SJO advances to basketball tournament title game, Spartans to face the Fightin' Irish of Bishop Mac

ST. JOSEPH - Spartans Coy Taylor and Parker Fitch dive for a loose ball to keep away from Charleston's Mason Redfern during the last game of pool play at the Toyota of Danville Classic Basketball Tournament. St. Joseph-Ogden advanced to today's championship game against Bishop McNamara at 5:30 PM after battling to a 54-40 victory Friday night. Charleston will face Paxton-Buckley-Loda at 4 PM in the third place game.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

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ALAH defeats Watseka 49-44 at Toyota of Danville Classic

ST. JOSEPH - Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond's Will Hilligoss takes the ball down the court during the last ten seconds of his team Toyota of Danville game against Watseka. The Knights advance to Saturday's fifth-place game after pulling out a thrilling 49-44 victory over the Warriors. Hilligoss finished the game with six points behind teammate Kendall Schrock's 18 points and 12 points from Nate Hale. ALAH take on Cissna Park for the fifth-place trophy. In the game scheduled before their 2:30 PM contest, Watseka sqaures off against Oakwood on championship day at the annual early season basketball tournament.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

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Prep Hoops |Wednesday Basketball Scores

Boys' Basketball

Charleston 55 - Watseka 30
Charleston's Tyler Oakley needed just three quarters of play to score 18 points during the team's second pool game at the annual Toyota of Danville Classic at St. Joseph-Odgen High School. Luke Bonsetter drained three treys to finish with 16 points.

Payton Schaumburg and Quinn Starkey paced the Warriors with six points each. Watseka is back on the hardwood Friday night at 6:30 against Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond (ALAH).

The Trojans will play in the following game looking to beat the host St. Joseph-Ogden, also 2-0 in tournament play, to punch their ticket into the title game on Saturday.

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Bishop McNamara 65 - Paxton-Buckley-Loda 42
The Fightin' Irish continued to dominate the competition at the Toyota of Danville Classic. Cole Czako scored 17 points and Wille Felton added another 10 points in the win over the PBL. A win Friday night over Cissna Park will put Bishop McNamara in their first-ever tournament championship appearance.

The Panthers, who will play in Saturday's third-place game, had a solid first-half performances from Robert Boyd-Meents and Tyler Cole with 11 points each. Carson Goss and Ethan Williams bolstered the scoring effort, combining for 16 points, each each.

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Cissna Park 69 - Oakwood 68
The Timberwolves rallied back from a 56-49 third-quarter deficit to beat the Comets by one at the Toyota of Danville Classic. Dierks Neukomm went for 5-for-6 from the free throw line on his way to a tournement-high 30 points. Teammate Seth Walder nearly duplicated the feat, finishing with 29 points.

Carson Dudley led the Comets with four quarters of scoring, finishing with 23 points. Jackson Dudley came up with key shots all in all four periods to contribute 15 points in the loss. Brandt Hobick also finished in double figures with 13 points.

Neukomm, Walder and Cissna Park play again on Saturday in the 5th place game against the winner of Friday night's showdown between ALAH and Watseka. Oakwood gets a day of rest to prepare for Saturday's 7th place contest against the loser between the Warriors and the Knights, starting at 1 PM.

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Springfield 64 - Central 50
Sophomore Daniel Sago and Senior Chris Bush scored 12 points each in the Maroons' loss at Combes Gym. Central (4-2).

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SJO dominates Watseka in pool game, Parker Fitch leads Spartan scoring effort

ST. JOSEPH - St. Joseph-Ogden’s basketball team continued its strong start in the Toyota of Danville Tournament, cruising to a commanding 60-27 victory over Watseka on Tuesday night. The Spartans showcased their depth and efficiency, with nearly every player contributing to the team’s second win in as many days.

The Spartans set the tone early, building a 20-point lead midway through the second quarter behind junior Parker Fitch, who poured in 12 of his game-high 14 points in the first half. Senior Tanner Siems followed up Monday’s strong performance with another double-digit outing, adding 10 points, while Collin Thomey chipped in nine.

By halftime, St. Joseph-Ogden (2-0) had all but secured the outcome, taking advantage of Watseka’s cold shooting and stifling defense. The Warriors struggled to find offensive rhythm, with most of their shots rimming out despite numerous opportunities.

Watseka managed only five points in the third quarter, as SJO reserves entered the game and extended the lead. The Spartans went on a 15-point unanswered run, cementing their dominance. Aaron Greene provided a rare highlight for Watseka with a late three-pointer in the fourth quarter, but the Warriors’ offensive struggles defined the evening.

Payton Schaumburg led Watseka with three three-pointers, and Quinn Starkey contributed eight points, but the Warriors had no answer for SJO’s relentless defense and relentless quick tempo.

The Spartans look ready for showdown on Friday against Charleston (1-1), who defeated Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond earlier in the day. The winner will likely represent the B Pool in Saturday's championship game. Meanwhile, Watseka will attempt to rebound against Charleston in their matchup today at 5 p.m.

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Collin Thomey leads Spartans in win over ALAH at Toyota of Danville Classic

St. Joseph-Ogden's Ryker Lockhart and Tim Blackburn-Kelley try to grab a loose ball during their team's season opener at the Toyota of Danville Classic on Monday.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

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ST. JOSEPH - St. Joseph-Ogden opened their season in commanding fashion Monday, defeating Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond 77-33 in the Toyota of Danville Classic. Led by senior Collin Thomey’s 20-point performance, SJO utilized decisive scoring runs to overpower the Knights and showcase their explosive offensive сapabilities.

