Challenging schedule testing SJO girls’ basketball early on

The first month of the season for the St. Joseph-Ogden girls’ basketball has featured a challenging schedule and some quality performances.
So far, it has translated into a 3-5 record for the Spartans, who are still a month away from starting Illini Prairie Conference play.
Here’s a roundup of the first month of the season for coach Drew Arteaga’s program, which will try to snap a three-game losing streak on Monday night by hosting Mt. Pulaski.

Dec. 14
What happened: Salt Fork 57, SJO 41
The second annual Country Financial Shootout featured eight teams from across the state competing at SJO.
The host Spartans got off to a strong start, but could not sustain it in a nonconference loss to the Storm.
SJO (3-5) led 19-15 at the end of the first quarter and carried a 31-28 lead into halftime before offensive struggles ensued in the second half, with Salt Fork outscoring SJO 20-6 in the third quarter to go into the fourth quarter ahead 47-37.
Katie Ericksen and Kayla Osterbur each finished with 10 points to pace the Spartans, while Sara Kearney added eight points. Hayden Dahl (six points), Addie Brooks (five points) and Atleigh Miller (two points) rounded out the scoring for the Spartans.

Dec. 12
What happened: Teutopolis 65, SJO 30
The host Wooden Shoes blitzed the Spartans early and never let SJO (3-4) get close in a nonconference game.
Teutopolis led 25-4 at the end of the fist quarter, 35-11 at halftime and 56-17 to start the fourth quarter.
Addie Brooks scored a team-high 12 points for the Spartans, while Timera Blackburn-Kelley contributed seven points.
Atleigh Miller (four points), Hayden Dahl (three points), Kayla Osterbur (two points) and Kenzie Atwood (two points) also factored into the scoring.

Dec. 9
What happened: Maroa-Forsyth 61, SJO 22
The three-game win streak by the Spartans came to a halt with a nonconference home loss against the Trojans.
SJO (3-3) trailed 20-5 at the end of the first quarter, 37-9 at halftime and 55-14 to start the fourth quarter.
Atleigh Miller had a team-high 10 points for SJO and Katie Erickson added six points, while Mia Jones and Abby Rider each tallied three points.

Dec. 5
What happened: SJO 57, Danville 39
Balanced scoring helped the Spartans steadily pull away for a home nonconference win against the Vikings, SJO’s third game in its past four days.
The Spartans (3-2) led 15-8 at the end of the first quarter, 28-13 at halftime and 43-24 to begin the fourth quarter.
Kayla Osterbur scored a team-high 14 points for the Spartans, while Addie Brooks wound up with 12 points after making four three-pointers.
Timera Blackburn-Kelley and Katie Erickson each finished with nine points, while Sara Kearney was effective, too, by scoring eight points.
Hayden Dahl (three points) and Atleigh Miller (two points) also found the scoring column for SJO.

Dec. 4
What happened: SJO 61, Oakwood 25
A second straight win by the Spartans saw them make the short trip to Fitihain and put forth their best offensive performance of the season in a nonconference victory.
The Spartans (2-2) led 20-6 at the end of the first quarter, took a 34-12 lead into halftime and enjoyed a 46-25 lead to start the fourth quarter.
Addie Brooks drained seven three-pointers in the first half to account for all of her game-high 21 points. Hayden Dahl was also efficient from the three-point line, making four three-pointers to finish with 12 points, while Katie Erickson gave SJO three players in double figures as she scored 11 points.
Sara Kearney contributed eight points, with Kayla Osterbur (three points), Timera Blackburn-Kelley (two points) and Mia Jones (two points) also chipping in.

Dec. 2
What happened: SJO 38, Tuscola 30
A close nonconference game throughout found the Spartans on the winning end of their home opener.
SJO trailed 7-5 at the end of the first quarter and 16-15 at halftime before taking a 24-21 lead into the fourth quarter.
Kayla Osterbur scored a game-high 17 points, with 12 of those coming in the second half. Timera Blackburn-Kelley narrowly missed double figures with nine points, while Hayden Dahl contributed seven points. Addie Brooks (three points) and Katie Ericksen (two points) rounded out the scoring.

Nov. 26
What happened: Paris 61, SJO 33
The Spartans (0-2) went on the road and could not come home with a nonconference win against a marquee opponent, with Paris leading 15-5 at the end of the first quarter and carrying a 39-18 lead into halftime.

Nov. 20
What happened: Pleasant Plains 54, SJO 19
A sluggish first half offensively in the season opener saw the visiting Spartans (0-1) fall behind early. The host Cardinals led 15-6 at the end of the first quarter, 28-9 at halftime and carried a 46-14 lead into the fourth quarter.
Timera Blackburn-Kelley scored a team-high 10 points for the Spartans, while Addie Brooks added five points. Kayla Osterbur and Atleigh Miller each chipped in two points.

What’s next
The Spartans are set to host nonconference foe Mt. Pulaski at 7:30 p.m. on Monday before ending the week with a road nonconference game against Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvine at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

What’s up ahead
The State Farm Holiday Classic bracket has been released, and the Spartans know their first-round foe in the 16-team, four-day tournament that starts Dec. 26 and ends Dec. 30. SJO will play Bishop McNamara at 10:30 a.m. on Dec. 26 in a first-round game at Normal Community High School.