Our roundup of area basketball scores from Monday.
Girls Basketball
Spartans still undefeated after homestand against Warriors
ST. JOSEPH - The St. Joseph-Ogden girls basketball team kept its unbeaten start intact Monday night, turning a tight halftime margin into a commanding 65-42 home win over Tuscola.
Holding a five-point lead at the break, the Spartans found another gear as the game wore on. Their surge peaked in the fourth quarter, where they outscored the Warriors 23-9 and closed the night with four players in double figures.
Senior guard Kayla Osterbur set the tone with a career-best 18 points, all coming in the final three quarters as SJO steadily pushed the lead out of reach. Fellow senior Timera Blackburn-Kelley delivered a strong two-way effort with 17 points and a team-high 11 rebounds, marking her first double-double of the season. Katie Ericksen and Dahl each added 11 points to round out a balanced scoring effort.
The win moves SJO to 4-0, marking one of the program’s best starts since the 2020-21 season. The schedule stiffens as the Spartans head out for back-to-back road games, beginning with a trip to Danville on Thursday before a matchup at Maroa-Forsyth next Monday.
Tuscola stayed within striking distance early behind the efforts of junior Sicily Moss and senior Reese Davis, who scored 18 and 17 points. Moss went 6-for-6 from the free-throw line, while Davis knocked down six of her 10 attempts. Their production kept the Warriors close through three quarters before SJO’s decisive late run sealed the outcome.
Harper leads Urbana in loss to Sages
URBANA - Lai’yonna Harper led the way for Urbana with 12 of her team’s 17 points in a 62-17 home loss to Monticello on Tuesday night. Despite her efforts, the Tigers struggled to generate offense, scoring just five points in the first half before making small adjustments to put up 12 in the second.
Kaya Hill and Zaniyah Ward each grabbed five rebounds, providing some support on the boards in the non-conference matchup. Harper and the Tigers now sit at 0-3 on the season and will look to bounce back Thursday at Urbana University.
Monticello improved to 3-2 behind balanced scoring, with three players in double figures. Sarah Cresap led the Sages with 12 points, while Mandy Melton and Ali Weidner added 10 each. Melton and Lexi Leatherwood dominated the glass with seven rebounds apiece in the road win.
Area Scoreboard
Heritage 34, Urbana University 23
Centennial vs Watseka - CANCELED
Unity vs Clinton - POSTPONED
Oakwood vs ALAH - NO SCORE REPORTED
Salt Fork 53, Rantoul 25
TAGS: SJO girls basketball fourth quarter surge recap, St. Joseph-Ogden vs Tuscola game analysis, Illini Prairie Conference girls basketball results, Kayla Osterbur career-high scoring game, Spartans 4-0 season start highlights
ST. JOSEPH - At the end of October, St. Joseph-Ogden High School announced the recipients of the second quarter Honor Roll and High Honor Roll. To be recognized on the 
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