St. Joseph-Ogden’s Anna Wentzloff has had to live through the unexpected. 

At age 16 she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma— formerly known as Hodgkin’s disease — a cancer of the lymphatic system.

But Wentzloff also knows how to get through the unexpected. In March 2019 Wentzloff went into remission.

Since then, Anna was part of the St. Joseph-Ogden Volleyball team that placed third in the IHSA 2A State tournament in 2019 and the 2020 girls’ basketball team that won their Class 2A Regional. 

Visiting Redbird Arena in uniform was a familiar experience for Wentzloff. As a junior the Spartans’ girls’ basketball team took home the third place IHSA 2A State state trophy. 

But then the unexpected happened in mid-March when the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. The senior, who was looking forward to returning to the track field to set personal records in shot put and discus, learned that the season would be put on pause and eventually canceled by the IHSA.

St. Joseph-Ogden has previously said that if summer competitions are allowed, they will consider allowing their athletes the opportunity to compete.

Wentzloff, known for her energy both on and off the field, has continued to keep a positive outlook.

“Whether I am competing or not is to be a positive leader that contributes in any way to the team,” she said.

“I have grown up in the Spartan Program and have been a part of the team all four years. It has been amazing to compete with all the talent athletes and be a part of a success program.”

St. Joseph-Ogden seniors will say goodbye to their Spartan experience this weekend as they walk across the stage with their diploma. For Wentzloff, that experience has included a lot of love and support. 

“I have had many coaches, adults and family members who have supported me over the years,” Wentzloff said. “One coach that sticks out is our head coach, Coach (Kelly) Steffen. She always has an awesome positive attitude and truly cares about each of us.”

As Wentzloff moves on to Parkland College with her sights set on transferring to the University of Illinois to major in human and family development, she will remember the lessons she’s learned as an athlete at St. Joseph-Ogden:

“Being an athlete has taught me that you can have success, win or lose,” she said. “Working hard, being apart of the team and the memories you take with you is your true success.”

The post Anna Wentzloff to look back on true St. Joseph-Ogden success: memories first appeared on SJO Daily.

fred@mahometnews.com

Ty Pence came into the basketball season as a varsity letter winner at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

Most of his teammates were in the same club, with one major difference.

Pence is a freshman, who lettered in the fall as a receiver on a playoff-qualifying football team. Many of his basketball teammates were members of a 10-member senior class.

Pence eventually earned more than a letter in basketball. He gained status as the top boys’ basketball freshman in the state, regardless of size of school.

The honor was bestowed upon the 6-foot-4 Pence by Chicagoland Prep Hoops, an NCAA-compliant scouting service.

The football season was valuable, Pence said, but not from the standpoint of developing swagger as a varsity athlete.

“Football gave me the opportunity to meet most of the guys on the (basketball) team and I am very thankful of the way they took me in as one of their own,” Pence said.

“They gave me confidence and showed that they believed in me. We had many leaders on our team and they built everyone’s confidence, so that really helped me calm my nerves and perform to the best of my ability.”

Despite all of the adulation and the accolades, SJ-O head coach Kiel Duval emphasized one point about the standout freshman who started all 32 varsity games during his inaugural high school season.

“One of the cool things about Ty this year was we obviously pulled him up from the freshman team this year right away,” Duval said. “He still made a point to go to all the freshman games to support his classmates.

“Those are his guys. He still loves them. He knows that down the road they are going to be right there with him. Shows a lot about his character.”

Chicagoland Prep Hoops senior editor Seth Pote, who learned about Pence during the AAU circuit last summer, saw him play in person for the first time on Feb. 15 at the Riverton Shootout.

It only took Pote until the Spartans’ first points of the game were on the board for him to view Pence favorably.

“I was immediately impressed with the way he carried himself and his smoothness on the court,” Pote said. “The very first basket of the game for SJ-O was a Pence bucket.

