Waller, Smith invited to play in annual All-Star football game

With the St. Joseph-Ogden way up in the fourth quarter of their first-round playoff game against Carlinville, Spartan lineman Braxton Waller (left) and quarterback Logan Smith give thumbs up while chilling on the bench in the fourth quarter. Smith, who received Class 3A All-State honors, and Waller helped lead SJO to an 8-3 finish in 2023.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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BLOOMINGTON - The two teams for the 50th Annual Illinois High School Shrine Game were selected by the ILHSFCA at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. Two members from the St. Joseph-Ogden football were among the 126 high school seniors to play in the annual charity event for Shriners Hospitals for Children. Logan Smith and Braxton Waller received invitations to pad up again and play on June 15 at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington. Kickoff is slated for 11am.

Instead of being teammates, Waller will be a member of the Blue squad and Smith will play on the Red team.

Cully Welter will have one more game to coach his son, Trey, in a prep football game. The Monticello head coach picked by the coaches' association to lead this year's Blue Team. He will go head-to-head with Chicago Hope Academy's Chris Malette.

Other players from the 217 that received invitations include:

RED TEAM

David McGehee, Southeast HS
Drew Paben, Camp Point Central
Kani Carson, Lincoln Community
Jack Gallier, Mahomet-Seymour
Jack Barnhart, Centennial
Brayden Daily, St. Teresa
Parker Lyons, Rochester
Reese Frericks, Quincy Notre Dame
Kameron Beckman, Springfield
Kaiden Maurer, Maroa-Forsyth
Ki'on Carson, Lincoln Community
A.J. Sypherd, Litchfield
Noah Bass, Clinton
Austin Cummings, Tuscola

BLUE TEAM

Burke Wilkin, Sacred Heart-Griffin
Jack Dettro, Corner Glenwood
Josh McClain, Sacred Heart-Griffin
Aidan Archibald, Charleston
Chris Flachs, Quincy Senior
Cameron Schroth, Mt. Zion
Connor Sullivan, Casey-Westfield
Cory Craig Jr., Athens
CamRon Mitchell, Jacksonville
Tristin Potts, Clinton
Brady Clodfelder, Villa Grove
Ayden Ingram, BHRA
Trey Welter, Monticello

SJO Cheer qualifies for ICCA state championships

FARMINGTON - On Saturday, the St. Joseph-Ogden competitive cheer team qualified for the Illinois Cheerleading Coaches State Cheer Competition on January 6- 7 at the Bank of Springfield Center in Springfield. The Spartan cheer squad finished seventh out of 16 teams at the Farmington Invitational on Saturday.

Madelyn George and Spartan cheerleaders lead fans in a cheer during a timeout at the Toyota of Danville Classic basketball tournament earlier this month. On Saturday, the cheer team qualified for the ICCA state championships in January.

Photo: PhotoNews Media

"I’m very excited for this team to experience ICCA Championships," said St. Joseph-Ogden head coach Emily Wise. "Many of the cheerleaders have never competed before. The team has put in a lot of work in and out of practice."

Wise is happy with her team's accomplishment, especially considering their youth and lack of experience. Their over-all work ethic and practice culture have paid its first of many dividends. Five freshmen and five juniors make up the 10-girl squad.

"They have spent countless hours at practice and pushed themselves to a new level these past couple of weeks. I’m so proud their hard work paid off this past weekend," Wise said.

The team will be working even harder for a successful performance in Springfield next month. There are a few things they will be working on to be competitive with the veteran programs they will cheer against.

"The team will be perfecting their current skills as well as growing new skills. Such as stronger motions, louder voices, and added difficulty," Wise said."

Members of the squad include juniors Addison Funk, Madelyn George, Samantha Uden, Charley Wright, and Ava Worley. The remainder of the squad are all freshmen, which includes Iris Davis, Leah Gaines, Faith Jackson, Peighton Reim, and Ava Smoot.

"SJO Cheer has come such a long way since the beginning of the year," Wise added. "This is such a talented team and I can’t wait to see what all they accomplish this season."

