players with four points - Lannert, Payton Jacob and Abby Behrens - and a pair of deuces courtesy of Payton Vallee and Taylor Wells.

    St. Joseph-Ogden moves to 8-2 with another tough home game Saturday night when they host the undefeated Potters from Morton at 7:15p.

    Box Score
    St. Joseph-Ogden 8 10 9 4 - 31
    Teutopolis 12 11 11 14 - 48


    Scoring
    St. Joseph-Ogden: Ashlyn Lannert 4, Payton Jacob 4, Taylor Wells 2, Atleigh Hamilton 6, Abby Behrens 4, Payton Vallee 2 and Ella Armstrong 9.

    Teutopolis: Tegeler 3, L. Niebrugge 10, Roepke 13, Schumacher 2, NIemerg 6, Mette 12 and Hardiek 2.

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    SJO girls advance to Lady Falcon/Bunnies Tipoff Classic title game

    Tonight, St. Joseph-Ogden girls basketball team will play for their first tournament championship trophy of the season.

    The shot at the Lady Falcon/Bunnies Tipoff Classic title comes on the heels of a fourth quarter surge by the Spartans. Clawing past Villa Grove/Heritage's offensive duo of Aliya Holloman (20 points) and Kyleigh Block (17 points), SJO secured their third win of the season, 46-43.

    On the wrong end of a 19-15 score at the half, the Spartans dug in and drained five three-pointers in the third quarter. The Blue Devils countered with 16 points of their own, eight courtesy of Block, six from Holloman and a bucket from Samantha Campbell.

    Holding VG-H to just eight points in final quarter, SJO matched that number and then added a few more.

    Katie Cramer, still hot from three-point range, hit two more shots and drilled a pair of free throws. The senior finished the night with 14 points and was 2-for-2 from the line.

    With the help of a clutch free throw from Payton Vallee, Taylor Barnes' third three-pointer of the game and a bucket from Payton Jacob, the Spartans prevailed improving to 3-0 on the season.

    In all, St. Joseph-Ogden tallied a total of ten three-point shots from Jacob (1), Barnes (3), Cramer (4) and sophomore Abby Behrens with two.

    You will want to saddle up early to help pack the gym tonight for what will surely be a barnburner at Fisher. The championship game, scheduled to start at 7pm, pits the Spartans against Paxton-Buckley-Loda, who knocked off tournament co-hosts GCMS 56-38 to reach the final.

    A three-peat in the making, the Spartans have won the tournament the title past two seasons. The Panthers have the offense to keep that from happening tonight.

    PBL had three players with double-digit scoring against the Lady Falcons. Mackenzie Bruns delivered 13 points, Hannah Schwarz added 12 and Baylee Cosgrove's hit 10 to lead the Panthers' offensive scoring.


    Box Score
    Team 1 5 10 15 16 - 46
    Team 2 2 17 16 8 - 43


    Scoring
    St. Joseph-Ogden: Ashlyn Lannert 3, Payton Jacob 7, Katie Cramer 14, Abby Behrens 6, Taylor Barnes 13 and Payton Vallee 3.

    Villa Grove-Heritage: Kyleigh Block 17, Samantha Campbell 2, Aliya Holloman 20 and Jordyn Ray 4.

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    Hamilton leads Spartans in first win of the season

    Alyssa Hamilton led the St. Joseph-Ogden basketball squad with a team-high nine points in their season opener Monday night at the Fisher-GCMS Tipoff Classic. The Spartans, who finished their last season with a third-place state finish in February, held Fisher to just a pair of free throws in the third quarter, rolled past the Bunnies, 39-22.

    Payton Jacob had eight points and junior Payton Vallee, back in action after a quick turnaround from the third-place state volleyball team, helped balance the offense contributing seven more points in the non-conference tournament game. In all, six SJO players scored in the season opener.

    The Spartans, who finished their last season at 28-5, continues their pool play at the early season tournament tonight facing Iroquois West at 5:30pm.


    Box Score
    St. Joseph-Ogden 5 14 12 8 39
    Fisher 6 8 2 6 22


    Scoring
    St. Joseph-Ogden: Ashlyn Lannert 6, Payton Jacob 8, Katie Cramer 3, Taylor Barnes 6, Alyssa Hamilton 9 and Payton Vallee 7.

