By Fred Kroner
St. Joseph-Ogden’s boys’ basketball team ended the week with back-to-back losses, including one in a rare Sunday contest.
On Friday (Jan. 28), the Spartans dropped an Illini Prairie Conference decision at Monticello, 57-29.
Ty Pence tallied 17 points for SJ-O. Brock Trimble added six points on the strength of two three-pointers.
McGwire Atwood hauled down four rebounds and Andrew Beyers had two assists.
Monticello, which posted the 300th career win for coach Kevin Roy, held a slender 9-8 lead after one stanza and was in front, 36-24, at halftime.
On Sunday (Jan. 30), as part of a shootout at Chicago Orr, SJ-O suffered a 64-35 loss to Chicago Taft.
Pence led the Spartans with 13 points. Beyers and Coy Taylor each netted seven points.
Hayden Brazelton led all Spartans with seven rebounds. Logan Smith grabbed four boards and also distributed a team-high two assists.
The teams were tied, 13-13, after one period, but Taft built a 36-24 lead at halftime and then held SJ-O to five third-quarter points while pulling away.
SJ-O (16-6) returns to action on Tuesday (Feb. 1) at home against Stanford Olympia.
