Defensive efforts puts St. Joseph-Ogden boys’ basketball over Williamsville

BY FRED KRONER
fred@mahometnews.com

The Spartans produced their best defensive effort of the season on Tuesday in front of the home crowd, limiting Williamsville to 22 points in a 50-22 SJ-O triumph.

SJ-O held a slender 8-6 lead after one period, but had extended its margin to 22-10 at halftime.

Chance Izard was the top Spartan scorer for the ninth time in 14 games, tossing in 21 points. It was his fifth 20-point game of the season.

Ty Pence scored 15 points and produced five steals in the team’s second consecutive win.

Payton Cain and Drew Coursey shared rebounding honors with six apiece. Payton Grimsley cleared five rebounds. Cain also had three steals.

SJ-O is 10-4 and returns to action on Saturday in the final game of its own Christie Clinic Shootout. The Spartans will play in the 8 p.m. game against Farmington.

Saturday’s complete Christie Clinic Shootout schedule:

11 a.m., Crete-Monee vs. Mahomet-Seymour
12:30 p.m., Kankakee vs. Danville
2 p.m., Rich Central vs. Champaign Central
3:30 p.m., Cissna Park vs. Monticello
5 p.m., Pleasant Plains vs. Notre Dame de LaSalette
6:30 p.m., Maine South vs. Normal Community
8 p.m., Farmington vs. St.  Joseph-Ogden

NOTE: A junior varsity game between the same schools will take place 2 hours prior to the varsity game, starting with a 9 a.m. contest between Crete-Monee and Mahomet-Seymour. The JV games will be played in the SJ-O Practice Gymnasium.