Spartans to play in championship game of State Farm Classic
By FRED KRONER
St. Joseph-Ogden Boys’ Basketball
Junior Coy Taylor poured in a career-high 31 points on Friday night (Dec. 29) to lead St. Joseph-Ogden into the championship game of the State Farm Classic school-small boys’ division at Normal West High School.
Taylor netted a season-high six three-pointers in the Spartans’ 91-61 semifinal win over Pecatonica.
Tanner Jacob contributed 20 points and Tanner Siems chipped in with 13 points.
Also reaching the scoring column for SJ-O were Logan Smith (nine points), Luke Landrus (six points), Collin Thomey (four points), Logan Lackey (three points), Ryker Lockhart (three points) and Parker Fitch (two points).
The Spartans led 23-17 after one quarter and 42-32 at halftime.
SJ-O (12-1) will take on El Paso/Gridley at 5:15 p.m. on Saturday (Dec. 30) in the championship game at Illinois Wesleyan University’s Shirk Center.
Jacob’s 16 points sparked SJ-O to a 66-40 victory over Rock Falls in the quarterfinal round of the tourney on Thursday (Dec. 28).
Taylor popped in 14 points. Dropping in nine points apiece were Landrus and Smith. Siems totaled six points and Thomey chipped in with four points. Will Haley and Lackey each hit three-point shots to account for their scoring totals. Lockhart added two points.
Landrus pulled down a team-high nine rebounds and just missed a double-double. Siems grabbed six rebounds and also contributed four assists and three steals.
Smith had a team-high seven assists.
SJ-O zoomed into a 17-8 lead after the first frame and led at halftime, 30-21.
The Spartans started tournament play on Wednesday (Dec. 27) with a 56-47 triumph over East Dubuque.
Siems tallied a team-high 15 points. Smith netted 13 points. Jacobs added 11 points and drained two of the three three-point shots that SJ-O hit.
Other Spartan scorers were Landrus (eight points), Taylor (four points), Fitch (two points), Lockhart (two points) and Thomey (one point).
Thomey pulled down a team-leading five rebounds. Handling three boards apiece were Landrus, Siems and Smith. Siems and Smith both doled out three assists.
Smith swished the team’s other three-pointer.
On Friday (Dec. 22), SJ-O suffered its first loss, 55-53, at Beecher despite a season-high 20 points from Siems. He also cleared four rebounds.
Landrus put up 12 points and five rebounds while Jacob registered 11 points and six rebounds.
Smith just missed a double-double, working his way for eight points and 10 assists. Thomey contributed two points and six rebounds.
The Spartans’ first game in 2024 will be on Wednesday (Jan. 3) at home against Williamsville.