“He started on the wing, drove the hoop and finished with a double-clutch layup.”

Pence, a shooting guard, didn’t stop there. He went on to score 28 points against West Hancock, a game SJ-O won 72-37.

“He has a knack for hitting shots with a high degree of difficulty and did so throughout the game,” Pote said. “He has a pretty well-rounded game for such a young player, but has the build, athleticism and room to grow that gives him a high ceiling as a college prospect.”

In his scouting report for Chicagoland Prep Hoops after the SJ-O game against West Hancock, Pote wrote:

“WOW! Ty Pence made possibly the best first impression a freshman has ever made on CPH. And that’s no hyperbole! 6-4 guard with size and lift on his jumper. Passing touch and feel on the wing already. Moves the ball well, gets a lot of hockey assists. Has plus game IQ and high skill level for his age. Great body control, showcased this on a steal and score in the open court with a finish off his off-foot and against solid defense. Really hit some tough shots. Handles will need to get tighter. Scored at all three levels. Can put ball on floor and attack from wing. Will get stronger as he gets older. Twenty-eight points for Pence, who will be a top five 2023 prospect in the initial rankings!”

To make sure that one game wasn’t an anomaly, Pote did additional research.

“I went back and watched some of his games on the NFHS website to further scout and research his ability,” he said.

“A few factors led to the decision to name him Freshman of the Year. He more than impressed when I was able to watch him in person, which left a lasting impression.

“He has the ability to be a very good college prospect, but his play on the court as only a freshman was a large factor.”

Pence finished the season averaging 12.9 points and 3.9 rebounds for the 23-9 Spartans. Pence hit 57 three-pointers for the season and made at least one three-pointer in 27 of his 32 games.

“He had one of the best stat lines of any freshman in the state,” Pote said. “Many of my trusted sources throughout the state also vouched for him as a player.”

Though Pence often made his play look effortless, he said the season offered difficulties.

“I was challenged every time I stepped on the court,” he said. “Guys were stronger and more athletic than anyone I had ever played against.

“I had to work every single play to succeed in our goals as a team. It was a tough experience and it pushed me to work as hard as I could every day.”

Pence didn’t have lofty expectations for his ninth-grade season in basketball.

“I accomplished my goal of contributing as a freshman,” he said, “and helping the team win.”

A major key to flourishing in his role, Pence said was the SJ-O head coach.

“Mr. Duval pushed me very hard to be the best, whether it was in the weight room or on the court,” Pence said. “He is a great coach and is going to lead us to success in the coming years.”

Duval regarded Pence as a potential varsity impact player even during the preseason.

“We had a good feeling we were going to need Ty this year because we knew he had an ability to score the basketball and his length and athleticism could help us out on both ends of the floor,” Duval said.

“We were really only bringing one scorer back from the previous year, and Ty gave us glimpses during the summer that he was going to be able to score at this level.”

The player’s overall effectiveness was due to the attitude Pence brought to the gym each day.

“He became a sponge,” Duval said. “He soaked everything up that we were talking about in practices to make himself a better player.

“I think there were times where at the beginning of the year that he started slow and people started to worry about him. He got better each game. By the end of the year, he established himself as a really good varsity basketball player.

“We told him from Day 1, ‘You are not a freshman anymore. You are a varsity basketball player. We are going to coach you that way.’ He took that in stride.”

The number of veteran players on the SJ-O roster helped keep Pence on his toes.

“With how many seniors we had returning, I knew that I would have to work hard to earn my playing time,” Pence said. “I was willing to step into any role they gave me.

“Our coaching staff does a great job scouting other teams, so our roles would change just about every game. We were all willing to fill in with any role they gave us day in and day out.”

Pence regards basketball as his favorite sport, but added, “I love baseball, too.”

