November 25, 2025 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Pence, Ingram lead SJO boys’ basketball off to superb start


After having the season delayed more than two months and then missing
the first week of the condensed season while dealing with positive
COVID-19 cases within the program, the St. Joseph-Ogden boys’
basketball team is making up for lost time.


In a big way.


The Spartans have won their first two games, winning 66-52 at home
against nonconference foe Oakwood on Wednesday night and opening the
season with a 73-54 win at Rantoul last Friday night in Illini Prairie
Conference action. SJO (2-0, 1-0 Illini Prairie) continue league play
with a 7 p.m. tip at rival Unity on Friday.


Sophomore standout Ty Pence is leading the way so far for the
Spartans, following up his solid freshman season in an even bigger
way. The 6-foot-6 guard dropped in 40 points and grabbed 19 rebounds
during Wednesday night’s win at Oakwood. This jaw-dropping performance
came after he supplied a game-high 24 points to go along with 20
rebounds in the win against Rantoul.


Junior guard Evan Ingram also contributed significantly in the win
against Oakwood, delivering 18 points and five assists. Junior forward
Andrew Beyers also chipped in with eight points.


Aside from Pence’s 24 points at Rantoul, Ingram and junior guard
Cameron Costa each supplied 15 points against the Eagles.


Friday night’s game at Unity marks the first Illini Prairie game this
week after Tuesday night’s game at Bloomington Central Catholic was
postponed because of inclement weather. The Spartans will stay on the
road on Saturday, too, with a 2:30 p.m. tip at nonconference foe
Robinson before returning home for a scheduled 7 p.m. tip next Tuesday
against Pontiac.

You can watch basketball games here.

Banner
Related Posts

SJO Board to discuss basketball at November meeting

November 4, 2020

November 4, 2020

Basketball isn’t a sure thing at St. Joseph-Ogden High School this winter. The district will have to decide whether to...

It’s opening day for SJO softball

March 18, 2019

March 18, 2019

The expectations haven’t changed for the St. Joseph-Ogden High School softball team. Even with a new coach for the 2019...

SJO soccer ties Comets, plays Danville close

September 2, 2019

September 2, 2019

Four matches in, the St. Joseph-Ogden High School soccer team is still searching for its first victory. But the Spartans...

SJO awaits guidance from IHSA

January 27, 2021

January 27, 2021

St. Joseph-Ogden High School is anticipating getting additional guidance from the IHSA today regarding the start of high school sports...

SJO baseball adapting to strange times this spring: ‘The most difficult part is not seeing the players’

April 17, 2020

April 17, 2020

Ever since Josh Haley took control of the St. Joseph-Ogden High School baseball team, success has followed. So have solid...

SJO girls’ basketball vies for sectional title tonight

February 14, 2019

February 14, 2019

Win on Thursday night and the St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’ basketball team achieves a milestone only one other team...

Frick, Brooks deliver, but SJO girls’ basketball loses twice

January 16, 2023

January 16, 2023

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’ basketball team kept it close in its two Illini Prairie Conference games last week,...

Road tough: Jones, Armstrong key unbeaten Illini Prairie start for SJO girls’ basketball

January 20, 2022

January 20, 2022

The Illini Prairie Conference title is there for the taking. And the St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’ basketball team has...

SJO to discuss basketball in December

December 3, 2020

December 3, 2020

The St. Joseph-Ogden Board of Education decided to wait until December to make any final recommendation about basketball. The state...

SJO softball wins Mattoon Tournament, but fall twice in conference play

April 16, 2019

April 16, 2019

Coaches always are eager to see how their teams respond after losses. For St. Joseph-Ogden High School softball coach Larry...

Witruk, Ward help SJO softball win regional title; Olympia awaits in sectional semifinal

May 22, 2019

May 22, 2019

Add another regional title to the growing collection for the St. Joseph-Ogden High School softball team. The Spartans earned their...

Mabry, Stegall pace SJO boys’ cross-country to regional title; sectional meet up Saturday

October 30, 2021

October 30, 2021

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School boys’ cross-country team has shown the capability it could win a state title all season....

Izard, Cain, Pence key SJO boys’ basketball to sixth-place finish at State Farm Holiday Classic

January 3, 2020

January 3, 2020

The small-school State Farm Holiday Classic ended on a sour note for the St. Joseph-Ogden High School boys’ basketball team....

Dowling, Dukeman power SJO softball to home win

April 10, 2019

April 10, 2019

So far, so good this season for the St. Joseph-Ogden High School softball team. The Spartans (10-0) kept their undefeated...

SJO baseball ups win streak to 13 games and Haley nets 400th career victory

April 26, 2023

April 26, 2023

The path to 20 wins each season can take high school baseball teams on a different path. Maybe the majority...

Comments
Leave a Reply