Life is full of unexpected twists and turns.

After the 2018-2019 St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’ basketball team placed third in the IHSA 2A State tournament, Hannah Dukeman set her sights on leading the Spartans as point guard during her senior year.

But by the time summer rolled around, Dukeman knew that she would have to lead her team from the sidelines. An August surgery to repair torn ligaments in her wrist would keep her off the court for at least six months.

“I hope I can help the players just as much as if I were on the court with them,” Dukeman said. “Seeing the game from the outsides allows for so much more perspective of the game, and I hope that the girls are able to listen and take advice I may have about the game.”

For the last 15 years, searching for and accepting advice is what has helped Dukeman to become a leader in basketball and softball.

“I have more people than I can count that have been influential to my journey as a basketball player: Brett Melton, Keith Peoples, my dad, Kevin Taylor, and many others,” she said.

“All of them have pushed me to limits I didn’t know I was capable of reaching and they are all the reason why I am the player I am today.”

As a player and a “coach” Dukeman has her sights set on making that lasting impact on all she comes in contact with.

“Every practice and every game I want to bring energy and leadership onto the court,” she said.

“I love being able to guide people towards success and knowing I’m doing everything to do so. Being a leader and seeing others succeed is always a good feeling. With more energy, the game becomes more enjoyable to not only the players but the audience as well.”

According to Dukeman, the St. Joseph-Ogden community is the “hype man” for the teenaged athletes.

“People from all over the town come to support sporting events,” she said. “Whether it be boys or girls, there is always a great crowd.

“I have grown up in this program, and I don’t ever remember a year where the community wasn’t supportive about each and every sport. It’s important to all athletes because it gives us all a support system and another reason to play.”

Dukeman began her journey on the basketball court when she was three or four years old, participating in YMCA programs.

“Ever since I stepped foot on the court for the very first time, I have been in love with the game,” she said.

“There is something about the game that allows me get away from everything and just play. Just play the game I know and love. I have tried multiple other sports, but basketball was my first and has always been my favorite.”

The 5’7” guard became an instant asset to the Spartan squad.

So much so that the ball was in her hands when the score was close at the end of a State Farm Classic game against Rockford Lutheran and an important Illini Prairie Conference game against Monticello.

Dukeman went on to add what the Spartans needed with  8.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists as they worked their way to Redbird Arena in 2019.

The disappointment of not being on the court during her senior year has not held Dukeman back from experiencing the gamut of experiences that come along with finishing out her high school career.

Dukeman said she wants to “enjoy the journey of it all. High school doesn’t last forever and the memories we have made so far, are ones that I will not ever forget.”

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St. Joseph-Ogden Girls’ basketball

The Spartans won three of four games at the State Farm Classic, taking fifth place in a tournament where none of the games were decided by more than eight points.

In Saturday’s fifth-place game at Bloomington High School, SJ-O (13-4) trailed after each of the first three quarters before rallying past Bloomington Central Catholic 43-39.

Katie Cramer hit 6 of 6 free throws – all in the fourth quarter – as the Spartans salvaged the win.

Taylor Wells hit a team-high 10 points. Cramer and Payton Jacob each contributed nine points. BCC led at halftime, 26-21.

To reach the fifth-place game, the Spartans dispatched Annawan 43-35 earlier on Saturday at Normal Community.

SJ-O led 25-24 at halftime, but limited Annawan to four second-half baskets.

Ashlynn Lannert notched eight of her team-high 12 points in the second quarter, helping SJ-O gain a 25-24 edge at halftime.

After intermission, the Spartans had nine field goals and they came from seven different players. Taylor Barnes finished with seven points and Wells had six.

On Friday, SJ-O suffered its lone tourney loss, 41-35 to Normal University High in a game played at Bloomington High School.

The Spartans built a 26-16 halftime lead, but managed just nine second-half points and only two field goals.

Payton Vallee led SJ-O with nine points. Jacob totaled six points.

U-High made 10 of 18 second-half free throws.

In Thursday’s opening round, the Spartans needed overtime to decision Kankakee Bishop McNamara, 46-42.

Lannert led with 16 points and Barnes chipped in with 10 points.

In overtime, all four SJ-O points were from the free throw line. Abby Behrens was 3-for-4 and Lannert was 1-for-2. Behrens ended with five points.

