Oakwood opened the season with a 43-15 road win over Arcola, a sharp reversal from last year’s loss. Senior Caydence Vermillion led the way with 14 points, six steals and six rebounds. Emma Koontz contributed a double-double.
Vermillion’s defense leads Oakwood to convincing win at Arcola
Hanner leads Oakwood with 11 points in loss to North Vermillion
BISMARCK - Gracie Hanner scored a team-high 12 points for Oakwood in the third-place game at the 2024 Blue Devil Classic Basketball Tournament. Her effort with 11 points from teammate Caydence Vermillion, fell short against North Vermillion, resulting in a 41-36 holiday tournament loss on Saturday, December 28.
The Comets (6-14) were within striking range at the end of the third quarter, 34-31, but could not sustain enough momentum to push past the Falcons in the final quarter.
North Vermillion was paced by Nora Thomann's game-high 13 points. The freshman starter, named to the All-Tournament team, also recorded 14 rebounds and two blocks. Juniors Kera Dunham and Cadence Dunham (5 rebounds, 7 assists) rounded out the team's top three scorers with nine and eight points, respectively. Kera Dunham was also named All-Tournament.
Oakwood received strong defensive efforts from seniors Rylee Wright and Bella Bradford. The duo grabbed six rebounds and dished out three assists each.
The Comets look to correct their three-game losing streak on Thursday in a conference road game at Chrisman (2-12) and play their next home contest on January 16 against Georgetown-Ridge Farm (8-5).
First inning rally pushes Unity past Oakwood
TOLONO - Good things come in threes, especially for Jenna Adkins on Monday during the Rockets' home game against Oakwood.
Leading off for Unity (3-1) in the bottom of the first inning, Atkins crushed the third pitch, sending it over the right field fence. If it wasn't for the 25 m.p.h.-plus cross wind out of the southeast, the ball could have sailed another 10 yards past the vehicles parked on the other side of the fence.
"It's always a windy day at the Unity HS Softball field! However, last night was so odd," exclaimed Unity head coach Aimee Davis. "When I was hitting ground balls to the infield, the wind even had an influence on those and the direction they went after contact."
She pointed out that "fly balls were hard to read" due to the steady, unrelenting wind. It was amazing there weren't more errors than the one recorded by the Comets in the four-inning affair that ended 14-0 in favor of the Rockets.
"I do not think I have played or coached in a windier game than last night. It was wild," Davis said.
Adkins' homer was just the start. Unity tallied six more runs, the last courtesy of Atkins, whose single put Taylor Drennan across the plate for the final run of the inning.
"When you can start the game with a leadoff homerun, that sets the tone for the rest of the game," Davis said.
Adkins finished the non-conference game with three hits in her three at-bats and booked three RBIs.
"Jenna had another great at-bat and hit the ball square. We need that from her, and she wants to have good outcomes up to bat," Davis said. "She's followed by solid hitters that get their jobs done."
The Rockets scattered a hit from nine different batters in the lineup. Grace Bickers, Sophia Beckett, and Reese Frye had two RBIs each.
"Our offensive lineup is a good one, and we are starting to see more consistency up and down, which is positive to see as a coach," Davis added. "Defensively, we have a solid pitching staff and an infield and outfield that play great supporting roles."
The Comets (1-3) mustered just three hits courtesy of Karleigh Nelson, Gracie Hanner, and Caydence Vermillion. Oakwood's only opportunity to score came in the top of the third inning, loading the bases with Olivia Fegett on third, Nelson on second, and Gracie Hanner on first.
With two outs already on the board, Gracie Enos popped out to Rockets' Ruby Tarr at shortstop, erasing the threat.
Lindy Bates earned the pitching win. The senior struck out five batters. Meanwhile, Vermillion took the loss for the Comets.
"This team is fun to watch and hungry to see success," Davis said. "They have worked long and hard to reach this point. They are ready to see what this season has to offer."
With a smile on her face, Jenna Adkins heads to home plate after sending a bomb out to right field in the first inning to give the Rockets a 1-0 lead against visiting Oakwood.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Gracie Enos throws a pitch during the first innning. Despite throwing 25 strikes out of her 38 pitches, the senior suffered eight runs on eight hits against the Rockets.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Prep Hoops |Thursday Basketball Scores
Girls' Basketball
Attica 39Oakwood 47 Caydence Vermillion hit seven three-pointers on her way to a team-high 23 points and 15 rebounds against the Red Ramblers. Gracie Hanner hauled in 11 rebounds of her own, finishing nine points and five assists for the Comets.
Armstrong 27
Unity 36
Unity 53
North Vermillion 54 Kera Dunham tallied 15 points and Nora Thomann, a freshman, contributed another 13 in the non-conference win for the Falcons. Thomann led her team with eight rebounds and three assists. Dunham credited with six steals and four assists.
St. Joseph-Ogden 29
Bishop McNamara 41 The Spartans fall in State Farm Holiday Classic action at Normal West. Senior Katie Ericksen scored three treys to lead SJO's scoring effort with nine points.
Boys' Basketball
Oakwood 37Tuscola 94
Harding Academy 52
Champaign Central 60 Maroons' Cayden Love shot 75% from the free throw line on his way to a team-high 16 points. Chris Bush and Luke Swanson nudged Central in the non-conference win with 13 points each. Love, a sophomore, collected four steals in the win.
St. Joseph-Ogden 56
Winnebago 42 Coy Taylor led SJO's scoring effort with 19 points. Tanner Siems added another 14 points and Collin Thomey chipped in 10. The trio, frequent visitors to the free throw line, made 12 of their 17 attempts.
Attention Coaches: Help us keep area basketball, wrestling, and competitive dance fans informed! Email us your team's game and match results for the Prep Sports Notebook. Please send us a clear photo of the scorebook or link to game results at sports@oursentinel.com.
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Prep Sports Notebook |Cornjerkers loses at home, SJO girls win again
A quick look at scoring leaders and area winners this past week. Brayden Walder scores 23 for Hoopeson in loss. Oakwood and SJO girls' squads win games before Thanksgiving.
Boys Basketball
Hoopeston Area drops season opener to Spartans
Brayden Walder was the leading scorer with 23 points in the 67-54 loss at home on Monday. Nick Cardenas came off the bench to add 10 points, while Alandize Barnett chipped in eight points. Barnett also led the team with 10 rebounds. The Cornjerkers (0-1) return to action on Friday after Thanksgiving to face Armstrong (0-1) in an 2:30 p.m. matinee. The two teams met back in February with Trojans coming out on top with a decisive 83-61 victory. Hoopeston Area owns the series between the two programs with a 32-9 advantage since 2007.
Girls Basketball
St. Joseph-Ogden wins second game of the season
Katie Ericksen scored a game-high 12 points in SJO's 40-26 victory over Clifton Central on Monday. Addie Brooks connected on three treys for nine points, and Timera Blackburn-Kelley finished with seven points for the Spartans (2-0). The Comets were paced by junior Maddie Webb with seven points in the non-conference matchup. St. Joseph-Ogden hosts the Tuscola Warriors (2-2) on Monday in the Main Gym at 7:30 p.m.
Oakwood girls bounce back
After a two-point loss to Casey-Westfield on Saturday, the Comets (2-1) roll over Covington 56-29. Oakwood's Caydence Vermillion led all scorers with 16 points and six boards. Teammate Gracie Hanner nearly match Vermillion's output with 15 points, three steals and six assists in their Comet Classic tournament game. Lainee Smith was invaluable in the paint, grabbing a game-high nine rebounds and chipping in eight points. Covington freshman Lauren Hardy led the Trojans with 11 points and four rebounds.
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