Spartans mark decade since historic 2016 basketball championship

The Spartans secured the 2016 Class 2A championship with decisive performances in the state semifinals and finals. St. Joseph-Ogden defeated Breese Central after a strong second half in the semifinal. The following day, the team topped Rockridge behind balanced scoring and a standout second quarter.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Spartans' Kohlten Johnson slashes to the paint in SJO's semifinal game against Breese Central. Johnson and the 13 members of the 2016 basketball team will be honored on Friday, February 13, in a 10-year anniversary celebration.


ST. JOSEPH - On Friday, Feb. 13, St. Joseph-Ogden will hold a 10-year anniversary recognition ceremony for the school’s first and only state championship basketball team. The celebration will be held between the JV and varsity home games against Bloomington Central Catholic.

The Spartans won the Class 2A title on the strength of a 10-game winning streak to close the season. After a rough start against Breese Central in the first half of the state semifinal, the Spartans gelled into a dominant force at Carver Arena, overpowering the Cougars in the second half offensively and defensively for a 60-48 finish.

A day later, SJO faced Rockridge for the title and put on a dazzling shooting display in the second quarter that matched the Rockets’ entire first-half 22-point output. Behind a game-high 20 points from Brandon Trimble and 14 from Jake Pence, St. Joseph-Ogden secured the state title in another dominant display, 61-43.

       
Photos: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

RIGHT: Jake Pence unloads a shot against Breese Central in Friday's semifinal game. LEFT: Brandon Trimble takes a shot over a Rockridge player in the Class 2A title game. Trimble led all scorers with 20 points. BELOW: St. Joseph-Ogden fans cheer for their team on Friday in the team's game against the Cougars.

St. Joseph-Ogden baskeball fans cheer for their team

“We had high expectations coming into the year. The guys set a goal of coming to Peoria,” SJO head coach Brian Brooks told reporters in the postgame presser. “We started slow but football went deep, which was great. Those experiences, I believe, bled over into basketball and being able to handle those.”

Prior to the 2016 title run, St. Joseph-Ogden had made two previous state appearances, once in 2007 and again in 2013. All three state finalist teams were under the leadership of Brooks, now the superintendent and currently coaching the Spartan girls' basketball team for one year due to the head coach on deployment with the National Guard.

The JV game against the Saints tips off at 5:30 p.m.


2015-16 St. Joseph-Ogden Boys Basketball Roster

No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr.
1 Ty Brown G 6-0 165 Sr.
3 Brandon Trimble G 6-2 170 Jr.
4 Brandon Dable F 6-2 190 Jr.
10 Drayke Lannert G 5-10 150 Jr.
11 Kolten Taylor G 5-11 160 Jr.
12 Garrett Grimsley G 5-9 140 Sr.
15 Aaron Schluter F 6-2 210 Sr.
21 Tegan Poole F 5-9 175 Jr.
22 Jake Pence G 6-0 160 Sr.
23 Kohlten Johnson F 6-3 185 Sr.
30 Jordan Brooks G 5-10 145 So.
32 Brody Trimble F 6-3 190 Sr.
33 Eli Oltean F 6-2 190 Sr.
35 Ryan Ferriman F 5-11 195 So.

Assistant Coaches: Kiel Duval, Mike Bialeschki, Isaiah Olson
Managers: Bryce Kelly, Kenzie Pence, Madi Smith, Emma Melchior

Photos: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

SJO student fans show their enthusiasum before the start 2016 title game.

Photos: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Jordan Brooks gives his dad and coach Brian Brooks a hug during the awards ceremony.

Photos: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Garrett Grimsley holds SJO's Class 2A championship trophy during the postgame awards ceremony.

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Trimble signs with Lindenwood University

After three seasons at the University of Wisconsin Parkside, Spartan basketball standout Brandon Trimble is on the move.

Yesterday, the 2017 St. Joseph-Ogden graduate sign on the Lindenwood University program in St. Charles, Missouri.

"I think Brandon is a great fit for our style of play," said head coach Kyle Gerdeman. "He is a guy who can score in a variety of ways, and his three years of experience at the DII level adds even more experience to our roster."

