The St. Joseph-Ogden Lady Spartan girls’ basketball team has started off the new year on a tear, winning their first three games of 2018.

Going back a week to the first week of the new year, the Lady Spartans defeated the Olympia Spartans by a final score of 62-23 in an Illini Prairie Conference matchup in Stanford.  Bree Trimble led SJO with 19 points, while Sydney Kelso had her best game so far during her senior season, scoring 18 points, including four made shots from beyond the arc.  Hannah Dukeman added 14 for the Lady Spartans, who were 6-8 from the free throw line and took a 36-18 lead into the halftime locker room.  From that point on, the SJO defense took over, limiting Olympia to just five second half points.  Olympia (6-13) was led in scoring by Colby Burt with 8 points, while Kaiden Finck added 5 points.  Chevy Wilkins scored 4 points for the Spartans, who only attempted three free throws, making just one of those tries. 

This past Thursday night, the Spartans welcomed new conference member Prairie Central to town and promptly disposed of the Hawks, winning by a score of 47-17.  Peyton Crowe led SJO in scoring with 16 points, while Bree Trimble added 15.  Maclayne Taylor chipped in 6 points for the Lady Spartans, who were 9-14 from the foul line.  SJO took a 22-11 lead at the half, and once again, the stingy Spartan defense was once again evident, only allowing Prairie Central 6 points in the second half.  Elly Haberkorn led the Hawks (6-10) with 7 points, while Emma Kinkade and Olivia Weber each scored 3 points apiece. Prairie Central was 6-11 from the free throw line in the defeat.    

On Saturday afternoon, SJO went back on the road to take on Class 3A Mattoon, a team that they were supposed to play last season, but the game ended up being cancelled.  The Lady Spartans defeated the Green Wave 59-52 to remain perfect in the new year.  Bree Trimble once again led SJO in scoring with 20 points, while Peyton Crowe added 16 points.  Hannah Dukeman also reached double figures, scoring 10.  Maclayne Taylor scored 8 points for SJO, who were 10-14 from the free throw line in the game.  He Lady Spartans (14-5 overall, 3-0 Illini Prairie Conf.) led 31-25 at the half, and maintained that advantage to hold on for the victory. 

On tap for this week are a couple of conference games, beginning on Monday night when they welcome the Monticello Sages to town for Senior Night.  Then, on Thursday evening, SJO will travel to Pontiac to battle the Indians in another Illini Prairie Conference matchup.