By Fred Kroner
Brody Taflinger scored a team-high 17 points on Saturday (Jan. 21) as Oakwood won the third-place game in the Vermilion County boys’ basketball tournament with a 48-42 conquest of Hoopeston Area at Danville Area Community College.
The teams were tied at halftime, 23-23, but Hoopeston carried a 35-33 lead into the final eight minutes.
Taflinger netted six of his points in the final period and Alec Harrison hit four points down the stretch.
Dalton Hobick finished with nine points. Harrison contributed eight points. Jackson Dudley and Tanner Pichon each finished with six points.
The Comets downed nine three-point shots, four by Taflinger. Hobick netted three treys and Dudley made two.
On Thursday (Jan. 19), Salt Fork snapped a 13-13 deadlock with Oakwood after one quarter and took command at halftime, 29-15 in a semifinal game of the Vermilion County Tournament en route to a 57-24 victory.
The win catapulted state-ranked Salt Fork (19-2) into the championship game at Danville Area Community College and sent Oakwood into the third-place game.
Freshman Dudley led Oakwood with seven points. Pichon and Josh Ruch each contributed four points.
The Comet are 16-7 overall and return to action on Tuesday (Jan. 24) at home against Georgetown-Ridge Farm.