With ALAH's Kendall Schrock guarding him, Spartan Collin Thomey slashes to the basket. The senior led all scorers with 20 points.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

The Spartans (1-0) jumped out to a 9-0 lead before Will Hilligoss put ALAH on the board, setting the tone for the game. A six-point run midway through the first quarter, highlighted by strong interior play from Tanner Siems, pushed the score to 22-11. Another six-point burst in the second quarter stretched the lead from 22-14 to 31-14, creating a cushion that the Knights could not overcome.

SJO’s dominance peaked in the third quarter with an 11-point scoring run out of the halftime break. Siems fueled the charge with back-to-back buckets before Thomey scored three consecutive baskets to put the game out of reach at 53-21.

SJO’s offensive firepower was evident, with four players finishing in double figures. Thomey led all scorers with 20 points, converting six of seven free throws. Siems contributed 13 points, including pivotal moments during the Spartans' runs. Lane McKinney provided a spark off the bench with 11 points in the fourth quarter, while Tim Blackburn-Kelley added 10 points in limited action.

SJO's Tanner Siems swats a shot attempt by ALAH's Will Hilligoss during the second half. The senior finished with 13 points in the team's first game of the season.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

The Spartans’ defense stifled ALAH (0-2), holding the Knights to just five points in the third quarter and forcing numerous turnovers. Nate Hale led ALAH with 11 points, followed by Hilligoss with eight, while Brennon Hutson and Kendall Schrock chipped in four apiece.

SJO faces Watseka tonight at 6:30 PM in the Main Gym after ALAH's 5 PM matchup against Charleston, who also seeks redemption after a 59-44 loss to Triad last week.

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McNamara Overpowers Oakwood in Toyota of Danville Classic opener

Oakwood's Brandt Hobick tries dribble into the paint past McNamara's Teddy Fogel during their first game in Toyota of Danville Classic at St. Joseph-Ogden High School. Hobick delivered a game-high 11 points for the Comets.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

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ST. JOSEPH — In a battle of unbeaten teams, Bishop McNamara stormed past the Oakwood, 74-31, in the opening round of the Toyota of Danville Classic on Monday. McNamara's dominant performance highlighted their offensive depth and resilience on defense, while Oakwood’s struggles tarnished their previously unbeaten record.

The Fightin’ Irish (4-0) set the tone early, racing to a 20-point first quarter and maintaining pressure with 23 and 21 points in the second and third quarters, respectively.

Willie Felton led the charge with 17 points, delivering all his scoring by the end of the third quarter. Trey Provost added 12 points, while Coen Demack and Callaghan O’Connor contributed eight apiece. McNamara’s 34 baskets, all but two from inside the arc, showcased efficient ball movement and consistent finishes at the rim.

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Bishop McNamara's Teddy Fogel tries to block a fourth-quarter shot by Oakwood's Jaethan Perez.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

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Oakwood (5-1) struggled to match McNamara’s pace, scoring just seven points in the first quarter and eight in the second. Brandt Hobick paced the Comets with 11 points, while Carsen Dudley scored nine and Alex Wallace added six. Despite hitting five three-pointers, Oakwood was unable to find its range at the free-throw line, going 4-for-13 and managing just two points in the final quarter.

The win solidifies McNamara’s place as an early favorite in the tournament. Next, they face Paxton-Buckley-Loda on Wednesday, a team coming off a solid 60-37 win over Cissna Park.

Oakwood looks to regroup quickly for their nightcap matchup against PBL in the round-robin tournament tonight at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

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2024 Toyota of Danville Classic starts next Monday

ST. JOSEPH - Next week, the St. Joseph-Ogden boys basketball team will attempt to repeat as tournament champions at the Toyota of Danville Classic. The Spartans were crowned champions in the previous installment after beating the Oakwood Comets, 74-42.

SJO and the Comets also squared off in the 2022 championship game.

St. Joseph-Ogden's Kendrick Johnson falls to the floor with Watseka's Myles Lynch while going for a loose ball. SJO won the pool game last November, 74-38.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

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This year's teams in Pool A are Cissna Park, Oakwood, PBL, and Kankakee Bishop McNamara. Pool B teams include Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond, Charleston, St. Joseph-Ogden, and Watseka.

Spectators and basketball fans can expect 16 exciting, fast-paced games with the return of the 35-second shot clock.

The admission fee for this year's tournament is $5 for adults. Tickets will be available at the ticket booth at the main entrance before each game.

Toyota of Danville Classic
Tournament Schedule

Monday, 12/2/24:
5:00 PM: Kankakee Bishop McNamara vs. Oakwood
6:30 PM: ALAH vs. St. Joseph-Ogden
8:00 PM: Cissna Park vs. PBL

Tuesday, 12/3/24:
5:00 PM: Charleston vs. ALAH
6:30 PM: Watseka vs. St. Joseph-Ogden
8:00 PM: Oakwood vs. PBL

Wednesday, 12/4/24:
5:00 PM: Watseka vs. Charleston
6:30 PM: PBL vs. Kankakee Bishop McNamara
8:00 PM: Oakwood vs. Cissna Park

Friday, 12/6/24:
5:00 PM: Cissna Park vs. Kankakee Bishop McNamara
6:30 PM: ALAH vs. Watseka
8:00 PM: Charleston vs. St. Joseph-Ogden

Saturday, 12/7/24:
1:00 PM: 7th Place Game
2:30 PM: 5th Place Game
4:00 PM: 3rd Place Game
5:30 PM: 1st Place Game

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