The Sentinel

Spartans and Rockets dance squads advance to state finals

MASCOUTAH - The SJO Dance Team and Unity Rockettes placed in top six at the Mascoutah Sectional, advancing to the Illinois High School Association's Competitive Dance State Finals this Friday and Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington.

A member of the SJO Dance Team performs during the halftime show at the Toyota of Danville Basketball Tournament last month. The 11 talented dancers advance to Friday's IHSA state finals in Bloomington on Friday.

The Spartans finished third in Saturday's subsectional competition against 14 other schools, earning a score of 81.87. Unity, in the same subsectional finished ahead of Mattoon with a 78.83 in fifth place.

The sectional championship title went to Jacksonville (90.07), with Clinton (87.57) finishing in the runnerup spot.

The state final competition will at 101 South Madison Street. Tickets can be purchased online at here or by calling the box office at the area at 309-434-2777.

The IHSA will annouce the performance order later this week.

Mascoutah Dance Sectional Standings

1 Jacksonville 90.07
2 Clinton 87.57
3 St. Joseph-Ogden 81.87
4 Quincy Notre Dame 79.90
5 Unity 78.83
6 Mattoon 77.23

SJO girls stay undefeated in conference race, Martinie scores 22 in rout over Sages

ST. JOSEPH - The St. Joseph-Ogden girls basketball team held visiting Monticello to just seven points in the first half on the way to a 46-33 win on Thursday. The victory moves SJO to 12-8 on the season and remains undefeated in conference play with a 5-0 record.

Addisyn Martinie drained three treys in the first half and added a fourth in the third quarter to lead all scorers with 22 points.

Fellow senior Addison Frick went 3-for-3 from the free-throw line, finishing with ten points and seven rebounds.

Kayla Osterbur and Timera Blackburn-Kelley came off the bench, contributing four points each to the Spartan cause. Meanwhile, Addison Brooks finished the night with one three-pointer, Sara Kearney scored a field goal in the fourth quarter, and Katie Ericksen rounded out SJO's effort with a solo free throw and a team-high six assists.

The Spartans have the weekend off and travel to Matton on Monday to take on the 17-5 Green Wave.

Early lead propels SJO past IVC for another Illini Prairie Conference win

ST. JOSEPH - Tanner Jacob was 5-for-9 from three-point range, leading St. Joseph-Ogden to a third consecutive win on Friday. The Spartans jumped out to an early 16-point lead on visiting Illinois Valley Central at the start of the second quarter and poured on the points on the way to a 79-56 win Friday night.

Jacob, the squad's go-to scorer, finished the Illini Praire Conference game with 19 points and four assists. Shooting 54% overall, the senior started the game on fire with 14 points in the first half.

The win improved the Spartans' record to 16-4 on the season, and they remain undefeated in league play at 3-0.

SJO led the fast-paced action by as many as 27 points with a little under six minutes to play in the fourth quarter after Coy Taylor buried a three-pointer from near the top of the key. Taylor made four other shots inside the arc to finish with nine points, five boards, and four assists.

Using his long wingspan and height, Tanner Siems led St. Joseph-Ogden's rebound effort, hauling in eight boards. The junior finished with 13 points, all made under the rim.

Luke Landrus and Logan Smith finished with ll points each for the Spartans. Smith led the team's defensive effort with four steals, and dished eight assists. Shooting 50% from the field, Landrus made five of his ten shots and sunk one of his three free-throw attempts.

Next up, the boys' squad takes on St. Anthony's in Effingham today for a 2:30 p.m. contest. SJO then plays at home, hosting St. Thomas More on Tuesday and playing at Monticello on Friday to remain at the top of the IPC standings.