NORMAL — The St. Joseph Ogden boys basketball team’s road to the State Farm Holiday Classic title game ran through some familiar opponents.
And in a game similar to the Spartans’ 49-48 loss to El Paso Gridley in the 2023 Small School Championship, SJ-O lost 52 points in the final seconds in Saturday’s semifinals. He won by a 49 decision. Ordinary west.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game,” SJ-O coach Kier Duvall said. “They are well-coached and have two really, really good players who hit big shots.
“It was one thing where they got in foul trouble, we got in foul trouble, but it seemed like they got in foul trouble at a worse time.”
Tanner Seams had 19 points, the Spartans got 12 points from Coy Taylor and seven points each from Ryker Lockhart and Colin Toomey, one point away from their second tournament title since winning the trophy in 2022. We were close to winning.
Siems made two free throws with less than two seconds left to extend the Spartans’ lead to three points, but as the buzzer sounded, Micah Meis’ half-court heave clattered off the iron and it was a crisis. It was about to become a situation.
“I felt like we got away from what was working early in the game,” Taylor said. “Coach had us go back there and make some stops…Toward the end of the game, we were going to (Siems) and they were downing one of their big guys, so that’s why he was in control until the end.”
There was a sense of relief in the Spartans’ victory over the Titans, which was keyed by Braden Hayes’ 22 points.
“We really wanted that win,” Seams said. “At the end of the fourth quarter, it was pretty much the same situation we had in the championship game last year when they hit a dagger three and won it all. I think it was great to play them in the semifinals and beat them. ”
SJ-O (8-3) will face Pecatonica in the championship game at Shark Center on Monday at 5:15 p.m.
“This is the third year in a row that we are playing in the championship at this tournament,” Seamus said. “This shows that our program has a good tradition of winning. And it’s a really tough tournament this time of year. There’s a lot of good competition here and we’re finding a way to get through.” Masu.”
