Unity, St. Joseph-Ogden headline IPC All-Conference basketball selections

Area standouts from Unity, St. Joseph-Ogden, St. Thomas More, and Rantoul earn recognition on IPC all-conference basketball teams.

Unity's Brayden Henry takes a shot at state tournament.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Unity's Brayden Henry goes up for a shot during the Rockets' state third-place game on March 12. Henry was one of nine area players who earn all-conference recognition.

URBANA - The Illini Prairie Conference released its boys basketball All-Conference teams last week, recognizing nine area athletes for their performance during the 2025-26 season.

Unity, which finished third in Class 2A this winter, led all conference programs with five selections, all seniors. Brayden Henry and Coleton Langendorf earned First Team honors after anchoring the Rockets’ postseason run, while Dane Eisenmenger was named to the Second Team. Tyler Henry and Tre Hoggard also received recognition from league coaches, both landing on the Honorable Mention list.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

LEFT: Central Catholic's Keshaun Manney goes up for a rebound during the Saints' road game at St. Joseph-Ogden. He was is one of two BCC players who earned all-conference recognition this season. RIGHT: SJO's Parker Fitch goes up for a shot in the Spartans' home conference game. Fitch was the Spartans' only first-teamer this season.

St. Joseph-Ogden placed two players on the all-conference roster. Senior Parker Fitch secured a spot on the First Team, and junior Nolan Franzen was named to the Second Team following a strong campaign for the Spartans.

Rounding out the area honorees were St. Thomas More senior Owen Yeager and Rantoul junior Iysean Autman, who each received Honorable Mention recognition.

The annual selections reflect the vote of conference coaches and highlight the depth of talent across the Illini Prairie Conference this season.

2025-26 Illini Prairie All-Conference Basketball Team

1st Team

Keshaun Manney, Jr, Central Catholic
Grady Read, Sr, IVC
Amazin King, Jr, Pontiac
Parker Fitch, Sr, St. Joseph-Ogden
Coleton Langendorf, Sr, Unity
Brayden Henry, Sr, Unity

2nd Team

Crayton Schnierle, Jr, Central Catholic
Brady Ward, Sr, IVC
Tyler Cole, Sr, PBL
Cayden Masching, Sr, Pontiac
Nolan Franzen, Jr, St. Joseph-Ogden
Dane Eisenmenger, Sr, Unity

Honorable Mention

Nolan Buehnerkemper, Sr, Monticello
Matthias Rudolph, Jr, Monticello
Evan Wolf, Jr, Pontiac
Bryson Gadberry, Sr, Prairie Central
Easton Friedman, Sr, Prairie Central
Iysean Autman, Jr, Rantoul
Owen Yeager, Sr, St. Thomas More
Tre Hoggard, Sr, Unity
Tyler Henry, Sr, Unity

TAGS: Illini Prairie Conference all conference basketball 2026, Unity Rockets basketball all conference players, St Joseph Ogden basketball all conference selections, Illinois high school basketball conference honors IPC, area high school basketball players all conference Illinois

Friday Basketball Scoreboard for December 19

PHOTO: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

St. Joseph-Ogden's Parker Fitch makes a pass in the second half while being pressured by Normal University's Austin Kruger. Fitch led the Spartans' offense, delivering a 17-point performance against the Pioneers. Despite a stellar night, SJO fell 64-51 to U-High.

Here are scores and recaps for area prep basketball teams from Friday, December 19.

Boys Basketball

Knights drop road game at Monticello

MONTICELLO - Will Hilligoss scored 15 and Brennon Hutson added another 12 in Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond's 59-41 loss to Monticello on Friday. Hutson and Cooper Shoemaker led the team in rebounding with four each.

Unity Christian trio notch double figures in win over the Sabers

CHAMPAIGN - Trailing by one at the end of the third quarter, Unity Christian roared back to win their non-conference outting at St. Thomas More, 66-61. Kenyon Greer scored a team-high 21 points for the Lions. Qayden Bond and Monty Wilson, both seniors, finished with 14 points and 12, respectively.

SJO drops home game, Fitch scores 17 in loss

ST. JOSEPH - The Spartans led by as many as nine points in the second quarter before falling 64-51 in their non-league bout against Normal U-High. Pioneers' Cameron Johnson led all scorers with 22 points for non-conference win heading into next week's State Farm Classic tournament.

