The Spartans’ 10th loss of the season, Thursday’s 54-52 setback at Bloomington Central Catholic, was the team’s fifth loss settled by nine points, or less.

SJ-O led 29-24 at halftime, but attempted just two free throws in the Illini Prairie Conference encounter. Katie Cramer converted both attempts in the fourth quarter.

Taylor Wells netted a season-high 16 points and led SJ-O in scoring. Cramer chipped in with 12 points as did Ella Armstrong.

Wells hit 10 of her points in the second quarter, helping the Spartans open up a halftime lead.

The Spartans (19-10) return to action in their own Class 2A regional on Tuesday at 6 p.m. against either Tuscola or Clinton.

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Katie Cramer hit a three-pointer for the 14th consecutive game, but St. Joseph-Ogden girls’ basketball dropped a 47-29 decision at Mattoon on Tuesday in a makeup game.

Mattoon built a 34-16 halftime lead and kept SJ-O off the free-throw line. The Spartans attempted just two free throws, both of which Payton Vallee made in the third quarter.

Vallee scored a team-high eight points. Ella Armstrong and Atleigh Hamilton each contributed six points.

The Spartans (19-9) return to action tonight in their regular-season finale at Bloomington Central Catholic.

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St. Joseph-Ogden hit 5-of-5 fourth-quarter free throws on Saturday, but it wasn’t enough to help the team to a victory in the Sangamon Conference/Illini Prairie Conference Shootout at Maroa.

Auburn edged the Spartans 42-40. The teams were tied at halftime, 18-18.

The game was the 15th this season for SJ-O settled by nine points, or less.

Katie Cramer tallied a team-high 11 points for SJ-O. Ella Armstrong had eight points and Hannah Dukeman totaled six points.

The Spartans will be the top-seeded team in a Class 2A regional they will host.  SJ-O’s postseason opener will be on Feb. 11 at 6 p.m. between the winner of a Feb. 10 game between Tuscola and Clinton.

SJ-O (19-7) returns to action on Thursday in its regular-season finale at Bloomington Central Catholic.

The post Auburn defeats St. Joseph-Ogden in Shootout at Maroa first appeared on SJO Daily.