July 14, 2025 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Title time: SJO boys’ basketball to face unbeaten BHRA in regional championship game

Kiel Duval doesn’t mince words when describing the Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin boys’ basketball team.

“They are really good,” the St. Joseph-Ogden High School coach said of the Blue Devils.

Duval and his Spartans will find out how good — and if SJO can become the first team to knock off BHRA this season — when the two teams clash at 7 p.m. on Friday during the Class 2A SJO Regional championship game.

Top-seeded BHRA (31-0) advanced to Friday’s title game after holding off No. 11 Oakwood 62-52 in Wednesday night’s first regional semifinal game. The second regional semifinal game in St. Joseph saw the host and fourth-seeded Spartans defeat No. 6 Villa Grove/Heritage 56-40 behind 19 points from Ty Pence, 12 points from Jordan Kelly, eight points apiece from Payton Cain and Payton Grimsley and seven points from Chance Izard.

“I was proud of the guys and how they came out to play,” Duval said. “It has been one of their goals from Day 1 to play in the regional final. It was good to see them check that off their list.”

SJO (23-8) will need another balanced effort against BHRA. The two teams are familiar with one another already this season, with the Blue Devils beating SJO 65-51 on Jan. 18 in St. Joseph.

Stopping BHRA standout guard Drew Reifsteck will be key for the Spartans.

“It is hard to simulate a player like Reifsteck in practice,” Duval said. “He’s special. You just don’t see guys like that. Along with that, they have other good players around him. That is the reason they have the record they do. For our guys, it is getting them locked into all the details on the scout. It is a tough game no matter how you look at it. We will have to be pretty special.”

Friday night’s game has more meaningful implications than the regular-season one between the two schools, with the winner advancing to next Tuesday’s 7 p.m. Pontiac Sectional semifinal game against either Coal City (19-11) or Pontiac (16-12). Those two teams meet for a regional title at 7 p.m. on Friday in Coal City.

Duval is optimistic the rugged schedule the Spartans faced in winning the Illini Prairie Conference title this regular season will help prepare them for Friday night.

“Our conference is one that you have to show up every night or you get drilled,” Duval said. “No excuses. You have to come out ready to play. In a postseason game, it is the same. You either show up, or you go home. We are just trying to keep the guys hungry.”

Banner
Related Posts

Walsh giving back: Former SJO quarterback now an assistant with the Spartans

November 2, 2019

November 2, 2019

Dalton Walsh has grown up around St. Joseph-Ogden High School football. Quite literally. “I remember being a kid and always...

Public Statement from Dan Vogelsang

December 23, 2019

December 23, 2019

It was with a heavy heart that I submitted my resignation to the Saint Joseph-Ogden High School Board of Education...

GCMS awaits as SJO girls’ basketball continues postseason run

February 11, 2019

February 11, 2019

Four high school girls’ basketball teams, including St. Joseph-Ogden, will descend upon the Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley gymnasium on Monday night. By...

SJO wrestling wraps up successful season

March 5, 2024

March 5, 2024

Holden Brazelton led a trio of St. Joseph-Ogden wrestlers who competed at the IHSA Class 1Astate finals last week at...

Armstrong, Cramer help lead SJO girls’ basketball in two wins

February 1, 2020

February 1, 2020

Postseason play is right around the corner for the St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’ basketball team. And the Spartans continue...

Smith, Spartans on roll entering playoffs

October 29, 2022

October 29, 2022

Hosting home football playoff games became common for the St. Joseph-Ogden High School football team in the past. In fact,...

They’re going to state! SJO volleyball continues dream season

November 9, 2019

November 9, 2019

All season long, the St. Joseph-Ogden High School volleyball team has risen to the occasion. The Spartans did so again...

Berry, Bigger help power SJO volleyball to five straight wins

September 26, 2019

September 26, 2019

Heading into Thursday night’s home showdown with St. Thomas More, the St. Joseph-Ogden volleyball team has won five straight matches....

Harper sparks SJO soccer to another win

September 25, 2024

September 25, 2024

The St. Joseph-Ogden boys’ soccer team has proven this season it can find the back of theopponent’s net. Frequently. The...

SJO girls’ track and field aiming for another banner year

April 2, 2019

April 2, 2019

Hoisting a state championship trophy is how the St. Joseph girls’ track and field team ended its season last May....

Franzen, Knap pace SJO girls’ cross-country at Spartan Classic

October 1, 2021

October 1, 2021

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’ cross-country team had a strong showing at the Spartan Classic this past Saturday. SJO...

Donation could change the face of sports and activities at SJO

February 16, 2021

February 16, 2021

An anonymous donor has made St. Joseph-Ogden High School an offer they couldn’t refuse. And because of it, SJO athletic...

SJO girls’ basketball stays close, but loses first two games

November 27, 2023

November 27, 2023

Playing in the Illini Prairie Conference means the St. Joseph-Ogden girls’ basketball team will get tested during conference games each...

10 things you don’t know about me… SJO Quarterback Logan Smith

September 2, 2022

September 2, 2022

We asked St. Joseph-Ogden quarterback Logan Smith to tell us 10 interesting things about himself. Here are his answers. My...

Total team effort keeps SJO baseball on a roll

May 19, 2021

May 19, 2021

About the only opponent to slow down St. Joseph-Ogden baseball recently is the weather.Persistent rain postponed Tuesday’s home showdown with...

Comments
Leave a Reply