By FRED KRONER
fred@sjodaily.com
St. Joseph-Ogden won its 11th consecutive game on Tuesday and secured a berth in tonight’s championship game of the Unity Class 2A girls’ basketball regional.
The Spartans eliminated Monticello (10-17) 51-27 in a regional semifinal game.
Bree Trimble hit a game-high 22 points and Hannah Dukeman added 11 points. Trimble made 14 of her points in the second half.
SJ-O led, 12-8 after one quarter and 24-18 at halftime. The Spartans held the Sages to three second-half field goals.
In tonight’s 7 o’clock title game, SJ-O (24-4) will play Salt Fork (19-12). The Spartans, ranked fourth in the state in Class 2A, are seeking a repeat regional championship.
Oakwood
Katelyn Young scored 23 points and Kylie Neuman added 17 points on Wednesday as the Comets (24-6) earned a berth in the Class 2A regional championship game at Bismarck with a 60-34 triumph over Hoopeston Area (7-23).
Oakwood led, 17-8, after one quarter. Paiton Frerichs scored six of her eight points in the first stanza to spark the quick getaway.
The Comets will play the host Blue Devils (26-6) in tonight’s 7 o’clock championship game.
Oakwood is chasing its second regional title in the past three years.
Villa Grove/Heritage
Aliya Holloman poured in 20 points and VG/Heritage carried an 18-point lead into the final quarter of Wednesday’s Class 2A regional semifinal game at Warrensburg against Maroa-Forsyth.
The Blue Devils (22-7) produced a 55-44 victory in a game they led at halftime, 28-16, and 43-25 after three quarters.
Jordyn Ray scored 14 points.
VG/Heritage returns to action tonight, facing Sullivan (24-3) in the regional finals. The Blue Devils’ last regional crown was in 1999. Sullivan is ranked sixth in this week’s Class 2A state poll.
Boys’ basketball
St. Joseph-Ogden
Jack Cook nailed 11 of 19 shots and poured in 32 points Tuesday night as the Spartans overpowered visiting Rantoul 70-64 in an Illini Prairie Conference contest.
Chance Izard contributed 14 points and in his last three games has made 12 of his 15 field goals from three-point range.
Joel Orcutt and Payton Cain each scored 10 points for SJ-O.
Cook (seven) and Cain (six) were the Spartans’ leading rebounders. Cook also handed out three assists.
On Wednesday, the Spartans topped visiting Olympia 66-41 in a makeup game. Orcutt led SJ-O (17-7) with 17 points. In Illini Prairie Conference games, the Spartans are 7-0.
SJ-O returns to action on Friday at Chillicothe IVC, seeking to extend an eight-game winning streak.
Oakwood
The Comets (16-9) won twice in two nights to improve to 9-1 in Vermilion Valley Conference games.
On Tuesday, Oakwood went to Chrisman and secured a 66-21 win, building a 22-11 lead after one quarter.
Trevan Garrett had 10 of his game-high 14 points in the opening period.
Zane Priest added 13 points and Noah Ruch chipped in with 10 points.
After the first quarter, Chrisman managed just three field goals.
On Monday, the Comets handled Hoopeston Area 73-49 in a makeup game.
For the second time this season, two Comets hit the 20-point mark in the same game.
Garrett tallied a game-high 29 points. Bryce Jones contributed 24.
Oakwood led, 18-13, after one quarter and 32-21 at halftime.
The Comets return to action on Friday at home against Westville.
Villa Grove/Heritage
The Hawks recovered from a halftime deficit on Tuesday and posted a 20-point victory over visiting Tri-County, 68-48.
Will Wilson scored a season-high and game-high 23 points.
Jake Eversole and Jared Stevens each added 11 points for VG/Heritage, which trailed 34-31 at halftime. Evan Wilson scored 10 points.
The Hawks took command with a 28-9 third-period spree.
VG/Heritage (19-7) returns to action on Friday at home against Hutsonville/Palestine.
