Winning regional championships is nothing new for the St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’
basketball program.
But earning one during the 2022-23 season has to feel particularly rewarding.
A month ago, the Spartans only carried a 7-13 record following a home loss to Chillicothe IVC
on Jan. 12.
Now, SJO will add another piece of IHSA hardware to its school’s trophy case after the Spartans
soundly defeated Hoopeston Area 47-26 last Thursday night to win a Class 2A regional title in
Gibson City. It’s the fifth straight season with a regional title for SJO and the 19th overall
regional championship in program history, dating back to SJO’s first regional title in 1990.
SJO opened its postseason with a 43-34 victory against host Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley in a
regional semifinal game on Feb. 13, and will now turn its attention to Peotone. The Spartans
(16-15) and Blue Devils (30-1) will meet at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in a Coal City Sectional semifinal
game.
But before SJO makes the trip north to face Peotone, here’s a look at what transpired last week
in Gibson City:
Defense leads way against Cornjerkers
SJO opened a 10-2 lead against Hoopeston Area and didn’t let up, taking a commanding 24-6
lead into halftime.
The Spartans kept the fourth-seeded Cornjerkers at a distance in the second half, carrying a 36-
19 lead into the fourth quarter.
Senior guard Taylor Hug scored a game-high 15 points for the Spartans, connecting on a trio of
three-pointers.
Junior forward Addy Martinie joined Hug in double figures with 11 points, while junior guard
Addison Frick wasn’t far behind with nine points.
Junior guard Addie Seggebruch and senior guard Kaytlyn Baker rounded out the balanced
scoring effort for SJO by supplying six points apiece.
Martinie, Frick shine as SJO get past Falcons
The top-seeded Spartans avoided a regional semifinal upset against seventh-seeded GCMS
with a superb fourth quarter.
Tied at 30 entering the final eight minutes, SJO limited the Falcons to only two field goals to
leave Ford County with its first postseason win this season.
Martinie and Frick each tied for game-high scoring honors by recording 11 points apiece, with
Martinie scoring eight of those points in the decisive fourth quarter.
Hug added nine points in a game where SJO led 12-10 at the end of the first quarter and 22-16
at halftime.
Seggebruch (seven points) and freshman guard Katie Ericksen (five points) also contributed
timely buckets in the win by SJO.
What’s next
It’s win or go home for SJO. If the Spartans can defeat Peotone — the Blue Devils already own
a 46-32 win against the Spartans on Feb. 8 in St. Joseph — then a spot in the Coal City
Sectional championship game awaits SJO at 7 p.m. Thursday. SJO would face either Fieldcrest
or Kankakee Bishop McNamara. Those two teams — who SJO has not played this season
— meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the first regional semifinal game. SJO has recent postseason
history with Fieldcrest, losing 52-46 in overtime to the Knights in a sectional title game last
season in Peotone.
If SJO can win its first sectional championship since 2019, the Spartans would advance to a
super-sectional game in Peotone set for 7 p.m. on Feb. 27. SJO would play the winner of the
Timothy Christian Sectional taking place in Elmhurst this week. Chicago Noble/Butler meets
host Timothy Christian at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the first sectional semifinal game before Chicago
Phillips plays Chicago Perspectives/Leadership at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the second sectional
semifinal game.
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