    Fisher: Kylee Bishop 8, Sidney Hood 9, Elyssa Clanton 2, M. Sommer 1, and Leah McCoy 2.


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    Spartan basketball opens at Tip-Off on November 18

    Ten days from tomorrow the St. Joseph-Ogden girls basketball team open their 2019-20 season at the Lady Falcon & Bunnie Tip-Off Classic on Monday, November 18. Here is the schedule and locations for the early season tourney.



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    Dates set for annual basketball classic at SJO

    Braydon Rupert goes up for a shot
    Braydon Rupert goes up for a shot against a Longwood player at the Toyota of Danville Classic basketball game in December of last year. Rupert, who will be senior, and the Spartans will face three new teams at this year's installment of the holiday tournament. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
    In a little more than four months from today, St. Joseph-Ogden and five other teams will compete in SJO's annual holiday tournament starting on Tuesday, December 3. The Spartan basketball program will host The Toyota of Danville Classic on December 3, 4, 6 and 7.

    Fifteen games are scheduled over the four days with three contests will be held daily on each of the first three days of the tournament. All teams will play twice on December 7 with a total of six games going back-to-back on that Saturday.

    Three familiar teams from the past several years, Chicago CICS Longwood, Oakwood and Armstrong-Potomac will not return to holiday tourney. New teams include Georgetown-Ridge Farm, who will represent the Vermilion Valley Conference and former Sangamon Valley Conference foe Watseka.

    Also, joining the field of competition will be Lions of La Salette, who lost a one-point decision to Watseka in their last meeting on December 19 last year.

    SJO head basketball coach Kiel Duval
    First year head coach and SJO alum Kiel Duval keeps a close eye on his team during their game against CIS Longwood at the Toyota of Danville Classic. SJO kicks off their tournament opener against Georgetown-Ridge Farm on December 3. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

    The Spartans will open pool play against Georgetown-Ridge Farm at 6:30 pm on December 3 and a day later face La Salette in the 8 pm nightcap on December 4. After 48 hours of rest, head coach Kiel Duval's team will square off against 2019 Class 1A runner-up Cissna Park at 8 pm on December 6.

    SJO will close out the Classic on December 7 in an 11:30 am matchup against the Hilltoppers of Schlarman and play the tournament finale at 7 pm against Watseka.

    Jordan Kelly goes up for a shot in the second half
    Jordan Kelly goes up for a shot in the second half during the Spartans' Toyota of Danville Classic basketball game against Cissna Park on December 21. SJO, who hope to rebound later this year and win this year's title, fell 66-37 to the Timberwolves, who went on to become a final four team in Class 1A and IHSA runner-up in the March 2019 state basketball finals. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
     

    2019 Toyota of Danville Classic Schedule

    (All games at St. Joseph-Ogden High School)

    Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019
    Game 1: Cissna Park vs. La Salette, 5 p.m.
    Game 2: St. Joseph-Ogden vs. Georgetown-Ridge Farm, 6:30 p.m.
    Game 3: Schlarman vs. Watseka, 8 p.m.


    Wednesday, December 4
    Game 4: Cissna Park vs. Watseka, 5 p.m.
    Game 5: Schlarman vs. Georgetown-Ridge Farm, 6:30 p.m.
    Game 6: St. Joseph-Ogden vs. La Salette, 8 p.m.


    Friday, December 6
    Game 7: La Salette vs. Schlarman, 5 p.m.
    Game 8: Georgetown-Ridge Farm vs. Watseka, 6:30 p.m.
    Game 9: St. Joseph-Ogden vs. Cissna Park, 8 p.m.


    Saturday, December 7
    Game 10: Cissna Park vs. Georgetown-Ridge Farm, 10 a.m.
    Game 11: St. Joseph-Ogden vs. Schlarman, 11:30 a.m.
    Game 12: La Salette vs. Watseka, 1 p.m.
    Game 13: Schlarman vs. Cissna Park, 4 p.m.
    Game 14: Georgetown-Ridge Farm vs. La Salette, 5:30 p.m.
    Game 15: Watseka vs. St. Joseph-Ogden, 7 p.m.
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    Second Time Almost A Charm

    SJO's Payton Vallee challenges Teutopolis' Lexie Niebrugge for the ball.
    Payton Vallee challenges Teutopolis' Lexie Niebrugge for the ball in the second half of their Class 2A state semifinal game on Friday evening. Despite an outstanding first half against the Wooden Shoes, the Spartans fell 50-31 and advanced to the division's third place game. SJO will face Hillsboro in Redbird Arena at 5:30pm on Saturday. (PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)


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    Crowe leads SJO over Unity

    St. Joseph-Ogden scored 12 unanswered points in the first six minutes of the third quarter last week to notch another conference win last Monday. The Spartan girls team rolled 59-27 win over Unity after allowing just 10 points total in the second half of the game.

