Oakwood girls basketball and cheerleading win Vermillion County Tournament, Immke wins on mat for SJO
By FRED KRONER
fred@mahometdaily.com
On the night they reached the 20-win mark for the season, Oakwood’s girls’ basketball team also earned a threepeat in the Vermilion County Tournament.
The Comets handed Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin a 37-25 loss in Friday’s championship game at Danville’s Palmer Arena.
The triumph extended the school’s dominance in the annual County event to three years in a row.
Oakwood (20-5) trailed by three points at halftime, but had forged a six-point lead after three quarters thanks to a balanced offensive attack in the third quarter.
In the Comets’ 13-4 third-period surge, five Comets scored at least two points. Kylie Neuman led the way with five points in the quarter.
Oakwood also helped itself at the foul line, hitting 7 of 7 free throw attempts, all coming during the second half.
After trailing, 17-14, at halftime, the Comets went on to post a 12-point victory by allowing B-H/R-A just three second-half field goals.
Katelyn Young scored a team-high 16 points for Oakwood. Neuman had seven points. Paiton Frerichs and Audrey Wells each had six points and Aaliyah Denius added the other two points.
The Comets return to action on Monday at Chrisman trying to extend a six-game winning streak.
St. Joseph-Ogden
The Spartans (19-4) put up 22 first-quarter points and never looked back on Thursday, rolling past visiting Pontiac, 70-48, in an Illini Prairie Conference game.
SJ-O led, 22-17, after one quarter but increased its margin to 40-29 at halftime. Bree Trimble scored 10 of her team-high 26 points in the second quarter.
Peyton Crowe totaled 14 points and Ella Armstrong netted a season-high 10 points. Maclayne Taylor added nine points.
SJ-O, ranked 10th in the state in Class 2A, returns to action on Monday at home against Rantoul.
Villa Grove/Heritage
The Blue Devils (16-6) fell behind Tri-County by 10 points after one quarter of Thursday’s championship game in the Little Okaw Valley Conference Southeast Division tournament at Martinsville.
All hopes of a comeback were squelched when the Titans (19-4) outscored VG/Heritage 27-4 in the second quarter to take a 49-16 lead into the break.
Kyleigh Block was the lone double-digit scorer for VG/H, with 19 points. She drained four three-point shots.
VG/Heritage returns to action on Monday at Cumberland.
Saturday’s scheduled crossover game between teams in the LOVC Southeast and Northwest divisions was rescheduled for Wednesday in Arthur. VG/H will play Arcola in the overall third-place game.
Boys’ basketball
Oakwood
For the second time this season, the Comets didn’t have any double-figure scorers and dropped a 58-41 decision to Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin on Saturday in the championship game of the Vermilion County Tournament at Palmer Arena, in Danville.
Oakwood (12-8) was led by eight points apiece from Trevan Garrett and Zane Priest. Bryce Jones scored six points.
B-H/R-A held a four-point lead after both the first and second quarters, but outscored Oakwood 26-13 in the second half to secure the championship trophy.
The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for the Comets.
To advance into the title game, the Comets overpowered Salt Fork, 50-38, on Thursday at Palmer Arena.
The Comets trailed 9-8 after one period, but had built a 19-13 lead at halftime.
The team finished it off by sinking 7-of-11 fourth-quarter free throws.
Garrett hit six of his team-high 14 points in the last quarter. Jones made half of his 10 points in the last period.
The Comets’ balanced offensive attack also included 12 points from Priest and nine points from Noah Ruch.
Oakwood returns to action on Tuesday at home against Armstrong-Potomac.
Wrestling
Isaiah Immke pinned his opponent on Thursday, but St. Joseph-Ogden dropped a 33-28 decision in a dual meet at Clinton.
Immke was (132 pounds) was the lone Spartan to win by pin.
Teammates Isaiah Moore (113 pounds) and Brodie Sullivan (160 pounds) won their matches without allowing a point.
Peyton Holt (145 pounds) earned a major decision win. Picking up forfeits were A.J. Wagner (106 pounds) and Matthew Falls (138 pounds).
SJ-O (13-16) returns to action on Monday in the conclusion of the Illini Prairie Conference Duals at Unity High School.
Cheerleading
Oakwood won the Vermilion County cheerleading competition, which was held Saturday afternoon at Palmer Arena.
Dance
St. Joseph-Ogden placed fifth at the Mascoutah IHSA Sectional Saturday, qualifying the team to move onto the State competition on January 25 and 26 Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington.
