Spartans defeat Pleasant Plains in Shootout

By Fred Kroner

St. Joseph-Ogden’s boys’ basketball team erupted for more points in the fourth quarter (21) on Saturday (Feb. 5) than it had managed in all of the first three quarters (19) and rallied to defeat Pleasant Plains, 40-35, at Maroa.

The game was part of the Illini Prairie Conference/Sangamo Conference Shootout.

SJ-O trailed, 16-9, after one quarter, 18-16 at halftime, and 24-19 entering the final period.

Ty Pence and Logan Smith each hit 12 points for the Spartans. Andrew Beyers added eight points and Brock Trimble netted six points.

Smith was 10-for-13 from the free throw line. He also had six assists and five rebounds.

SJ-O sealed the win by notching four free throws in the final 50 seconds. The Spartans broke a 29-29 tie on a three-pointer with 4 minutes and 57 seconds to play.

Coy Taylor hauled in seven rebounds. Pence cleared five rebounds.

SJ-O (18-6) returns to action on Monday (Feb. 7) in a makeup game at Bloomington Central Catholic. The Spartans have four games on the schedule for the week.