Trimble was named as the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference North Player of the Week in January. He scored 20 or more points in seven of the games he played this season and amassed 320 points during his 661 minutes on the floor for the Rangers. He played in 24 games while making 14 starts.

After redshirting his freshman year, Trimble played in 27 games during the 2018-19 season for UWP. He averaged 11 points per game and 3 rebounds per game.


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College Notebook | Former SJO player knocks one out the park


Micah Downs finishes sixth at CCIW meet

College Notebook on the Sentinel Last February Micah Downs went 4-1 at the IHSA state wrestling meet at the State Farm Center to bring home a bronze medal for the Rockets. This February, a freshman wrestling at 184 pounds for Millikan University, Downs finished sixth at the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin conference meet in Rock Island on Saturday.


Dowling hits first college homer

Well, that didn't take long.

Former St. Joseph-Ogden softball player Bailey Dowling cranked the first home run of her college career this weekend. A starting shortstop for the University of Alabama, the true freshman when yard for a two-run shot to put her team up 3-0 on Valentine's Day against Louisville (0-2). The Crimson Tide went on to win 4-0, which was the exact result of their three-day, four-game schedule this past weekend.

Here is the video of Dowling hitting the ball out of the park on Sunday.

After four contests Dowling has tallied 4 hits in ten appearances at the plate, scored three runs and delivered three RBI for one of the country's top softball programs.

Kaiser notches 6 kills for Parkland

Katie Kaiser contributed 4 blocks and 6 kills in match two of Parkland College's doubleheader against the JV squad from Lincoln College. Ella Godsell, a freshman with the Cobras, had 11 of the team's 49 team digs. The former Rocket volleyball players helped undefeated Parkland (7-0) sweep the visiting Lynx in both matches, 3-0.

Kaiser, a sophomore, and Godsell travel to Quincy, Ill., for an M-WAC match against John Wood CC on Wednesday, February 17, at 6:00 pm.

Former Spartans keep Parkland team undefeated

The Parkland women's basketball team improved to 6-0 on Sunday after rolling over John Wood Community College, 62-41.

Peyton Crowe scored 12 and Bree Trimble added another 11 points in the Cobra's home win. Crowe the team's top rebounder with nine boards. She was also credited with four assist and two steals.

Trimble lights out against Maryville

When he was in high school Brandon Trimble dropped 44 points in St. Joseph-Ogden's Class 2A semifinal against Breese Central. Now a junior at Lindenwood College in St. Louis, the sports management major scored 24 points and collected six rebounds in the Lions 83-69 win over Maryville College on Thursday.

After 15 games in his first season, he is averaging 11.5 points per game. Since the start of his college basketball career starting in 2019, Trimble had scored 20 or more points in eight games.

Baker 2nd at the Grand Valley Big Meet

Eastern Illinois University sprinter Riley Baker is just a half second off the qualifying for the NCAA Division II track & field national championships. The junior turned in a 48.99, good for a second place finish, in the 400-meter run to assist the EIU men's track team effort at the Grand Valley Big Meet on Saturday in Allendale, Michigan.

Baker and the Panthers host the Friday Night Special at the Lantz Indoor Fieldhouse this weekend.

Coursey posts strong start for Redbirds

Last Thursday, Andrea Coursey started her senior season with the Illinois State University softball team on fire. The St. Joseph-Ogden product padded her stats with a pair of hits in ISU's road game against North Florida. One of three hit by the opposing pitcher during the game, she was left on base on all three times in the 4-0 shutout and season opener.

Lincoln Land streak ends, Taylor leads team in assists

The Lincoln Land Loggers drop a heartbreaker to rival Illinois Central College 85-62 on Sunday. Sophomore Maclayne Taylor, who competed in volleyball, cross Country, track and basketball at St. Joseph-Ogden, lead the team with six assists and contributed seven points in the loss. The loss ends a 5-game win streak for the now 6-2 Loggers.

Know a Unity or St. Joseph-Ogden graduate playing at the collegiate level? Let us know their name, sport(s) and where they are playing. An email or a link to their social media account for interviews is a big help, too. Send The Sentinel a message to us at sports@oursentinel.com.

