By FRED KRONER
fred@sjodaily.com
The Villa Grove/Heritage girls’ basketball team started the week with victories on back-to-back nights.
The Blue Devils (5-2) dispatched Westville 62-36 on Monday and followed up with a narrow 55-49 conquest of Salt Fork on Tuesday.
In the game at Westville (3-3), Kyleigh Block scored 12 of her team-high 19 points in the second quarter. A VG/H lead, which was 12-8 after one quarter, was expanded to 38-16 at halftime.
Aliya Holloman scored 13 points and Jordyn Ray had a season-high 11 points.
Against Salt Fork (2-4), Samantha Campbell scored nine of her season-high 13 points in the second quarter as VG/H turned a 20-16 deficit after one stanza into a 32-26 lead at halftime.
Block nailed three three-point shots in the first quarter and hit a team-high 24 points. Holloman chipped in with 10 points.
VG/H returns to action tonight with a home game against Urbana Uni High.
St. Joseph-Ogden
The unbeaten Spartans (6-0) netted 9 of 13 free throws on Monday and posted a 39-33 victory at Tuscola.
The Warriors (3-2) were 2-for-6 from the free throw line.
Bree Trimble scored a team-high 16 points for SJ-O. Maclayne Taylor chipped in with eight points.
The teams were tied, 18-18, at halftime.
SJ-O plays host to Danville tonight.
Oakwood
The Comets (5-2) battled back from an 11-point deficit, but dropped a one-point decision on Monday at Arthur.
Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond registered a 56-55 victory.
Katelyn Young led Oakwood with 22 points. Kylie Neuman added 20 points.
A-L/A-H (4-1) led 29-18 at halftime.
The Comets finished 8-for-17 from the free throw line.
Oakwood returns to action tonight at home against Chrisman.
Boys’ basketball
Three players scored in double figures as Villa Grove/Heritage overpowered Uni High (0-6) 70-33 on Tuesday in Urbana.
Evan Wilson and Will Wilson each scored 18 points for VG/H (4-1). Jared Stevens had 10 points.
VG/H led 20-13 after one quarter, but pulled into a 46-20 lead at halftime.
VG/H returns to action on Friday at Danville Schlarman.
Oakwood
The Comets couldn’t hang onto a seven-point halftime lead and lost their season-opener at home on Tuesday to Judah Christian (5-1), 58-55, in overtime.
The teams were tied, 53-53, after regulation.
In the extra session, Ethan Garrett scored the only two Oakwood points.
Trevan Garrett scored a team-high 20 points. Bryce Jones tallied 13 points and Zane Priest added 12.
The Comets’ halftime lead was 30-23.
Oakwood returns to action on Friday at Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond.
Wrestling
The Comets (2-0) opened their season with two dual-meet victories on Wednesday in Champaign.
The Comets received eight forfeits in a 59-18 triumph over Normal University High.
The team received seven forfeits in a 57-6 conquest of the host St. Thomas More squad,
Four Comets were victorious in non-forfeited matches for the night, including 113-pound Gage Reed, who posted two pins.
Caleb Lashuay had a 16-1 technical fall win in his match against U-High.
Mason Ajster, the state’s top-ranked Class 1A 160-pounder, bumped up to 170 against the Sabers in order to get a bout, and he won by pin.
The team’s other points were courtesy of a 6-0 win by Connor Hudson at 138 pounds.
Oakwood returns to action on Saturday at Cumberland. The team will compete against the host school as well as Effingham, Shelbyville and Quincy Notre Dame.
Ajster and Reed (honorable mention) were the two Oakwood athletes who received statewide attention in the preseason rankings compiled by The Illinois Best Weekly.
St. Joseph-Ogden
The Spartans open their season next week, but had four squad members receive attention in the state rankings.
A.J. Wagner was ranked sixth in Class 1A at 106 pounds.
Three Spartan teammates received honorable mention status: Jake Wendling (120), Peyton Holt (138) and Javontay Bright (170).