When it came time for Pote to construct the blurb about Pence when the Chicagoland Prep Hoops announced its award winners, he wrote:

“Not well known outside of the central Illinois hoops circles, Pence is perhaps the most promising freshman in the state. He definitely had the most impactful season of any freshman, putting up 12.9 points and 3.9 rebounds a night for the 23-9 Spartans. Pence has all the tools to be the next big name out of central Illinois. The sky is the limit for the 6-4 guard.”

Pence said it’s important to give credit where it is due.

“I was very blessed to have the opportunity to play as a freshman and learn from all my teammates and coaches,” he said. “They are the ones that led me to be successful enough to win this award.”

Pence found himself in an unusual situation with SJ-O as a freshman. Often, when a ninth-grader gets a varsity uniform, it is out of need in a program that is rebuilding or else has a lack of veteran players.

The opposite was true for Duval’s program. He had 10 quality seniors on his most recent roster.

“Our guys love Ty,” Duval said. “He is a really good basketball player. He is an even better kid. He has a great personality. He is a smart kid.

“The players enjoy being around him. He is a very easy guy to root for. Our older guys knew from Day 1 they needed Ty. They knew that his progress was going to be essential to their success. They challenged him, but they were also his biggest fan.” 

Pence worked his way into the starting lineup because his skills predicated that he should play. His performance demanded that he stay on the court.

Pence had the Spartans’ top rebounding performance of the season (12 against Cissna Park) and led (or shared) the team lead in scoring in 10 games and in rebounding in seven games. He was also the Spartans’ most accurate free throw shooter, hitting 79 percent of his attempts (49 of 62).

All the while, Pence carried himself like he belonged and displayed boundless confidence.

“I think some guys have this and some don’t,” Duval said. “We realized right away that Ty has the confidence to take any shot. He wants to hit that big shot at the end of games.

“There were multiple times this year where he hit a HUGE shot down the stretch that pulled us ahead of the opponent. It is nice to have a guy that has the guts to do it.”

Regardless of what the statistics reveal, Pence is not an athlete who makes it about himself.

“Ty is a multisport athlete that has made an impact on every program he has been involved with,” Duval said. “He is also an exceptional teammate.

“That in itself is a hard quality to find today with talented players. Ty wants his teammates to do really well.”

For all the good that Pence did, Duval said he is not the player he will be next year. Or the following year. Or the year after that.

“Ty has a very high basketball IQ,” Duval said. “He understands the game. He understands positioning. He moves like a basketball player on the floor.

“He had a good year shooting the basketball for us, and I think that he can be even better next year. Next season we are going to rely on him much more in two main areas. Rebounding and getting to the free throw line.

“These are areas that he is going to have to work on to become an elite player and really push his team to the next level. Both of these areas he is very capable of.

“He led our team in free throw percentage this year, so if he gets to the line, I like our chances for some easy buckets. There were also games where he had double digit rebounds. We know he’s capable of it. He is just going to have to do it with more consistency.”

Ty Pence is the third of Todd and Kendra Pence’s children to make a major impact on various SJ-O athletic teams. Jake Pence was an All-Area football player who started in basketball at guard for the 2016 Class 2A state championship team. Kenzie Pence was an All-Area softball player who started in the outfield for the 2017 Class 2A softball state runner-up team. She is playing collegiately at Illinois State University.

Ty Pence didn’t feel pressure to match his siblings’ achievements.

“I always looked up to them and now being in the position they were in is awesome,” Ty Pence said. “I think that being a freshman added the most pressure on me to succeed.

“Coach Duval told me at the beginning of the season that it would be a huge step from playing 13-14-year-olds in eighth grade to now playing kids that are four years older than me.

“To alleviate that pressure, I just tried to work my hardest in whatever I did and prove that I belonged out there with these older guys.”

Ty Pence recognizes that there is still more work to do.

“I feel like the best thing I did this year was developing as a varsity basketball player,” Pence said. “By the end of the season, I was fixing mistakes I had been making at the beginning of the season and becoming very successful.