Farmington Invitational Results
Small School Varsity Division

 1st Knoxville
 2nd New Berlin
 3rd Oakwood
 4th Salt Fork
 5th Farmington
 6th Illini Bluff
 7th St. Joseph-Ogden
 8th Brimfield
 9th Monmouth-Roseville
10th Eureka
11th ROWVA Williamsfield
12th Sherrard
13th Williamsville
14th Abingdon-Avon
15th St. Thomas More
16th Prairie Central

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If you enjoy our photos and stories about our area high school sports programs, the Sentinel can really use your help.

We need the help of passionate sports fans like yourself to help us cover more games, feature more athletes, and give recognition to the hard-working athletes who deserve it. There are several ways you can help.

You can help us by sharing our stories and photos on social media for your family and friends to enjoy. Having more readers helps us convince businesses to advertise with us. The more advertisers we have, the greater our local coverage.

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Guest Commentary | We all have a lot of Christmas stories

by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator

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Christmas is always changing. The biblical story never changes but your story is always changing. How we celebrate and view the story of Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus may change throughout life. We view the story one way as children but then the story matures as we age.

We all have a lot of Christmas stories. I remember a large family. My mother came from a large family as did my dad. They all had children so the total number of family we felt connected to was great. The years have passed by and my mother and father have passed as have all their siblings and many of their children. The people we related to, heard from and spent Christmas with has changed. They no longer exist. Many of us have lost spouses and buried children and thus our Christmas has changed.

The story of Christmas is the same but it’s not the same. For some of us we have a difficult time even recognizing Christmas. What once brought us laughter, joy and even peace may no longer exist.

How you spend Christmas this year may be a distant memory next year. What you may dread or enjoy this Christmas may not even be possible next year.

In reality, very few of our Christmases ever look totally the same. Finances change. Jobs changes. Health changes. Death robs us of loved ones. Our residences sometimes change.

Mary and Joseph certainly never celebrated Christmas ever again the way they celebrated their first one. The birth of Jesus in a stable and placed in a manger will always stand out as the Christmas we will remember about that family. Hopefully they had a few easier Birthday celebrations for Jesus in the years ahead. Although it seems they may have had many more difficult ones as Jesus’ father Joseph soon disappeared from the Biblical narrative. We don’t know if Joseph died or left but his absence had to be a hardship on Mary and her family.

The story of the first family of Christmas was filled with ups and downs. What Jesus would face later in life was excruciating for his mother and siblings and certainly for him.

The end of Jesus’ life story is the best part. The story for Jesus ends well. He was abused, humiliated, lived-in poverty, executed but came out of his tomb as the living son of God. According to the scriptures he was seen by hundreds of people. The person who had to be more thrilled than all in seeing Jesus after his death had to be his mother. The way she would experience and celebrate Christmas, her son’s birthday, would forever be changed.

Her Christmas story became an amazing story of victory, triumph and great hope. Her story changed and it got better.

My prayer for us all is that we each will experience hope, peace and victory in our ever-changing Christmas story.

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He is the author of 13 books including Uncommom Sense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.

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New Champaign-Urbana Artist Collective meets this Wedesday at the Art Bar

URBANA - The City of Urbana’s Arts & Culture Program and the University of Illinois College of Fine and Applied Arts are co-sponsoring for the kick-off event for the newly formed CU BIPOC Artist Collective. Wednesday's gathering is the first in what will be a regularly scheduled quarterly gathering of the talented and creative individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color in the local community.

Hosted by the Gallery Art Bar in downtown Urbana, the collective will discuss the future of the BIPOC artist community in Champaign-Urbana and provide an opportunity for BIPOC artists to connect with others in the community while enjoying refreshments at Main Street Urbana's newest business addition.

The event welcomes all creatives, makers and performers of art, and storytellers from the twin cities who identify as BIPOC to stop by, absorb the collective creative vibe, and connect with fellow artists over refreshments from 6 to 9 p.m. The first 40 guests to arrive will receive a special 'goodie bag'.