The Spartans were led by Parker Fitch and his 17-point output. Nolan Franzen and Ryker Lockhart contributed 11 points each in the loss.

Cornjerkers quiet the Storm

ST. JOSEPH - The Hoopeston Area defeated the Salt Fork 42-28 on the road. Alandez Barnett scored 14 points and Nick Cardenas added another 14. Cole Miller led the team in rebounds with 10 rebounds.

Hoopeston Area is set to play their first home game on January 6th against the Comets of Oakwood.

Boys' Area Scoreboard

Normal University 64, St. Joseph-Ogden 51
Unity 50, Pleasant Plains 39
Monticello 59, Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond 41
Unity Christian 66, St. Thomas More 61
Peoria 73, Centennial 57
Champaign Central 72, Bloomington 57
Heritage 81, Arthur-Okaw Christian 75
LaSalle-Peru 59, Rantoul 38
Armstrong 63, Oakwood 52
Mahomet-Seymour 62, Effingham 48
Hoopeston Area 42, Salt Fork 28

Girls Basketball

Girls' Area Scoreboard

St. Joseph-Ogden 59, Leroy 39
Peoria Notre Dame 70, Urbana 20

TAGS: Monticello boys basketball team beats ALAH, Oakwood girls lose VVC game, St. Thomas More defeats Herscher

SJO returns to state finals after dominant supersectional win over Williamsville

St. Joseph-Ogden earned a return trip to the IHSA Class 2A state finals weekend with a 9-0 victory over Williamsville and now stands two wins from the program's first state championship.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Ten years ago, St. Joseph-Ogden baseball coach Josh Haley (right) led the Spartans to their first state finals appearance. Now, with his son Will a senior on the roster, the Haleys are looking to help deliver the program’s first state championship this weekend.

by Sentinel News Service
OurSentinel.com

SPRINGFIELD - For the third time under coach Josh Haley, the St. Joseph-Ogden baseball team is headed to the state's final weekend.

This trip comes with a unique advantage.

Instead of spending the night in a hotel, the Spartans will sleep in their own beds before taking the field Friday evening less than 12 miles from campus.

St. Joseph-Ogden punched its ticket to the IHSA Class 2A state semifinals Monday with a commanding 9-0 victory over Williamsville in the Springfield Supersectional. The Spartans improved to 37-2 and will face defending Class 1A state champion Ottawa Marquette at 7 p.m. Friday at Illinois Field in Champaign.

For St. Joseph-Ogden, however, the opportunity is clear.

After two runner-up finishes and years of postseason success under Haley, the Spartans are two wins away from bringing home the first state baseball championship in school history.

The appearance marks the third state-final trip for SJO under Haley. The Spartans previously reached the final four in 2016 and 2017, finishing as Class 2A runners-up both seasons.

Against Williamsville, St. Joseph-Ogden wasted little time establishing control.

Senior Logan Rosenthal sparked the offense with three hits and three runs scored in four plate appearances. Rosenthal scored the game's first run when Bryson Houchens lined a single to left field in the opening inning.

That run proved more than enough support for Spartan starter Parker Fitch.

Fitch was dominant throughout his seven-inning outing, scattering three hits while recording the shutout. The senior kept Williamsville off balance all afternoon and never allowed the Bullets to generate sustained offensive pressure.

Meanwhile, the Spartans continued to add insurance.

Will Haley drove in four runs despite collecting just one hit in three official at-bats. Houchens added two RBIs, while Finn Miller and Trevor Ames each contributed two hits as part of an 11-hit offensive attack.

St. Joseph-Ogden scored in five of the seven innings it batted.

The Spartans built an 8-0 lead before Houchens delivered a sacrifice fly to left field that brought home Asher Pruemer. In the seventh inning, Haley added another RBI with a sacrifice fly to left, allowing Logan Rosenthal to score the game's final run.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Cam Schluter takes a couple of lead-off steps in SJO's home game against Rantoul. Like his older brother Aaron from the 2016, he will be a member of a St. Joseph-Ogden state finalist baseball team.

Williamsville pitcher Gage Ratliff suffered the loss. The Bullets finished their season 18-15 after allowing 11 hits.

Tuesday's outcome continued a recent trend between the programs. Since 2023, Williamsville has faced St. Joseph-Ogden four times and has been outscored 23-2 in those meetings.

The challenge awaiting the Spartans will be considerably tougher.