“The area that I know I need to improve on is being a leader. Without the 10 seniors next year, we are going to need someone who can lead the team and keep everyone together.”

The list below shows recent Freshmen of the Year, as chosen by Chicagoland Prep Hoops. The 2017 recipient, Duke recruit D.J. Steward (now at Chicago Whitney Young), was chosen as the 2020 State Player of the Year.

Duval said there is a challenge that awaits Pence.

“(Freshman of the Year) is a big compliment to Ty,” Duval said. “He has put in the work to earn that recognition. I think now it is up to him to keep pushing and not be complacent.

“He needs to work to be even better next year and keep improving. The best players are grateful for their accomplishments, but are never satisfied with those.

“It is a lot of work to be great. Ty is a smart enough player to know that. He needs to keep finding ways to improve himself.”

Recent CPH Freshman of the Year Recipients
2020 Ty Pence SG St. Joseph-Ogden
2019 Kam Craft SG Buffalo Grove
2018 Max Christie SG Rolling Meadows
2017 D.J. Steward SG Fenwick
2016 Marquise Walker PG Westchester St. Joseph
2015 Kezo Brown SG Simeon

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Izard led the 23-9 Spartan squad, averaging 16.2 points per game with a high game of 36 points against Bloomington Central Catholic. He was the team’s leading scorer in 17 games.

“Being recognized in the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Special Mention team is a huge honor to me, and it serves as a reflection of all the past years that I’ve put into the sport,” Izard said. “Not just the practices, games, workouts, etc., but the friendships with players, coaches, and the overall relationships I have built with the incredible people throughout my journey of being a Spartan.”

From a young age, Izard worked on consistency in order to become a leader.

“Consistency means showing up to every practice, walk-through, game, film session, etc., and carrying the same mindset — pushing every kid around you to be better, and trying to express the significance of the limited amount of time we have with one another,” he said.

The team’s motto this year was to take everything day-by-day. Izard said that he did not always come to the court with that mindset, but the 2019-20 squad of Spartans helped.

“It was a little bit easier to overcome the sluggish practices and bring the team out of slumps when needed,” he said.

Losing to Tuscola in IHSA regional play a year ago in 2019 did not sit well with Izard.

“In the beginning of the season, we made it very clear as a team that we were not going to look past a single day,” Izard said. “Looking back at last year’s season and losing to Tuscola, a game that concluded our season much earlier than it needed to be, we realized that our focus was not as detailed and tailored as it should’ve been.”

Coaches kept athletes focused on every move, what each movement meant and how it affected the Spartans’ overall game during practice.

Izard said that this vision created the highlight of his senior year.

“Not the individual awards, not the 11-game winning streak, or winning conference, but the practices,” he said. “The amount of fun (we) had with each other can’t be described. It was a literal joy to come every day and get in with the coaching staff. Everyone was family. Everyone was a brother.”

Izard’s favorite memory of the 2019-20 season wasn’t even a game that the Spartans won.

In what Izard claims “wasn’t anywhere near to one of my better games, performance-wise,” the Spartans fell to Champaign Central, 43-39.

“But this was a game that had an electrifying atmosphere,” Izard said. “The crowd was wild, the gym was packed, and it was pure excitement overall.

“People talk about games where one team walks into a gym with absolutely zero expectancies to win, that was what this was. And even though we did lose, I thought our guys showed what SJ-O basketball really represents.”

SJ-O held a 31-21 third-quarter lead before the Maroons took control with a 15-0 run. Late in the third quarter, Champaign Central took the lead 33-31.

“For three quarters, we played them to a ‘T’,” Izard said. “Each individual had the scouting report down and we executed it perfectly. Sure we didn’t see the outcome that we wanted, but we revealed some of the potential we had.

“We operated that night as a unit and it brought a lot of confidence to all of us for what we had in store for the season. That game was special to us.”

Even more special was playing with the 11 seniors, most of whom he had grown up being right beside.