    Peyton Crowe delivered a spectacular game-high 20-point performance in the win. The senior made all six of her free throw attempts and drilled a pair of shots from three-point range to overpower the Rockets.

    Peyton Crowe fires a shot after driving down the baseline past a Unity player.
    St. Joseph-Ogden's Peyton Crowe fires a shot after driving down the baseline past a Unity player. Crowe, who is closing in on scoring her 1000th point, finished the game with 20 points. See more photos from the game here.(PhotoNews Media Archive Photo/Photo by Clark Brooks)

    "She played well tonight and not just on scoring. She was hustling," said SJO head coach Kevin Taylor. "She took a charge and played good defense for us."

    Once again the Spartans got off to a sluggish start.

    Closing the first quarter with a one point lead, Taylor made a few adjustments and watched his team take command of the game in the second one.

    "Our defense improved," he said. "Then we started scoring and getting better looks. We definitely picked it up on the second quarter."

    Led by Bree Trimble, St. Joseph-Ogden put together a second quarter rally outscoring Unity, 18-8. She was the catalyst behind nine unanswered scores that allowed her team to pull away.

    "I got on her early about not going up strong with the ball," Taylor said about Trimble's effort in the first quarter. "As always, she came through for us."

    The senior finished with 13 points and missed just one of her eight free throws.

    "We started out very slow. It was not a good quarter for us," Trimble said. "Every team that plays us, plays their best against us. We knew we had get out of rut and step up our game."

    The Spartans also enjoyed a solid showing from Hannah Dukeman, who finished with 12 points. Maclayne Taylor added another 8 to the score. Both drained a three-point shot in both the 2nd and 3rd quarter to stretch the lead over their conference rivals.

    Maclayne's improvement this season hasn't gone unnoticed by her teammates.

    "She has grown throughout her four years here," Trimble pointed out without hesitation. "This season she can really handle the ball well Whenever we need a shot, she's there and makes it for us."

    Ella Armstrong, Katie Cramer and Taylor Barnes rounded out SJO's scoring effort with a field goal apiece.

    The Rockets were paced by Elyse Knudsen with 16 points and Rysa Stacy with 8.

    The victory made it the fourth consecutive win for the 17-4 Lady Spartans since their loss to Bishop McNamara (Class 3A) at the State Farm Classic last month. Prior to that loss, the team's longest unbeaten streak was the 9-0 start to the season.

    SJO's four losses this season have been at the hands of three Associated Press ranked 3A schools and 2A ranked Teutopolis.


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    Orcutt scores 21 in win over Villa Grove-Heritage

    Midway into the third quarter of their home game against Villa Grove-Heritage on Tuesday, St. Joseph-Ogden's Keanen Swanson made a shot from the paint to help St. Joseph-Ogden build their largest lead of the non-conference contest.

    When the dust settled after a mad flourish of turnovers and desperate scoring attempts by both teams in the final quarter of the game, the Spartans escaped with a 58-52 win over the Hawks.

    Keanen Swanson dribbles the ball in the second half during in their home game on Tuesday
    While Villa Grove-Heritage's Blake Smith plays defense, St. Joseph-Ogden's Keanen Swanson dribbles the ball in the second half during in their home game on Tuesday. Swanson finished the game with 5 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds. See more photos from the game here: Spartans vs Hawks varsity basketball gallery. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

    The 10-point surplus mentioned above was subsequently erased when Hawks' Jake Eversole hit a field goal tying the score at 37-all with 45 seconds left on the clock in the third quarter.

    One second, maybe two, before the buzzer sounded ending it, Joel Orcutt launched a ten-footer to give SJO a two-point lead.

    And, Orcutt wasn't done.

    He would go on to score four more times in the final quarter on his way to a game-high 21 points. Without fellow senior Jack Cook,the team's leading scorer, on the floor it was up to Orcutt to make buckets.

