ONEIDA | The Indians overcame a slow start at OHS Gymnasium Friday for their fifth consecutive win, defeating Jellico 72-55 in their final regular season game before Christmas tournament play.
Hayden Brawner scored 17 points to lead three Oneida players in double figures, while Zeb Spradlin scored his second double-double of the season with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Mason Keeton had 14 points.
Jellico scored 21 points in the first quarter, and led by as much as nine points after a bucket with six seconds remaining in the opening period.
But the Indians clamped down in the second quarter. Jellico managed just a single field goal in the second eight-minute stanza, while Oneida went on a 20-3 run to build a 32-24 halftime lead.
The third quarter was played evenly, with Jellico managing to keep Oneida's lead in the single digits. But the Indians stretched the lead out in the fourth quarter, building as much as a 20-point advantage with just over two minutes remaining.
The Indians had an uncharacteristically poor night shooting the 3-point shot, finishing just 11% from behind the arch. But they made up for it inside the arch, shooting at a greater than 50% clip there.
The Indians had a narrow advantage on the boards, 39-34. In addition to Spradlin's 13 rebounds, Sam Bell had eight boards.
Oneida forced Jellico into 17 turnovers and recorded 10 steals as a team. Spradlin led the way with three of those steals.
The Indians will enter the South Fork Physical Therapy Christmas Classic having won five consecutive games.
ONEIDA (72): Brawner 17, Spradlin 16, M. Keeton 14, Gr. Keeton 8, Huling 7, Bell 4, Rector 4, Limburg 2.
JELLICO (55): Bolton 26, McNealy 19, Webb 6, Baird 2, Zecchini 2.