Ottawa Marquette enters the semifinal round as the defending Class 1A state champion. The Crusaders have established one of the state's most successful postseason traditions, capturing three state championships since 1999 while also earning one third-place and two fourth-place state finishes.

TAGS: St. Joseph-Ogden baseball, IHSA Class 2A state semifinals, Josh Haley, Parker Fitch, Logan Rosenthal, Springfield Supersectional, Ottawa Marquette, Illinois high school baseball

Sentinel area prep basketball scores for January 21

Here is a quick roundup of basketball scores and performances for area teams on Wednesday, January 21.

Girls Basketball

Girls' Area Scoreboard

Salt Fork 52, Hoopeston Area 25
Urbana University 34, Chrisman 28

Boys Basketball

Central suffers loss to Centrailia

With a near silent contribution from the Maroons' senior class, who combined for just six points, junior Cayden Love led the Maroons with 18 points in the team's road loss to Centralia on Wednesday. After turning in his season-best 15 points against Centennial, sophomore Landyn Sutton, was held to just seven points. Love and another sophomore, Elijah Young, carried the team's rebounding effort with three each.

Parker Fitch drops 20 on Manteno

Following up a 16-point, seven rebound night against Prairie Central, St. Joseph-Ogden's Parker Fitch was a threat no matter where he was on the court against Manteno. The senior was 4-for-6 inside the arc and made three out of seven shots on the other side for 20 points. Lane McKinney added nine points and Nolan Franzen finished with 8 points, leading the team in rebounding with seven. Kaden Wedig also delivered nine points and six boards.

Boys' Area Scoreboard

St. Joseph-Ogden 59, Manteno 33
Centralia 66, Champaign Central 40

Coaches: Email game stats or score book to sport@oursentinel.com to include your team in our area basketball score reports.

SJO dominates Watseka in pool game, Parker Fitch leads Spartan scoring effort

ST. JOSEPH - St. Joseph-Ogden’s basketball team continued its strong start in the Toyota of Danville Tournament, cruising to a commanding 60-27 victory over Watseka on Tuesday night. The Spartans showcased their depth and efficiency, with nearly every player contributing to the team’s second win in as many days.

The Spartans set the tone early, building a 20-point lead midway through the second quarter behind junior Parker Fitch, who poured in 12 of his game-high 14 points in the first half. Senior Tanner Siems followed up Monday’s strong performance with another double-digit outing, adding 10 points, while Collin Thomey chipped in nine.

By halftime, St. Joseph-Ogden (2-0) had all but secured the outcome, taking advantage of Watseka’s cold shooting and stifling defense. The Warriors struggled to find offensive rhythm, with most of their shots rimming out despite numerous opportunities.

Watseka managed only five points in the third quarter, as SJO reserves entered the game and extended the lead. The Spartans went on a 15-point unanswered run, cementing their dominance. Aaron Greene provided a rare highlight for Watseka with a late three-pointer in the fourth quarter, but the Warriors’ offensive struggles defined the evening.

Payton Schaumburg led Watseka with three three-pointers, and Quinn Starkey contributed eight points, but the Warriors had no answer for SJO’s relentless defense and relentless quick tempo.

The Spartans look ready for showdown on Friday against Charleston (1-1), who defeated Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond earlier in the day. The winner will likely represent the B Pool in Saturday's championship game. Meanwhile, Watseka will attempt to rebound against Charleston in their matchup today at 5 p.m.

Photo Gallery |
St. Joseph-Ogden overpowers Oakwood at basketball tourney

Parker Fitch takes a shot playing SJO basketball

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

St. Joseph-Ogden's Parker Fitch releases a shot between Carsen Dudley and Alex Wallace in the first quarter of their Toyota of Danville Classic game on Friday. Picking up their third win of the season, the Spartans defeated the Comets 79-46 and advanced to Saturday's championship game against Bishop McNamara. Here are more photos from Friday's pool game.

SJO basketball vs Oakwood at Toyota of Danville Classic

St. Joseph-Ogden's Kaden Wedig goes up to force the ball away from Oakwood's Ben Darling during second half action of their pool game on Friday.

TAGS: St. Joseph-Ogden basketball, Oakwood Comets basketball, Toyota of Danville Classic basketball tournament, SJO sports, high school basketball

Unity, St. Joseph-Ogden headline IPC All-Conference basketball selections