    Cook was unable to play due to an unexpected illness that kept him out of school.

    "I found more opportunities to score the ball. We had to get the points. We had to get balls in the hoop," said Orcutt, who also led both teams with 8 rebounds and took up the slack for the missing Cook. "I've got height. It was just easier to get the ball inside to me and score it from five feet instead of (shooting) three-pointers."

    Villa Grove-Heritage would tie it up two more times in the last quarter. However, St. Joseph-Ogden never allowed the opportunity to relinquish the lead thanks to a strong defensive effort.

    "We struggled tonight. Things got a little frantic out there," said Chance Izard, the Spartans' second leading scorer for the night. "We struggled to keep our composure, but we got the job done."

    Izard was 4-for-5 from three point range and finished the night with 16 points. He did not miss either of the two free throws attempts he earned.

    "I thought this game was important to bounce back from Saturday's loss to Pleasant Plains on our home court," Izard said. "Our biggest emphasis on this game was to bounce back and play with positive energy."

    The Hawks were led with 15-point performances by Will Wilson and Jared Stevens. Evan Wilson, who was 6-for-6 from the free throw line, scored 10 points.

    SJO (10-7) was to play Teutopolis at home on Friday evening and follow with a road game at Paxton-Buckley-Loda on Saturday. Both games were canceled due to the weather.

    Both the JV and varsity squads are scheduled to play their next Illini Prairie Conference contest this week starting with St. Thomas More on Tuesday, January 15. After a few days of rest and practice, SJO will host the Olympia Spartans on Friday at the high school.



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    Photos Today: Boys basketball team gets back on track.

    Joel Orcutt led the Spartans with 21 points to seal a 58-52 win over Villa Grove-Heritage at home on Tuesday. Here are seven photos from the game action while we work on the game story this week:

    Payton Cain goes after a loose ball
    St. Joseph-Ogden's Payton Cain goes after a loose ball with Villa Grove-Heritage's Jake Eversole during first half action on Tuesday, January 8. The Spartans fought off a tenacious opponent to win 58-52 over the visiting Hawks. (PhotoNews Media Photo by Clark Brooks)

    Joel Orcutt tries to keep control of the ball while dribbling into the paint.
    St. Joseph-Ogden's Joel Orcutt tries to keep control of the ball while dribbling into the paint. Orcutt went on to finish with 21 points and 8 rebounds for the Spartans. (PhotoNews Media Photo by Clark Brooks)

    Chance Izard makes a pass.
    Chance Izard makes a pass during first half action. With starter Jack Cook sidelined due to illness, Izard's 16 points and 2 steals were crucial in SJO's win on Tuesday. (PhotoNews Media Photo by Clark Brooks)

    Erin Meyers performs during the SJO halftime.
    SJO Dance Team member Erin Beyers performs during their halftime show at their basketball team's home game against Villa Grove-Heritage. (PhotoNews Media Photo by Clark Brooks)

    Payton Grimsley and Brayden Weaver share a quick conversation.
    Payton Grimsley and Brayden Weaver share a quick conversation during a second half of SJO's home game against Villa Grove-Heritage. (PhotoNews Media Photo by Clark Brooks)

    A couple of fans react after a errant pass just misses them during first half action of SJO's varsity contest. (PhotoNews Media Photo by Clark Brooks)

    Jaden Miller makes a pass during second half action.
    Keeping the ball away from Villa Grove-Heritage's Blake Smith, St. Joseph-Ogden's Jaden Miller makes a pass during second half action.

    Click here to search for more photos 24/7 that are in the PhotoNews Media online archives. Follow this link to discover more photos from this game or order any photo on this page: SJO boys basketball vs Villa Grove-Heritage.
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    Photos Today: SJO notches conference win over Unity

    The St. Joseph-Ogden girls basketball team held Unity to just 10 second half points in their 59-27 win over visiting Unity on Monday.

    Once again the Spartan ladies displayed their prowess from charity stripe.

    Spartan Peyton Crowe was perfect from the free throw line making all six of her shots. The senior led all scorers from both benches with 20 points.

    Bree Trimble made 7 of her 8 free throws and was the second leading scorer for SJO with 13 points. Hannah Dukeman came through with 12 points and was 2-for-3 from the line.