“It was more than a brotherhood, it was the fact that we got to go to class every day, hangout, the jokes, the laughs, we got to carry that onto the court every day, and that was a special thing for us,” he said.

“Each senior carried a different role this year and each senior executed their role. Each guy in that locker room was selfless and wanted what was best for the team, not so much the individual. And that created a special chemistry that was crucial to our success.”

Despite the large senior class, Izard was chosen to be the leader by head coach Kiel Duval.

“He challenged me, intensely, to embrace leadership and run with it. That was ultimately what was important,” Izard said.

Carrying the scoring load weighed heavily on Izard’s mind. Even though he took home the Toyota of Danville Classic MVP award, he felt as though his game was forced.

“When I was able to relax, and do the things I’m best at — getting to the rim, creating for others, pushing in transition, and being an overall facilitator — the scoring took care of itself,” Izard said.

“I think it was when this happened I also started to form into a leader. I sort of took a different perspective on the court, and I saw what other guys were capable of doing.”

Izard went on to challenge fellow seniors Payton Cain, Jordan Kelly and Payton Grimsley, bringing them out of their comfort zone to highlight their strengths.

“Being a leader to me is more than being the kid with the highest amount of points,” Izard said, “but being the kid who can bring out the best in everyone around them.

“Ultimately we weren’t going to be able to succeed if they didn’t break out from that shell. They were that vital.”

It’s similar to what Izard’s dad did to him as he was growing up.

“He’s been my guy ever since I was a little guy,” he said. “He has offered me every opportunity that I needed to get where I got.”

That love has been realized in the St. Joseph-Ogden High School coaching staff, too.

“I have never met a group of guys that truly cared as much as they did,” Izard said. “Each coach really did the most for us. Whether that meant traveling two hours on a weeknight to make a scouting report or staying after practice getting shots up with the guys.”

Izard said Duval goes beyond the extra mile.

“Ever since we were freshmen, he’s been our trainer, math teacher, and coach,” he said. “He literally would wake up at 5 a.m., call us to wake us up, and hit the gym with us.

“I don’t know a lot of coaches that are doing that. I am very thankful for the time spent with these coaches. They develop players on and off the court.”

Izard also earned the team MVP honor earlier this month.

The post Illinois Basketball Coaches Association recognizes Chance Izard on Special Mention list first appeared on SJO Daily.

St. Joseph-Ogden won the first half, but Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin captured the second half and the victory in Friday’s Class 2A boys’ basketball regional championship game at the Spartans’ sold-out gymnasium.

B-H/R-A improved to 32-0 with a 38-28 triumph. The game attracted an estimated 1,500 spectators.

Ty Pence scored 14 points and Chance Izard had 11 to lead the Spartans. The team’s other three points were scored by Payton Grimsley.

The Spartans held a 19-14 halftime lead, but managed just eight points thereafter.

Drew Coursey cleared six rebounds in the season-finale. Jordan Kelly handled five rebounds. Payton Cain had three assists.

SJ-O ends the season with a 23-9 record.

The deep and balanced Spartans had seven squad members lead – or share the team-lead – in rebounding this season.

Cain led the way in 10 games, followed by Coursey (nine games) and Conner Hodge (eight games). Pence led in seven games.

Kelly led in rebounding twice and teammates Andrew Beyers and Grimsley each led once.

Pence had the top single-game performance, with 12 rebounds.

Izard was the scoring leader in 17 games, followed by Pence (10), Cain (seven) and Hodge (one).

Izard registered a 36-point game, followed by Pence with a 28-point performance.

Izard ended the year with 83 three-pointers. Pence totaled 57 and Kelly had 14.

Izard posted the highest scoring average for the team this season (16.2 points per game), followed by Pence (12.8) and Cain (9.0).

The post Spartans’ 23-win season comes to end first appeared on SJO Daily.