The Gallery Art Bar is located at 121 West Main in Urbana.

Sports Page | Four SJO wrestlers pin opponents at home dual

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ST. JOSEPH - With an impressive number of spectators on hand, St. Joseph-Ogden's Quincy Jones, Devin Swisher, Landon Butts, and Emmitt Holt pinned opponents in St. Joseph-Ogden's 40-35 win over visiting Clifton Central last Tuesday. SJO also got a decisive victory from Holden Brazelton via a 15-1 major decision over Comets' Kayden Cody in the first of two dual contests.

In their second match of the evening, the Spartans were able to win just three bouts on the way to a 57-21 loss to Oakwood.

Emmitt Holt stuck Steven Uden in the third period. In a 9-2 decision, Holden Brazelton beat Jack Ajster after three periods. Khaden Hallowell pinned Brayden Norton in the 215-pound match.

Box Score

Final Score: St. Joseph-Ogden 40 - Clifton Central 35

106- HARRIS, NICK (SJO) over Forfeit, (Clifton Central) FORFEIT;
113- HOLT, EMMITT (SJO) over Williams, Beau (Central) Fall 0:47;
120- Hemp, Blake (Central) over WALSH, JACKSON (SJO) Decision 14-7;
126- Bailey, Everett (Central) over GETTY, CAMDEN (SJO) Tech Fall 16-0;
132- BUTTS, LANDEN (SJO) over Bailey, Garrison (Central) Fall 2:04;
138- BRAZELTON, HOLDEN (SJO) over Cody, Kayden (Central) Maj Dec 15-1;
144- Cox, Evan (Central) over VAUGHN, ALEX (SJO) Fall 0:54;
150- Panozzo, Giona (Central) over ALVAREZ, DAVIN (SJO) Fall 4:59;
157- Panozzo, Gianni (Central) over MOORE, JONATHON (SJO) Fall 2:55;
165- SWISHER, DEVAN (SJO) over Vinning, Noah (Central) Fall 0:23;
175- Alvarez, Izzy (Central) over SARNECKI, CARSON (SJO) Decision 10-4;
190- Plante, Kyle (Central) over SMITH, CORBIN (SJO) Fall 3:44;
215- O`Connor, Brody (Central) over HALLOWELL, KHADEN (SJO) Fall 0:45;
285- JONES, QUINCY (SJO) over Sandoval, Francisco (Central) Fall 0:47.

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"A picture is worth a thousand words."

In a time not long ago, before the popularity of online photo galleries and dwindling advertising revenue, newspapers routinely told stories and reported on newsworthy events through photo pages. If The Sentinel could publishing in print like the good ol' days, this is what our sports page would have looked like today. The full-size 22x17 page is available for matting and framing. Order yours here.

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If you enjoy our photos and stories about our area high school sports programs, the Sentinel can really use your help.

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You can help us by sharing our stories and photos on social media for your family and friends to enjoy. Having more readers helps us convince businesses to advertise with us. The more advertisers we have, the greater our local coverage.

And there are even more ways you can help. We'll tell you about those here.

With no paywall on our site, every contribution helps our readers enjoy our sports and news coverage. Contribute today. It only takes a minute to help make memories in our community last forever.

Spartans continue early season steamroll with win #6

Toyota of Danville MVP Tanner Jacob goes up for a shot during the Spartans' title game against Oakwood. The senior scored 16 points in SJO's first conference win over Central Catholic Saturday afternoon on the road.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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BLOOMINGTON - Coming off a huge overtime win over Normal West on Tuesday, the St. Joseph-Ogden basketball team was back in Blo-No to face Illini Prairie rival Central Catholic on Saturday. Like their earlier visit to the other downstate twin city, the Spartans returned home victorious after defeating the Saints 63-54.

Despite a 41% shooting effort against Central Catholic's 95%, SJO proved the adage 'less is better' doesn't necessarily win basketball games.