    Here are six moments captured from Monday's game.
    St. Joseph-Ogden's Peyton Crowe fires a shot after driving down the baseline past a Unity player in their home game on Monday. Crowe was perfect from the free throw line making all 6 attempts and closed out the game scoring 20 points on the visiting Rockets. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

    Payton Jacob battles for an offensive rebound under the basket for the Spartans with Unity's Hannah Fridgen and Taylor Henry. (PhotoNews Media Archive Photo/Photo by Clark Brooks)

    SJO's Payton Vallee keeps her hands up to block a shot by Unity's Rysa Stacy in the first half.(PhotoNews Media Archive Photo/Photo by Clark Brooks)

    Freshman Ella Armstrong plays defense during second half action for the Spartans. She contributed to 2 points in SJO's 32-point Illini Prairie Conference victory. (PhotoNews Media Archive Photo/Photo by Clark Brooks)

    Erin Miller looks for an open SJO teammate to pass the ball while guarded by Unity's Martina Miebach in the fourth quarter. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

    St. Joseph-Ogden's Hannah Dukeman concentrates on making a second half free throw. Dukeman finished the night with 12 points. (PhotoNews Media Archive Photo/Photo by Clark Brooks)


    Click here to search for more photos 24/7 that are in the PhotoNews Media online archives. Follow this link to order any photo on this page: 01-07-19 SJO vs Unity.


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    Spartans slip in shootout stumble

    Starting the year with a three-game win streak under their belt after their first-round loss at the State Farm Classic on December 16, it looked like the St. Joseph-Ogden varsity boys squad was now ready to play Sweet Sixteen or better level basketball.

    Instead, the team was the recipients a painful wake up call in the form of a gut-wrenching 63-38 loss to Pleasant Plains at the Christie Clinic Shoot on Saturday.
    St. Joseph-Ogden's Jack Cook goes up for a shot in the Christie Clinic Shootout game against Pleasant Plains. The senior finished with just 8 points and made all four of his free throw attempts. The Spartans, who shot just 30% from the field, fell 63-38 to the Cardinals on Saturday. See more photos from the game here: SJO vs Pleasant Plains photo gallery. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

    It was the second 20-plus-point loss the team has suffered this season. Both losses, including the title game defeat dealt by Class 1A state-ranked Cissna Park at the SJO-Toyota of Danville Classic, were on the Spartans' home court.

    Pleasant Plains was the first to draw blood, putting the ball in the basket for the first field goal just a minute after the opening tip. SJO (10-7) then tied the game up at 2-all a minute and half into the first quarter. That would be the closest the Spartans would come to tasting a lead for the remaining duration of the contest.

    The Cardinals drained their next bucket 20 seconds later to go up 4-2 and never needed to look over their shoulder from that point on.

    The Spartans could not get the ball through the rim. Slashing to the paint didn't work. Perimeter shooting wasn't much better. Nothing seemed to click.


    It wasn't from a lack of effort. It was one of those night were shots just don't fall.

    In the 43 shots SJO put up in the direction of the basket during their 32 minutes on the floor, they converted just 13 of them to points. Seniors Joel Orcutt, Keanen Swanson and Jack Cook, the team's leading inside guys, struggled shooting. Together, they combined for a mere 6-for-16 effort.

    Meanwhile, Pleasant Plains made just two more attempts than SJO on shots from the field. Led by Justin Guernsey's game-high 20 points, their accuracy was a tad bit better. Joel Niermann (12 pts) and Nick Savage (10 pts). Savage and teammate Chase Schmitt hauled down 7 boards a piece.

    The Cardinals scored on 58% of their 45 shots.

    The Cardinals' size and confidence led to the Spartans being out-rebounded 27-11.

    Junior Chance Izard led SJO with a team-high 11 points.

    Cook finished 8 points and Orcutt scratched out 6 in the non-conference loss. Swanson, who led the team with 3 rebounds, was held to just 2 points. Orcutt and and Payton Cain rounded out the top three rebounders with 2 each.

    Izard and the Spartans hope to right the ship this week when they face Heritage-Villa Grove Tuesday night and the Wooden Shoes of Teutopolis on Friday. Both games are at the high school. The team closes out the week with a road game at Paxton-Buckley-Loda. Varsity tipoff is slated for 4:30p.
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