SJO girls’ basketball wins sectional title, advances to Elite Eight

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’ basketball team waited more than a decade to give the program another sectional title.

On Thursday night, the Spartans delivered.

Paced by strong games from seniors Peyton Crowe and Bree Trimble, SJO defeated Watseka 55-48 to win the Class 2A Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley Sectional championship game.

The win not only marks the 14th straight this season by coach Kevin Taylor’s program, but also is the sixth sectional title in SJO girls’ basketball history after the Spartans previously collected sectional championships in 1992, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Crowe led all scorers with 22 points on Thursday night, connecting on three three-pointers. Trimble wasn’t far behind with 19 points, giving SJO a dynamic 1-2 punch that resulted in a raucous celebration afterwards.

The Spartans (27-4) led 13-11 at the end of the first quarter and 27-22 at halftime before taking a 42-36 lead into the fourth quarter. Maclayne Taylor chipped in seven points, including hitting 3 of 4 free throws in the fourth quarter. Trimble also shined at the free throw line, going 6 of 8 from there in the final eight minutes.

Hannah Dukeman (three points), Katie Cramer (two points) and Taylor Barnes (two points) rounded out the scoring for SJO.

The Spartans advanced to Monday’s Pontiac Super-Sectional against Chicago Christian (24-9) that is slated to tip at approximately 7:30 p.m. If SJO can knock off Christian Christian, the Spartans would advance to their second-ever state tournament appearance and would play either Nashville (23-9) or Teutopolis (31-4) at 7:15 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 22 in a state semifinal game at Redbird Arena in Normal.

In wrestling
Jake Wendling and AJ Wagner are still wrestling at the Class 1A state meet, but but St. Joseph-Ogden athletes suffered first-round losses on Thursday.

Wrestling inside State Farm Center in Champaign, Wagner, a sophomore, lost a 7-0 decision to Billy Tay from Ridgeview/Lexington in his first-round match at 106 pounds.

Wagner (43-8) is slated to wrestle Alex Armira (33-10) of Chicago Hope in his first wrestleback match on Friday.

Wendling, a senior, suffered an 18-2 technical fall to Gabe Spencer of Heyworth at 120 pounds in his first-round match on Thursday. Wendling (11-4) is set to wrestle Bobby Mann of Reed-Custer (37-11) during his first wrestleback match on Friday.

In boys’ basketball
The St. Joseph-Ogden High School boys’ basketball team will play for an Illini Prairie Conference title on Friday night.

SJO (19-8, 8-0 IPC) will host Bloomington Central Catholic (21-7, 8-0) at 7 p.m. on Friday inside the Spartans’ own gymnasium with the conference title on the line in SJO’s regular-season finale.

Prior to Friday, the Spartans won 44-37 at Paxton-Buckley-Loda in nonconference action. Jack Cook led SJO with a game-high 22 points by making 7 of 11 shots from the field, while Joel Orcutt also hit double figures with 10 points.

In a low-scoring first half, SJO trailed 9-8 at the end of the first quarter before taking a 16-13 lead into halftime. The pace picked up in the third quarter as SJO led 32-26 to start the fourth quarter before holding off the Panthers down the stretch.

Chance Izard (five points), Keanen Swanson (four points), Braydon Rupert (three points) and Payton Cain (two points) rounded out the scoring for SJO.

Even with the regular season ending Friday, the Spartans will have a quick turnaround for their postseason opener.

SJO is the top seed in the Class 2A Heritage Regional and will face either No. 7 Tuscola or No. 10 Georgetown-Ridge Farm at 7 p.m. next Tuesday in a regional semifinal game. Tuscola (16-11) and Georgetown-Ridge Farm (8-18) are set to meet at 6 p.m. on Monday in Broadlands for a regional quarterfinal game.