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Photo Gallery | Pence scores 41, Spartans grab conference win from BCC

St. Joseph-Ogden senior Ty Pence goes up for a shot in the first half. The senior dropped 22 points in the first half to help SJO swing a three-point first quarter deficit to a seven-point advantage on the way to a 68-55 conference win. The Illinois State University recruit turned in 41 points moving to the top of the list of the Spartans' all-time leading scorers on Tuesday. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks


Spartans' Logan Smith drives to the paint in the first half. Smith, a junior, was held to just a pair of free throws in the home game against the Saints. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks


Two future Spartans athletes mug for the camera late in the first half. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks


Members of the SJO Dance Team are all smiles before their halftime performance.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks


Tanner Siems goes up for a shot in the third quarter. The sophomore chipped in nine points in SJO's conference victory. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks


Trailed by teammate Ty Pence, Coy Taylor on a fast break. Taylor, who was scoreless in the first half, scored eight in the final half. The junior went 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks


Student fans from the Maroon Platoon cheer for the Spartans in the fourth quarter.


St. Joseph-Ogden head coach Kyle Duval claps after star player Ty Pence hits a three pointer in the fourth quarter. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks


Spartan Tanner Seims makes a pass around two Central Catholic defenders late in the game. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks


Seims goes up for two of his four fourth-quarter points. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks


Ty Pence slaps hands with members of the Maroon Platoon as the last seconds tick off the game clock. Pence scored 41 points, 22 in the first half, the 13-point win over the visiting Saints. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks


Head coach Kiel Duval congratulates senior Ty Pence for his record-breaking achievement after the game. Pence's 41-point performance brought his career-scoring total to a school-best of 2,128 points. The program's top spot, previously held by Brandon Trimble, who played for the Spartans from 2013-17, was 2,115 points. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks


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Prep Sports Notebook: Unity baseball wins opener, softball coach gets 100 wins

Knoll RBI forces 11-1, 5 inning decision
Damian Knoll went 2-2 and drove in the game-winning run sealing Unity's 11-1 opening day win over visiting Hoopeston Area. The junior right-hander notched 3 RBIs in the Rockets' first game since 2019.

Tyler Hensch pitched 5 innings for Unity, giving up one hit and one run while striking out seven batters.

Dillon Rutledge, who scored the runs, along with Dylan Moore and Thomas Cler were also 2-for-2 for the Rockets.


Unity coach gets 100th win
Head coach Aimee Davis picked up career win 100 after her Rockets beat visiting Mt. Zion on Saturday in their season opener, 13-3. The milestone happened a year later than anticipated thanks to COVID and the resulting gameless season last year. Davis, now in her sixth season at the helm, and the Unity softball team started the season with a #7 Class 2A preseason ranking by the Illinois Coaches Association.


SJO softball holds off Fisher's 7th innning rally
SJO pitcher Maggie Ward
Maggie Ward earned yesterday's win after the St. Joseph-Ogden softball team held off a seventh inning momentum shift from the Fisher Bunnies to win 5-3. The pitcher surrendered three runs on nine hits over seven innings, striking out six and walking zero. Ward allowed three runs on nine hits while going the distance in the circle.

Striking out six batters and allowing not a single walk in the non-conference road game for SJO, Ward recorded 79 strikes out of the 118 pitches she put across the plate.

The Spartans put 11 hits in the book. Kennedy Hudson, Peyton Jones, Shayne Immke, Kelsey Martlage, and Audrey Short had two apiece and Alyssa Acton rounded out the offense with one of her own.

SJO improves to 5-3 on the season and faces Villa Grove at home on Wednesday.


Knott wins two of four firsts for Spartans
Last Thursday, field event specialist Hayden Knott won both throwing events in dual meet competition against Eureka.

Knott won the discus throw by just over 10 meters throwing the platter 47.93 meters further than runner-up Brock Trimble. The senior won the shot put competition with his best throw at 16.56 meters.

The Spartans also received first place performances from Brandon Mattsey in the 1600-meter run and Logan Wolfersberger in the 800.

Mattsey completed his four laps in 4 minutes and 43.62 seconds, moving closer to achieving the all-elusive sub-four-minute mile. Teammate Carson Maroon finished behind him second at 4:48.94.

Wolfersberger set a new personal record in the 800, finishing the two loops around the track in 2 minutes and 8.65 seconds.


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