Tanner Jacob led the Spartans with 16 points. Junior Tanner Siems also finished in double figures with 13 points. Guards Coy Taylor and Logan Smith rounded out the top four scorers with eight points each.

The foursome fired 43 of St. Joseph-Ogden's 54 shots at the rim, draining 18 of the 22 that resulted in points.

Senior Luke Landrus dominated the boards with nine rebounds and led the Spartans with three steals. Smith, also a senior, was credited with five rebounds and seven assists.

SJO heads back to Bloomington-Normal as the #3-seed in the Small School Division State Farm Classic. Jacob and the Spartans appear to be firing on all cylinders and looking like a good bet for a repeat of last year's championship run. With four contests to play before their tournament opener against Ead Dubuque two days after Christmas, the currently undefeated Spartans have a brutal four-game schedule ahead of them.

On Tuesday, the team goes head-to-head with Danville over in the 'Ville, who hopes to avenge last year's 66-53 loss behind Ty Pence's 35-point show-stopper. The Vikings have taken losses this season to Centennial, Peoria, Lincoln, and Belleville West. Their three wins have been over smaller size schools, including Mahomet-Seymour, Rantoul, and Ogden International.

The Main Gym should be packed to the rafters on Friday when St. Joseph-Ogden hosts Normal University. Like the Spartans, the Pioneers have already beat Central Catholic and Normal West and will have vengeance on their minds as well after last year's loss to SJO at the State Farm Classic.

With four days to recover, Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin be in the house. Then, Friday, the St. Joseph-Ogden basketball team is back on a bus and heading to the den of the Beecher Bobcats, who are 8-0, 4-0 in the River Valley Conference.

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Want to see more sports stories like this?

If you enjoy reading stories about our area high school sports programs, the Sentinel can really use your help.

We need the help of passionate sports fans like yourself to help us cover more games, feature more athletes, and give recognition to the hard-working athletes who deserve it. There are several ways you can help.

You can help us by sharing our stories and photos on social media for your family and friends to enjoy. Having more readers helps us convince businesses to advertise with us. The more advertisers we have, the greater our local coverage.

And there are even more ways you can help. We'll tell you about those here.

With no paywall on our site, every contribution helps our readers enjoy our sports and news coverage. Contribute today. It only takes a minute to help make memories in our community last forever.

Sing your way to better health

Some research has shown that singing can boost immunity. Other research has found singing can help stave off moderate dementia. OSF doctor Alina Paul suggests it is possible to sing your way to better health.

Bernd Everding/Pixabay

by Tim Ditman
OSF Healthcare

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CHAMPAIGN - Alina Paul, MD, has been singing for as long as she can remember. She added guitar while in boarding school in India.

Alina Paul, MD

Fast forward to 2023, and the family medicine physician at OSF HealthCare finds herself singing for patients who request it to brighten their day.

“It has changed the way I treat patients,” Dr. Paul says with conviction. “Singing and playing guitar is medicine. It’s medicine for the soul.”

Hearing those tunes is not just a temporary respite for the person in for a checkup. Dr. Paul says research has shown singing can have long-term health benefits.

The benefits

· Pain levels, physical and mental, can decrease. For people suffering from anxiety and depression, singing can increase the level of endorphins, the “feel-good hormone,” as Dr. Paul puts it. This brings them out of a dreary mood.

· Some research has shown that singing can boost immunity by increasing the level of the antibody immunoglobulin A. This antibody helps fight respiratory and other infections, Dr. Paul says.

· It helps your lungs perform better.

“We’re using our lungs to sing. We take deep breaths. Certain movements of the chest wall help with lung function,” says Dr. Paul.

· Other research has found singing can help stave off moderate dementia, Dr. Paul says.

“That’s amazing,” she says.

“We see a lot of patients with dementia. When you incorporate singing or even sing to them, their memory seems to improve. They’re happier,” Dr. Paul adds.

· Dr. Paul says singing can increase oxytocin, the so-called “love hormone.” This can help with social bonding and a sense of belonging.

· Singing can also improve public speaking skills, especially if you sing in front of others. Simply put, the more you use your voice, the more comfortable you are with it.

