Mendota’s Alex Barrera makes a move to the basket while Oregon’s Jessica Hunt applies defensive pressure on Jan. 19 at the MHS gym. (Reporter photo)

Dixon doubled up Mendota after the first quarter and went on to post a 48-37 win over the Lady Trojans in a Big Northern Conference game on Jan. 16 at the MHS gym.

The Duchesses raced out to a 16-8 first-quarter advantage and took a 31-16 lead to intermission. A 12-0 run by Dixon allowed it to stretch the margin. The Lady Trojans were down by as many as 20 points before fighting back to within single digits in the second half.

“We came out strong, but then let Dixon get loose around the arc on a 12-0 run,” said MHS coach John Hansen. “It was another ‘what if’ game in that what if we didn’t get down before waking up.”

Alex Barrera led the scoring attack for Mendota with 16 points. Eight of them came in the fourth frame. Amellia Bromenschenkel chipped in with 12 tallies. Bromenschenkel and Phalen Hessenberger had eight rebounds apiece, while Abby Phalen handled six caroms.

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Mendota gave up a big lead to Oregon before one final push lifted it to a 45-37 victory in a league tussle on Jan. 19 at the MHS gym.

The Lady Trojans held a 22-9 lead in the first half and took a 22-12 cushion to halftime before things got interesting in the second half. Oregon closed the margin to four (30-26) heading to the final frame and then finally caught Mendota.

Oregon converted a conventional three-point play to start the fourth quarter and then a minute later, tied the game at 32-32 with 6:56 left. But the Lady Trojans responded with a 7-0 run sparked by Barrera to take back control of the game. Barrera scored on a nifty drive to the hoop and added three free throws. Phalen followed with a basket to make it 39-32 with 2:45 left.

Oregon finally broke a scoreless streak that went four and a half minutes, but it was too little, too late. Mendota knocked down six free throws over the final two minutes, four of them coming from Larkin O’Donnell, to seal the win.

“We jumped out of the gate and had the best first half of offense all year,” said Hansen. “We let them hang around, but we handled ourselves well after Oregon tied it.”

Barrera’s 18 points paced the Lady Trojans, followed by Bromenschenkel with 11 and Phalen with nine. Phalen and Bromenschenkel each had 10 rebounds, while Phalen swiped five steals.

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Mendota fell behind Rock Falls by double figures in the first quarter and never recovered in a 56-38 league loss on Jan. 20 at Rock Falls.

The Lady Trojans (10-10, 2-4) were down by 10 at the half and then Rock Falls turned up the heat in the third period and owned a commanding 48-26 lead at the conclusion.

“We had a slow start and an overall sluggish game,” noted Hansen.

Bromenschenkel led the scoring with 13 points and Phalen topped the rebounding chart with six.