Cold shooting plagued the Mendota Lady Trojans as they suffered a 42-32 loss to Byron in Big Northern Conference action on Dec. 4 at the MHS gym.

Mendota converted just 13 of 52 shots from the floor, including zero for seven from beyond the three-point arc, and made half of its 12 free throws.

“It’s pretty hard to win a varsity basketball game when you shoot like we did,” said Mendota coach John Hansen. “I’d guess that at least 30 of our misses were inside the paint. It was just not our night offensively.”

Byron didn’t really pull away until the fourth quarter. The Lady Tigers were on top by four (20-16) at halftime and by five (29-24) heading to the fourth. Mendota made several runs to get within two or four points, but couldn’t get over the hump.

Amellia Bromenschenkel led Mendota with 19 points and 15 rebounds. Alex Barrera added eight points, while Madison Bean hauled down 10 rebounds and Phalen Hessenberger had eight caroms. Bromenschenkel and Bean each had three steals, and Anna Bokus dished out three assists.

Mendota was without the services of starter Abby Phalen, who was sidelined with an ankle injury. “She has been our heart and soul defensively, and missing her definitely showed,” added Hansen.

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Mendota took control from the opening tip and cruised to a 67-36 victory over Putnam County on Dec. 7 at the MHS gym.

The Lady Trojans fired in 19 first-quarter points compared to seven for Putnam County, and the outcome was never in jeopardy. Mendota led 45-16 at the break and 60-32 after three.

“Regardless of the score, this was the best we’ve played in two years,” said Hansen. “The energy was exactly what we’ve been waiting for on defense all year.

“It was a great team effort on a night we played with Karl Soliman and Betty Barrera in our hearts and minds.”

Mendota had the three-ball working early as Larkin O’Donnell drained a pair and Bromenschenkel added one in the opening stanza. After that it was a whole lot of two-pointers.

Alex Barrera pumped in nine conventional baskets and three free throws to pace the Trojans with 21 points. Bromenschenkel was next with 20 points, followed by O’Donnell with nine and Phalen with seven. Phalen led the rebounding department with five, Barrera had five steals and Bromenschenkel picked up three assists.

Mendota shot a sizzling 62 percent from the floor on 29 of 47 field goals.

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Mendota stepped off the bus and showed who was boss as coasted to a 52-29 BNC triumph over Genoa-Kingston on Dec. 8 at Genoa.

The Lady Trojans (7-3, 2-1) poured in 18 first-quarter points, nine of them from Bromenschenkel, while Genoa-Kingston managed only two free throws. Mendota held a 24-8 halftime bulge.

“Our defensive intensity was high again,” commented Hansen.

Bromenschenkel finished with 23 points, while Barrera added 12 points, five rebounds and five steals. Hessenberger chipped in with 11 tallies and led the team with six rebounds.