St. Joseph-Ogden boys’ basketball took a double-digit lead in the first quarter of Wednesday’s Class 2A regional semifinal game in their gym and then had to hang on in the final period to collect a victory.

SJ-O opened up a 17-4 first-quarter lead and never lost the lead again despite Villa Grove/Heritage pulling within a 42-36 margin in the game’s last seven minutes.

The Spartans ended the game on a 14-4 run to capture a 56-40 triumph.

SJ-O (23-8) will take on state-ranked Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin (31-0) in Friday’s 7 p.m. regional championship game.

Freshman Ty Pence led the Spartans to the postseason win with 19 points and seven rebounds.

Jordan Kelly chipped in with 12 points. Payton Cain and Payton Grimsley each ended with eight points.

Other top rebounders for SJ-O were Grimsley with six and Kelly with five. Izard contributed four assists and two steals.

On Tuesday, the Spartans scored 20 of the 22 first-quarter points – after opening the game on a 9-0 run – and overpowered Westville 70-22 in a Class 2A regional tournament quarterfinal game in St. Joseph.

Chance Izard tallied a game-high 17 points for SJ-O and for the season has made a team-best 80 three-pointers.

Lukas Hutcherson hit a season-high 10 points and became the seventh squad member to post a double-digit scoring performance this season.

Three other Spartans finished with nine points apiece:  Dade Allinger, Cain and Pence.

Senior Brayden Weaver, who was injured in football and only returned to action in basketball on Senior Night, scored his first two points of the season.

Conner Hodge cleared a team-high seven rebounds. Cain and Drew Coursey handled six boards apiece.

Coursey added two assists as did Kelly.

Friday’s winner will earn a berth in the Pontiac Sectional and will face either Pontiac or Coal City at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

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The Spartans lost a lead that was one point at halftime and grew to four in the third period on Friday at Bloomington Central Catholic and wound up dropping a 62-53 decision.

The loss was the first for SJ-O in Illini Prairie Conference games.

SJ-O led 22-21 at halftime and didn’t relinquish the lead until the final two minutes of the third quarter when BCC shot into a 31-30 lead.

Payton Cain scored 16 points to lead the Spartans. Ty Pence chipped in with 14 points to go with 11 rebounds. Chance Izard added 13 points and two assists.

Cain finished with six rebounds and three steals.

SJ-O (21-8) returns to action on Tuesday in the 6 p.m. Class 2A regional tournament game against Westville on the Spartans’ court.

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The Spartans couldn’t hold onto an early lead and dropped a 61-45 non-conference decision on Monday at Teutopolis.

SJ-O led 14-13 after one quarter, but trailed 26-21 at halftime.

Chance Izard led the Spartans with 20 points, including three baskets from three-point range. Izard has a team-high 75 three-pointers as a senior.

Jordan Kelly hit six points and Ty Pence added five points.

The loss snapped an 11-game Spartan winning streak.

SJ-O (21-7) returns to action on Friday at Bloomington Central Catholic when it tries to complete an undefeated run through the Illini Prairie Conference.

SJ-O is 9-0 in IPC contests.

SJ-O will host its own Class 2A regional next week. The Spartans will open on Tuesday in the 6 p.m. game against Westville.

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Unbeaten and top-ranked Paris ended the girls’ basketball season for St. Joseph-Ogden on Monday with a 62-35 win in a Class 2A sectional semifinal game at Paris.

The Tigers scored all 62 of their points in the first three quarters. Paris led 18-13 after one quarter and 39-21 at halftime and had doubled the score (62-31) after three quarters.

Katie Cramer drained three three-point shots and made a team-high 11 points for SJ-O. Payton Jacob contributed 10 points.

Cramer netted a team-high 46 three-pointers for the season.

SJ-O ended the season with a 21-11 overall record.

Ten different squad members led the Spartans in scoring in at least one game this season.