Keep your well-being in mind

Dr. Paul says there are some obvious, but important health matters to keep in mind if you pick up singing.

· If singing causes your lungs or throat to hurt, take a break. If minor symptoms persist, go to an urgent care. For things like difficulty breathing, chest pain or loss of consciousness, call 9-1-1.

· If you are sick, don’t sing – or do much else – around others. When we say words, our mouth spews microparticles that can carry diseases. And when you’re sick, you should be resting and recovering.

· Be kind to your neighbors, like in an apartment building. Don’t sing loudly at all hours.

How do I start?

Don’t feel like you have to run out and join a choir, Dr. Paul says. And don’t worry if your vocal skills aren’t Grammy worthy.

“Don’t take it as an exercise. Don’t do it because you have to. Do it because you want to do it,” Dr. Paul advises.

Try singing while in the car or shower. Do karaoke with friends. You don’t even need music. Try belting out your favorite song acapella while cleaning the house. Dr. Paul says closing your eyes can help focus the activity.

“Anybody can sing. Make a point to sing. It’s like meditation. It’s very beneficial,” Dr. Paul says.

Free Dental Day in Tolono

TOLONO - Tolono Family Dental is hosting a free dental day on December 15. Located at 101 N Watson in Tolono, the practice is offering x-rays, exams, and simple cleaning services for anyone who does not have a dental insurance plan or on limited/fixed budget.

"We are ready to give back to the community," they wrote on Facebook. "If you are on a limited income or don't have insurance please come by our office on December 15th from 2-4 pm!"

Walk-ins are welcomed at the event, but registration in advance is recommended. For more information call (217) 485-5760.

Keep an eye on amount of caffeine you consume, too much can be fatal

Samer Dabou/PEXELS

by Tim Ditman
OSF Healthcare

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URBANA - A new lawsuit claims a caffeinated drink at Panera contributed to a man's death.

Legalities aside, the issue of what people - especially young people - put in their bodies is something to be aware of, says Michael Broman, PhD, MD, an OSF HealthCare cardiologist. In fact, it’s one he thinks about daily.

“My children are 8 and 10. I don’t allow them to have caffeine except under my supervision and only in very small doses,” Dr. Broman says sternly.

Caffeine basics

Dr. Broman says energy drinks, when consumed properly, can provide the desired energy boost. A college student studying for a test, for example.

But it’s caffeine consumption that you must be aware of.

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Caffeine also causes dependence. As a person uses more and more over time, they start to miss it when they don’t have it. They can withdraw from caffeine. That’s one of the most worrisome side effects, especially in kids. If a child is using a lot of caffeine and they stop, they can have attention problems and headaches. It can affect their performance in school and athletics.

Dr. Michael Broman
OSF HealthCare Cardiologist

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“Caffeine has clearly been linked to adverse events and toxicity when given at a high enough dose,” Dr. Broman says.

The effects of caffeine will vary from person to person. Some will be more sensitive to caffeine due to genetics. Others may be able to break down caffeine more quickly, meaning less sensitivity.

Generally though, Dr. Broman says taking in too much caffeine could lead to your heart racing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chest pain and high blood pressure. You may also feel hyper and not able to sit still.

“Caffeine also causes dependence,” Dr. Broman adds. “As a person uses more and more over time, they start to miss it when they don’t have it. They can withdraw from caffeine.

“That’s one of the most worrisome side effects, especially in kids. If a child is using a lot of caffeine and they stop, they can have attention problems and headaches. It can affect their performance in school and athletics.”

What to know

Here’s the formula to remember: Dr. Broman says for children and adolescents, limit daily caffeine consumption to 2.5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. (You can easily find a pounds to kilograms converter online.)

For example, if a high school student weighs 120 pounds (or around 54 kilograms), they would want to stick to 135 milligrams of caffeine per day. One PRIME Energy drink has 200 milligrams of caffeine. A 20-ounce bottle of Coca Cola has 57 milligrams. Caffeine content in coffee can vary. So be vigilant about your health and seek out the numbers. Check the product label or look up the product online before you swing by the drive thru or go to the store.

