Spartans win SJO Classic
By FRED KRONER
St. Joseph-Ogden, averaging 69 points per game in its season-opening boys’ basketball tournament, ran past Oakwood, 74-42, on Saturday (Dec. 2) in the championship game of the Toyota of Danville Classic at SJ-O.
The Spartans raced into a 26-8 lead after one period and expanded the margin to 49-19 at halftime.
Tanner Jacob sparked the quick getaway, scoring 12 of his game-high 19 points in the opening quarter. Tanner Siems added 14 points. Jacob and Siems both notched two three-pointers.
Other scoring leaders for SJ-O were Logan Smith (10 points), Collin Thomey (seven points), Coy Taylor (six points), Ryker Lockhart (six points), Parker Fitch (five points), Tim Blackburn-Kelley (three points), Luke Landrus (two points) and Asher Pruemer (two points).
Lockhart also drained two three-pointers.
Smith amassed six steals and five assists. Lockhart handed out four assists. The rebounding leaders were Landrus (six), Siems (five) and Blackburn-Kelley (four).
Jacob was the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and led SJ-O in scoring in its last three tourney contests. Siems and Smith were also chosen for the eight-player all-tournament team.
Jacob tallied 65 points in four tourney games, followed by Smith (43) and Siems (37).
To reach the finals, SJ-O dispatched eventual third-place finisher Charleson, 48-41, on Friday (Dec. 1). The Spartans trailed, 24-23, at halftime, but carried a 38-34 lead into the final stanza.
Jacob led the way with 18 points. Smith connected for 14 points and hit 10 of his 15 free throw attempts. Siems tallied seven points, Thomey had five points and Tayler ended with four points.
Overall, the Spartans hit 14 of 23 free throws.
Landrus dished out three assists. Siems grabbed six rebounds while Taylor and Thomey each handled four rebounds.
On Thursday (Nov. 30), Jacob hit a game-high 20 points as SJ-O blitzed eventual fifth-place finisher Watseka, 74-28, in a second-round boys’ basketball game in the Toyota of Danville Classic at SJ-O.
Jacob drained three three-point shots.
Siems produced a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Taylor made 10 points and Smith added nine points to go with five steals and three assists.
Other team leaders were Blackburn-Kelly (eight points), Thomey (six points and five assists), Kendrick Johnson (three points), Lockhart (three points) and Landrus (two points and eight rebounds).
Lockhart, Siems and Taylor all knocked down one three-point shot.
SJ-O (4-0) returns to action on Tuesday (Dec. 5) at Normal West.
