Spartans capture State Farm Classic title
By Fred Kroner
Ty Pence’s double-double catapulted the St. Joseph-Ogden boys’ basketball team to victory on Friday (Dec. 30) in the championship game of the State Farm Classic small-school division over Normal University High, 58-49, at the Shirk Center.
The undefeated Spartans were the No. 1 seed in the 16-school event. U-High was the No. 7 seed.
Pence produced 32 points and 15 rebounds. In a game where SJ-O hit 18 of 22 free throws, Pence connected on 11 of 11 attempts from the line, tying a 1998 tournament record for the best single-game percentage with a minimum of 10 attempts.
Logan Smith finished with 12 points, five rebounds and five assists. Smith netted 7-of-9 free throw attempts.
McGwire Atwood and Tanner Jacob each contributed six points. Coy Taylor hauled down six rebounds.
SJ-O trailed, 9-7, after one quarter. The teams were tied at halftime, 23-23, but the Spartans took control with a 22-15 third-quarter surge.
The title game was the third in as many days played by the Spartans on the college court at Illinois Wesleyan University.
Pence and junior Smith formed the Dynamic Duo on Thursday (Dec. 29) for the St. Joseph-Ogden boys’ basketball team.
Pence and Smith both poured in 25 points in a semifinal game as the top-seeded Spartans delivered a 72-69 win over fourth-seeded Rockford Lutheran.
The play of Pence and Smith enabled SJ-O to overcome the prolific performance of Lutheran’s Walt Hill Jr., who registered 42 points.
Pence and Hill were two of six players named to the all-tournament team. Pence was a repeat selection.
Taylor scored 10 points for the Spartans and teammate Atwood chipped in with six points.
Pence and Smith led the effort on the boards, grabbing seven and six, respectively. Atwood cleared five rebounds and Taylor hauled down four boards. Pence also distributed a team-high four assists.
The Spartans built a 27-15 lead after one quarter before Hill helped pull his team in contention. The SJ-O lead was 41-35 at halftime and 58-56 after three quarters.
SJ-O (11-0) returns to action on Tuesday (Jan. 3) at Williamsville.