Photo: Lisa Fotios/PEXELS

The formula, though, doesn’t mean two bottles of Coke or a half swig of PRIME per day will yield no consequences for a 120-pound teenager. Rather, Dr. Broman recommends people under 18 not ingest caffeine regularly at all. Parents, teachers and coaches should watch what young people are drinking. Make the energy drink or soda a once-in-a-while treat. Water flavored with fresh fruit can be an alternative or talk to a dietitian about what’s right for you.

“A lot of these caffeinated beverages are marketed and flavored to taste good for children,” Dr. Broman says. “The drinks may also be in the store displays right next to the non-caffeinated beverages. They can look almost the same. So, it’s often difficult for a young person to figure out, ‘Is this beverage caffeinated? Is this one non-caffeinated?’”

And remember, everyone reacts to caffeine differently. Like any other ailment, know your health history and how your body responds to things. If you have significant symptoms from a caffeine overdose, call 9-1-1 and take an ambulance to the emergency department.

“People with prior cardiac conditions are way more likely to have very dangerous side effects from the use of caffeine,” Dr. Broman says.

Inaugural girls' eight-team SJO Country Financial Shootout next Saturday

Mahomet-Seymour's Reese Gallier and Hannah Creel move into position for a defensive rebound around Urbana's Janae Hall during their game last month. The Bulldogs are one of eight teams to play in the 1st Annual SJO Country Financial Shootout on December 16.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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ST. JOSEPH - St. Joseph-Ogden will host an eight-team girls' basketball shootout on Saturday, December 16. The first varsity contest tips off at 1 pm with Breese Central vs Pleasant Plains. Three hours later, the Spartans take the floor against Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond at the four-game event sponsored by Drew Arteaga Country Financial Insurance.

Addison Seggebruch and the Spartans play their Shootout game at 2 pm next Saturday against AL-AH. The upcoming shootout is the first hosted by SJO and Country Financial for girls. The event is a perfect tune-up for St. Joseph-Ogden, who will play at the State Farm Classic later this month.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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All the varsity games will be played in the Main Gym, while JV games will be in the school's practice gym. The junior varsity contests are slated to begin approximately two hours prior to the start of varsity matches.

"The matchups this year are exciting," says Justin Franzen, Activities Director at St. Joseph-Ogden and the event organizer. "We are not just hoping to get fans from all of these schools, but we hope to get overall basketball fans to this event."

Franzen said he hopes the place in hopping next Saturday.

"We hope basketball fans, parents, and students come out and support their teams," he said. "All of the JV games will be played in our practice gym, and all of the varsity games will be played in the main gym. As always, we hope the bleachers will be full and fans enjoy the experience."

All-day admission is $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for students with their student ID. Tickets are good for all eight contests at the shootout.

Breese Central, ranked #2 (MaxPreps) in Class 2A, is currently 8-0. The game between the Lady Cougars and #17-ranked Pleasant Plains (7-5) will be the game basketball fans won't want to miss.

After beating St. Joseph-Ogden last month, the Cardinals have played an early season schedule not for the faint of heart. They have chalked up victories over Moline, Edwardsville, Springfield Southeast, and Quincy Notre Dame.

~ Player Watch List ~

Breese Central:
Cece Toennies and Taylor Trame

Pleasant Plains:
Anna Weber

Richland County:
Kyrstin Weiler

Fieldcrest:
Kaitlin White

AL-AH:
Claire Seal, All-time leading scorer

SJO: Addi Seggebruch, Addison Frick, Addy Martinie

Eureka:
Sophia Musselman

Mahomet-Seymour:
Kylie Waldinger and Reese Gallier

Win or lose, participating players and coaches will leave with some nifty swag.

"From our Country Financial sponsorship, we are providing a free pullover to the head varsity coach and the head JV coach, and each JV and Varsity player will receive a free t-shirt as well," Franzen added. "This is our first 'Annual" girls basketball shootout we have hosted here at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

"We are glad to get the chance to do this for the players, coaches, and fans. We hope everyone has a great experience."

