Varsity basketball picks up second win

To pick up their second win of season St. Joseph-Ogden had time on their side during their second game of pool play at 2nd Annual Toyota of Danville Classic.

In the comfy confines of their home court, the Spartans held Norte Dame de LaSalatte to just five points for nearly a nine minute in a stretch to win 48-36 on Wednesday.

Spartans' Payton Cain goes up for a shot against LaSalette during his team's second game at the Toyota of Danville Classic on Wednesday. Cain finished the contest with a team-high 10 points. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Payton Cain led SJO in scoring with ten points. The senior, who also booked a team-high seven rebounds, wasn't satisfied.

"We've got a lot of work to do on our offense," Cain said. While it is only the second game of the season for the Spartans, he made it clear that team needs to solidify their identity to be successful. "We've got to find our dignity."

With 31 seconds left in the second quarter, LaSalette's Steven Deister hit a free throw to take a small nibble out of St. Joseph-Ogden's 21-14 lead. For nearly the next 10 minutes the Lions mustered just five points as the Spartans widen the scoring gap by 20 points at 39-19 with just 6:51 to the final buzzer.

Thanks to a strong defensive effort, SJO followed up a 6-0 run at the start the second frame with 12 unanswered points before the Lions' Joseph McCall hit two free throws to put the score at 39-21.

"On the defensive end we've done a great job getting stops," said Cain, who had 10 steals and used them to tack points on the scoreboard for the host team. "If we stop teams, our offensive will come up and finish out the game strong."

Once again, and it looks to be a regular theme this season, the Spartans enjoyed a nice balance of scoring from starters and the bench. All four classes did their part to secure the win.

Frosh starter Ty Pence was the second leading scorer with eight points. He went 4-for-4 from the free throw line - all of them in the second quarter - and had four rebounds.

Spectators react as SJO's Drew Coursey rolls across the floor after diving for a loose ball during first half action. Coursey, who played linebacker during the football season, was unfazed and quickly picked up by teammates moments later. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Andrew Beyers came off the bench to score five points against the Lions. The sophomore shot 50% from the line making his first one in the first half of the game and missing his second half attempt.

Junior Lukas Hutcherson rotated into the fray during the fourth quarter to finish with a trey for the Spartans while Cain and the class of 2020, who combined for 22 more points, did the heavy lifting.

LaSalette's offensive effort was bouyed by David Carlisle. The senior was the only player with double figures, thanks to three three-pointers, capping the evening with 14 points. He was responsible for five of his team's 24 boards.

The Lions' senior was aided by Joseph McCall with eight points. Joseph Martin and Thomas Brauner added another five points apiece.

"They were pretty tough," said Spartans' Drew Coursey. While the three-sport athlete's stats were meager with three points and a rebound, his aggressive presence on the floor created turnover opportunities. "They were physical dudes. They played hard."

Tonight, St. Joseph-Ogden squares off against last year's Classic champions Cissna Park tonight at 8pm. SJO goes into the contest with the hopes of continuing their unblemished record and avenging the 66-37 loss to the Timberwolves, who were also the Class 1A state runner-up back in March.

Here is tonight's Toyota of Danville Classic schedule:

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.

SJO boys open season with resounding basketball victory

If you missed the St. Joseph-Ogden boys basketball team's season opener at the Toyota of Danville Classic last night, then you missed one heck of a teaser for has the markings of an exciting year of SJO basketball.

Chance Izard goes up for a shot in the Spartans' Toyota of Danville Classic basketball on Tuesday. Izard finished with 19 points. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Entering his second season at the helm, Duval started four seniors and freshman. All five were familiar names over the PA during this year's football season.

Conner Hodge and Drew Course took to the floor as forwards. Chance Izard and Payton Cain started in the guard slots and 6-4 freshman Ty Pence got the season's first touch on the ball at center.

Almost two minutes past scoreless before Izard made a lay up with 6:10 left in the first quarter to give the Spartans the first lead of the game.

It was a relatively unproductive first quarter for both teams that ended at 7-4. Midway through the second one however, the Spartans shed most of their first-game jitters and started an 11 point run on GRF. Skipping second and third gear, jumping right into fourth, St. Joseph-Ogden continued the offense onslaught on their way to a 64-37 win over Georgetown-Ridge Farm on their home court.

"They've got some quickness. That's why we are trying to use our transition game and push the basketball," said head coach Kiel Duval. "Even our bigs can run. We don't have a slow guy on the team."

Leading the team with eight points at the half, Izard added another 11 to finish the night with a game-high 19 points.

"He did what we expect him to do," Duval said. "The things we're pushing Chance to do, push the basketball, move without the basketball ... he did a lot of those things. We've continually pushed him every day in practice."

Izard did not want to take full credit for his performance that puts his team with on the floor tonight in their second tournament game against La Salette at 8 pm with a 1-0 record.

"I've got to give a lot of credit to my teammates. They did a great job of keeping the pressure off me," he said. "We struggled at rebounding in the beginning. But, we picked it up in the second half and that created a lot of opportunities for me to get some buckets in."

Jordan Kelly, who was shot 50% from the free throw line, also drained a few buckets. The senior came off the bench to start his senior season with 12 points, all lighting up the scoreboard in the second half.

Leading by as much as 28 points in the fourth quarter, Duval rotated players in and out liberally.

Luke Renfew goes after a loose ball after instigating a turnover. The senior was essential player on defense. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

There are fifteen players on the Spartans roster this season. Ten of them contributed to their win over the Buffaloes.

Cain finished with eight points, Pence added seven in varsity debut and Luke Renfew chipped drain six in the opening half. Renfew's offensive put back in the first frame handed SJO a 5-4 lead from which the team never looked back.

One of four underclassmen on the roster, Pence said he tense before the start of the game.

"The hard part was adapting to the speed of the game," Pence said. "Before the game I was really nervous. The guys helped me out and helped me get into the flow of the game."

The Georgetown-Ridge Farm offense was led by Kaden Mingee with 15 points and ten points from Cale Steinbaugh.

The Buffaloes look to pick up a win over Schlarman in the second of three games on tap at St. Joseph-Ogden High School tonight.

Box Score

St. Joseph-Ogden	7	14	22	22	- 65
Georgetown-Ridge Farm	4	7	11	15	- 37

Scoring

St. Joseph-Ogden: Conner Hodge 2, Lukas Hutcherson 3, Payton Cain 8, Jordan Kelly 12, Chance Izard 19, Andrew Beyers 2, Ty Pence 7, Luke Renfrew 6, Braydon Rupert 2 and Hayden Brazelton 4.

Georgetown-Ridge Farm: Hayden Stal 2, Cale Steinbaugh 10, Kaden Mingee 15, Gavan Shelton 3, Jeremiah Smith 4 and Justice Arthur 1.