Overall in the game, SJ-O was 11-for-19 on free throws.

Of SJ-O’s first 17 games, nine have been determined by margins of nine points, or less. The Spartans have won eight of those games.

The Spartans return to action on Saturday (Jan. 4) at home against Illinois Valley Central.

St. Joseph-Ogden Boys’ basketball

SJ-O was 2-2 in the State Farm Classic and finished sixth, the same place where it was seeded.

In Saturday’s fifth-place game at Normal West High School, the Spartans dropped a 67-36 decision to El Paso/Gridley, which led 22-7 after the first period.

Payton Cain, Conner Hodge and Ty Pence all finished with six points. Hodge had a team-high four rebounds.

SJ-O reached the fifth-place game thanks to Chance Izard’s season-high 36-point outburst – which included six three-pointers – in a 75-63 triumph over Bloomington Central Catholic at the Shirk Center in Bloomington.

Cain ended with 15 points and Pence collected eight points. Cain cleared a team-high eight points.

The Spartans hit 7 of 8 free throws en route to their highest team point total of the season.

On Friday, third-seeded Rockford Lutheran topped the Spartans, 57-53. The game marked the third in a row for SJ-O settled by five points, or less.

Pence drilled three three-pointers and led SJ-O with 13 points. Cain tallied 12 points and Izard contributed 11.

SJ-O led, 19-13, after one quarter, but the teams were tied at halftime, 31-31.

In Thursday’s first round, the Spartans edged Annawan 47-42 at Normal West thanks to connecting on 18 of 28 free throws. The teams were tied, 31-31, after three quarters.

Cain led a balanced scoring attack with 10 points. Pence made nine points.  Izard and Hodge had eight apiece. Jordan Kelly chipped in with seven points.

Hodge (10 rebounds) and Pence (six rebounds) led the effort on the boards.

SJ-O (8-4) returns to action on Friday (Jan. 3) at home against Cissna Park.

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The Comets were unable to hang onto a double-figure first-half lead on Thursday at home and dropped a 36-34 decision to Salt Fork.

Oakwood led 10-2 after one quarter and 18-7 at halftime. Salt Fork managed just three first-half field goals.

Katelyn Young led the Comets with 20 points. The game marked the 11th time this season she has reached that plateau.

Addie Wright scored five points.

The Storm knocked down seven three-point shots in the final two quarters while rallying for the victory.

Oakwood is 11-3 overall and 4-1 in Vermilion Valley Conference games.

The Comets return to action on Thursday, Dec. 26 in the State Farm Classic with a 1:30 p.m. game against Annawan at Normal Community High School.

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The Spartans started strong on Tuesday at Champaign Central, scoring all eight of the first-period points, but suffered a 43-39 loss to the Maroons.

SJ-O held a 31-21 second-half lead before Central (5-5) took control with a 15-0 run. The Maroons’ first lead of the game was at 33-31 late in the third quarter.

Chance Izard led SJ-O with 15 points. Payton Cain and Ty Pence each finished with eight points.

Pence pulled down a team-high five rebounds.

SJ-O (6-2) returns to action on Dec. 26 at the State Farm Classic in an event held at various Bloomington-Normal locations.

The post Spartans fall to Maroons first appeared on SJO Daily.

The St. Joseph-Ogden girls’ basketball team put up 58 points in successive home games to start the week while snapping a two-game losing streak.

On Monday, SJ-O overpowered Paxton-Buckley-Loda 58-47. On Tuesday, the Spartans topped Urbana 58-40.

Four players scored in double figures against PBL. Abby Behrens and Atleigh Hamilton each ended with 12 points. Teammates Ella Armstrong and Ashlyn Lannert both added 11 points.

SJ-O held a narrow 23-19 halftime lead, but Hamilton hit six of her points in the third quarter and the team’s lead was 43-33 entering the final eight minutes.

Against Urbana, both Payton Jacob (19 points) and Armstrong (14 points) registered season-high point totals. They each drilled three three-point shots.

The Spartans carried a 23-18 lead into halftime, but Jacob tallied eight of her points in the third quarter as the team extended its lead to double digits, 41-31.

SJ-O (10-3) is idle until the State Farm Classic, which is played at various Bloomington-Normal locations. That event begins on Dec. 26.

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