SJO Country Financial
Shootout Schedule

Adi Fraase grabs a loose ball for Pleasant Plains in November. The Cardinals will be back on the Main Gym floor to face Breese Central next week. The senior finished 3-for-4 from the free-throw line during her last visit to SJO.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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Varsity:
1:00 PM:
Breese Central vs. Pleasant Plains

2:30 PM:
Richland County vs. Fieldcrest

4:00 PM:
ALAH vs. St. Joseph-Ogden

5:30 PM:
Eureka vs. Mahomet-Seymour

Junior Varsity
11:00 AM:
Breese Central vs. Pleasant Plains

12:30 PM:
Richland County vs. Fieldcrest

2:00 PM: 
ALAH vs. St. Joseph-Ogden

3:30 PM: 
Eureka vs. Mahomet-Seymour

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Prep Sport Notebook | Catching up on area scores and performances

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Undefeated St. Joseph-0gden basketball top seed at State Farm tournament

BLOOMINGTON - The SJO boys basketball team is seeded #3 in this year's edition of the State Farm Holiday Classic basketball tournament. Last year's small school champs was one of six schools that received #1 seed votes. The Spartans (5-0) open tournament play on December 27 against East Dubuque at Normal West.

The top seed went to Aurora Christian with four first-place votes. Normal University High secured one vote and is the #2 seed. El Paso-Gridley, the #4 seed, received one vote. St. Joseph-Ogden received three first-place votes from a poll of head coaches, the media, and committee members.

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Spartan girls draw tough first round seed

BLOOMINGTON - The St. Joseph-Ogden girls basketball team is back in the field of competition at the State Farm Holiday Classic. Senior Addison Frick and the Spartans (2-3) play their first game 20 days from today against #4 seed Bishop McNamara (7-1) at Normal Community.

This year's top small-school girls seeds are Camp Point Central/Augusta Southeastern in the #1 position and Paris at #2. The Panthers beat the Tigers in last year's championship game, 36-32. Galena earned the #3 spot, and Bishop McNamara was voted #4 in the poll given to coaches, media around the state, and committee members.

SJO is scheduled to play at 10:30 am on the Wednesday after Christmas.

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Cornjerkers post second win of the season

Hoopeston Area 52 - Armstrong Potomac 45
GIBSON CITY - Owen Root scored 14 points in Bismarck-Henning's win over Armstrong-Potomac. Mason Rush and Kendrick Sigerill scored 11 points each. Root and Sigerill led the team on the boards with six rebounds apiece. Wyatt Eisenman chipped in eight points and tallied three of the team seven steals at the GCMS Thanksgiving Tournament.

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Spartan girls suffer home loss

Paris 44 - St. Joseph-Ogden 38
ST. JOSEPH - Three SJO players tallied double figures in the scorebook, but it was enough to surpass their extended meeting with the visiting Tigers on November 11.

Sophomore Katie Ericksen led the Spartan effort with 12 points in the overtime effort. Addison Frick connected drained three treys and a jumper for ll points and Addisyn Martinie contributed ten points in the loss.

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Tigers' season starts with road loss

OLYMPIA FIELDS - The Urbana boys' varsity basketball team lost their road opener to Manley at Rich Central, 76-72.

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Seggebruch leads Spartans in first win of the season

St. Joseph-Ogden 61 - Tuscola 47
ST. JOSEPH - SJO's A-Team came together rolling over the visiting Warriors for their first win of the season. Addison Seggebruch scored a team-high 14 points on her home court on November 11. Addisyn Martinie finished with 12 points, and Addison Frick rounded out the top three scorers with 10 points. The Spartans made nearly half their total points from outside the arc, hitting nine three-pointers in the non-conference game.

Sicily Moss led Tuscola's effort with 16 points across all four frames. The loss broke a four-game win streak for the Warriors and remains their only loss as of today.

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