Cramer was the leader in 11 games. She was followed by Ashlyn Lannert (six games), Payton Jacob (five games), Ella Armstrong (four games), Taylor Barnes (three games), Payton Vallee (three games), Atleigh Hamilton (two games), Taylor Wells (two games), Abby Behrens (one game) and Alyssa Hamilton (one game).

The team’s top individual scoring performances were by Jacob (19 points), Barnes (18 points) and Armstrong (17 points).

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The Spartans moved closer to an undisputed Illini Prairie Conference championship after a Senior Night win at home on Friday over Chillicothe IVC, 60-54.

The win helped SJ-O improve to 9-0 in IPC games with one league game remaining.

Chance Izard posted 18 points, Ty Pence had 15 and Payton Cain finished with 12 as the Spartans hit the 20-win mark for the season.

Cain also cleared a team-high seven rebounds to go with three steals.

Drew Coursey contributed five rebounds. Izard and Payton Grimsley each registered three assists.

The Spartans led 18-11 after one quarter and 28-21 at halftime.

On Saturday, SJ-O dispatched West Hancock 72-37 in the Riverton Shootout for the team’s 11th consecutive victory.

Pence raised his career-high to 28 points, thanks to a 6-for-6 showing from the free throw line.

Izard tallied 18 points. Cain contributed eight points along with a team-high four rebounds and two assists.

Pence and Coursey each cleared three rebounds.

SJ-O led 19-8 after one quarter and 36-20 at halftime.

The Spartans (21-6) return to action on Friday in their conference finale at Bloomington Central Catholic.

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One set of statistics helps to paint the most accurate picture of the St. Joseph-Ogden girls’ basketball team this season.

Ten squad members have led the team in scoring at least once. All 10 have also had games where they didn’t score a point.

“All season we’ve had girls step up,” SJ-O coach Kevin Taylor said. “It’s a credit to the girls for hanging tough.”

Thursday night was no exception.

The school captured its third successive girls’ basketball regional title on Thursday on its home court, topping Villa Grove/Heritage 50-34.

“Our defense was good all night and we had a stretch late in the third quarter where we had a good run,” Taylor said.

The Spartans led at halftime 24-18, but fell behind 27-26 before recovering.

The comeback began, Taylor said, “when we played hard and controlled the boards.”

SJ-O reaped the benefits from lessons learned during a late-season four-game losing streak.

“We were in most of those games, but lost focus and it cost us,” Taylor said. “In the postseason, we’ve done a great job of staying mentally tough.”

The Spartans’ score sheet looked different in the regional finals than it did in the semifinals.

On Thursday, Katie Cramer scored a team-high 12 points and Abby Behrens added nine points, including four fourth-quarter free throws. Payton Vallee also hit nine points.

In the semifinals, none of those three players scored. The top two SJ-O scorers in the semis, Ella Armstrong and Hannah Dukeman, were scoreless on Thursday.

The SJ-O defense held VG/H scoring leader Aliya Holloman to nine points, just the fourth game this season she didn’t hit double figures.

Payton Jacob was the primary defender on Holloman, with help from Dukeman.

“We wanted to keep her off the three-point line,” Taylor said, “and when she came off screens, we jumped out and helped.

“I’m happy for the girls. There were stretches they had to grind it out, but they have hung in there all year.”

SJ-O (21-10) returns to action on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in the sectional semifinals at Paris against either the host school (which is undefeated and top-ranked in Class 2A) or Sullivan. Their regional championship game will be played tonight in Sullivan.

“It will definitely be tough, but we will prepare the best we can and go give it our best shot,” Taylor said.

VG/Heritage ends with a 25-6 season record.

Taylor enjoyed the enthusiastic crowd which helped fill the stands on Thursday for the Spartans’ final home game of the year.

“There were a lot of fans and we appreciated the support,” Taylor said. “It’s nice to be at home where you are more familiar with everything.”

SJ-O’s regional crown was its fifth in girls’ basketball in the last eight years.

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