Five Spartans score in double figures as SJ-O defeats Hoopeston Area

By Fred Kroner

Five players scored in double figures on Tuesday (Dec. 6) as the unbeaten St. Joseph-Ogden boys’ basketball team had its top offensive output of the season, rolling past Hoopeston Area, 88-41, in the Spartans’ gymnasium.

Ty Pence set the pace with 20 points. Close behind was Coy Taylor, who was perfect from the field (7 for 7) and ended with 18 points. Four of Taylor’s shots were three-pointers.

Tanner Jacob scored 14 points, Logan Smith had 12 markers to go with a season-high seven assists and Brock Trimble netted 10 points.

Just missing double figures was Tanner Siems, who contributed eight points.

Pence cleared a team-high six rebounds.

Pence’s scoring output enabled him to move past 1996 graduate Brandon Frerichs as SJ-O’s No. 3 scorer of all time. Pence currently has 1,632 points. Frerichs finished his career with 1,622 points.

Pence needs 108 more points to pass 1971 graduate Rick Schmidt for second place on the SJ-O career scoring list.

SJ-O (5-0) returns to action on Tuesday (Dec. 13) at home against Danville.