The St. Joseph-Ogden High School boys’ basketball team celebrated the holidays in fashion.
How?
By winning a State Farm Holiday Classic championship.
SJO still carries an undefeated record into 2023 after winning four games in four days last week to earn the 16-team small-school State Farm Holiday Classic title this past Friday night, defeating Normal U-High 58-49 at the Shirk Center on the Illinois Wesleyan University campus in Bloomington.
The Spartans (11-0) have a quick turnaround, too, and can’t rest on their holiday accomplishments all that long. SJO hits the road Tuesday night to play at Williamsville at 7 p.m. in a nonconference game.
Before we dive into what’s next for the Spartans, here’s a roundup of what has transpired on the court for SJO in the last two-plus weeks:
Title time: SJO defeats Normal U-High
Senior guard Ty Pence continued his superb play through the first month-plus of the season in the biggest game of the season so far for the Spartans.
The Illinois State signee delivered a double-double of 32 points and 15 rebounds for SJO in its win against Normal U-High.
Junior guard Logan Smith was also a significant force, finishing with 12 points, five rebounds and five assists. Senior guard McGwire Atwood made all three shots he attempted for six points, while junior guard Tanner Jacob also chipped in six points.
Sophomore guard Coy Taylor rounded out the scoring with two points as SJO won its first State Farm Holiday Classic title at an event that started in 1975 and one that the Spartans have been playing at since 2006.
SJO holds off Rockford Lutheran in semifinals
Pence and Smith formed quite the duo, helping the Spartans defeat Rockford Lutheran 72-69 last Thursday night in the State Farm Holiday Classic semifinals at the Shirk Center.
Pence dropped in 25 points to go along with seven rebounds and four assists. Smith also contributed 25 points and added six rebounds.
Taylor joined them in double figures with 10 points, while Atwood (six points, five rebounds), Jacob (four points) and junior forward Caleb Ochs (two points) also entered the scoring column.
Spartans get revenge against EP-G
El Paso-Gridley ended SJO’s season last year, defeating the Spartans in a Class 2A sectional semifinal game.
This time around, the Spartans made sure EP-G wouldn’t have a chance at the State Farm Holiday Classic championship. SJO knocked off the Titans 56-36 last Wednesday in a quarterfinal game at the Shirk Center.
Pence nearly outscored EP-G by himself with a game-high 30 points. Taylor (nine points), Smith (seven points, five rebounds, five steals, four assists), Jacob (six points), Atwood (two points, four rebounds) and senior guard Maddux Carter (two points) also contributed in the win.
SJO opens State Farm Holiday Classic with rout
The Spartans received the No. 1 seed at this year’s State Farm Holiday Classic and lived up to the billing early on, cruising past Annawan 78-28 in a first-round win last Tuesday at Normal West High School.
Pence put on a show, scoring 36 points and making five three-pointers while adding six rebounds, three steals and three assists.
Sophomore guard Tanner Siems also hit double figures with 12 points and seven rebounds. Jacob contributed nine points, Taylor had eight points and three steals and Carter had five points. Sophomore forward Kendrick Johnson (four points), Smith (four points, three steals) and Atwood (one point) also chipped in.
SJO wins on road against Blue Devils
The Spartans’ last game before Christmas saw SJO win 66-52 at Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin on Dec. 20.
Pence scored 30 points and grabbed seven rebounds in SJO’s first road game, while Taylor (10 points), Jacob (nine points, five rebounds) and Smith (eight points, five rebounds) complemented Pence.
Siems (four points), Atwood (three points, seven rebounds) and Carter (two points) also contributed in the nonconference win.
Spartans top Danville at home
Pence once again led the way offensively for SJO in its 66-53 home nonconference win against Danville on Dec. 13, delivering a double-double of 35 points and 10 rebounds.
Taylor was also effective, scoring 13 points and grabbing seven rebounds.
Jacob (nine points), Smith (six points) and junior forward Brock Trimble (three points) rounded out the scoring efforts.
What’s next
After SJO plays at Williamsville on Tuesday night, the Spartans will travel to Marshall, Ind., to play Linton-Stockton (Ind.) at 6 p.m. The nonconference game against the out-of-state foe will take place at Park Heritage Middle School.
Then, SJO will return home for this Saturday’s SJO Christie Clinic Shootout. The Spartans will face reigning Class 2A state champion Nashville at 6:30 p.m. in the sixth game of the day. Other games schedule for Saturday at the SJO Christie Clinic Shootout: Beecher vs. BHRA (11 a.m.), Addison Trail vs. Centennial (12:30 p.m.), Mt. Zion vs. Bloomington (2 p.m.), Newton vs. Monticello (3:30 p.m.), Normal U-High vs. Unity (5 p.m.) and Peoria Notre Dame vs. Kankakee (8 p.m.).
You must be logged in to post a comment.