By FRED KRONER
fred@sjodaily.com
St. Joseph-Ogden’s boys’ basketball team split two weekend games.
The Spartans bounced back from a Friday loss to earn a Saturday win.
SJ-O (2-3) dropped a 55-52 decision at Rantoul, before salvaging a road win a day later at Downs Tri-Valley, 61-45.
In the Illini Prairie Conference loss on Friday, the Spartans were led in scoring by Joel Orcutt (12 points) and Chance Izard (11 points).Orcutt garnered six rebounds as did teammates Payton Cain and Keanen Swanson.
SJ-O nailed 13 of 17 free throws in the Saturday non-conference victory.
Izard’s 22 points matched a team-high for the season. Jack Cook tallied 16 points. Orcutt scored 15 points and grabbed a team-high five rebounds.
Izard pulled down four rebounds and Cook handed out three assists.
SJ-O returns to action on Tuesday at Cissna Park.
Oakwood
The Comets (3-1) had two 20-point scorers for the first game this season in a come-from-behind win at home on Friday over Chrisman.
Oakwood, which trailed 16-14 after one quarter, was led by Zane Priest with 26 points and Bryce Jones with 22 points.
They combined to hit seven three-point shots including a season-high four by Priest.
The Comets will carry a three-game winning streak into a Tuesday night game at Westville.
Villa Grove/Heritage
The Blue Devils (7-1) extended their winning streak to six, piling up 26 first-quarter points en route to a 67-30 triumph at Sullivan on Saturday.
Jared Stevens scored a season-high 19 points to lead VG/H. Will Wilson added 11 points for a team which allowed just seven second-half points.
Villa Grove/Heritage returns to action on Tuesday at home against Tuscola.
Girls’ basketball
St. Joseph-Ogden
In a battle between two state-ranked teams, the home team Teutopolis Wooden Shoes had too much firepower on Thursday and handed St. Joseph-Ogden its first loss, 72-39.
SJ-O, ranked sixth in Class 2A, is 9-1. T-Town, ranked fifth in Class 2A, is 9-2.
Bree Trimble was the lone Spartan with more than six points. She scored 15 points.
SJ-O was limited to five first-half field goals.
The Spartans return to action tonight at Paxton-Buckley-Loda. SJ-O is ranked second among News-Gazette-area teams.
Oakwood
The Comets (8-3) held Georgetown-Ridge Farm to two points in the opening stanza and overpowered the Buffaloes 67-13 on Thursday.
Katelyn Young hit the 20-point mark for the sixth game, netting a game-high 25 points.
Kylie Neuman added 15 points and Ashley Pinnick scored eight.
Oakwood returns to action tonight at Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin.
Villa Grove/Heritage
The Blue Devils (8-2) carried a 19-point lead into the fourth quarter on Thursday at home and held on to beat Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond 58-47.
Three VG/H players scored in double figures.
Aliya Holloman led the winners with 22 points. Kyleigh Block and Samantha Campbell each added 14 points.
Villa Grove/Heritage, which is working on a five-game winning streak, returns to action on Tuesday at Unity. VG/H is ranked ninth among news-Gazette-area teams.
Wrestling
St. Joseph-Ogden placed 10th in the 26-team Rex Avery Invitational at Petersburg Porta on Saturday with 89 points.
Six Spartans had pins, including 106-pounder A.J. Wagner, who pinned all three of his opponents and placed first. Wagner is 7-1 for the season.
Also posting three pins at the tournament was 138-pound Isaiah Immke, who placed fifth.
At 113 pounds, Isaiah Moore had one pin and finished fifth.
SJ-O’s other placer was 182-pound Max Shonkwiler, who won his seventh-place match by pin.
Also winning matches for SJ-O were Chase Chapman (120 pounds) and Trevon Carr (152 pounds).
SJ-O had competitors in 10 of 14 weight classes.
The Spartans return to action on Tuesday at Gibson City in a four-team meet that also includes Heyworth and Oakwood.
