Trojans fall short in 4 straight games

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Posted 1/26/22

Nineteen days after their last game, the Mendota Trojans suited up and hit the hardwood against Bureau Valley on Jan. 18 at Manlius.

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Trojans fall short in 4 straight games

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Nineteen days after their last game, the Mendota Trojans suited up and hit the hardwood against Bureau Valley on Jan. 18 at Manlius. The long layoff showed as the Trojans dropped a 59-46 decision to the Storm in a Three Rivers Conference battle.

Mendota, which had beaten Bureau Valley in December, managed just one field goal and three free throws in the opening stanza, and fell behind 15-5 at the conclusion of the quarter. The Trojans heated up in the second period with 15 points and were able to slice the deficit to single digits (27-20) at intermission. But Bureau Valley pumped in 18 points in the third quarter, compared to 10 for the Trojans, to take a comfortable lead to the final frame.

Mendota placed three players in double figure scoring, led by Krew Bond with 13 points. Ted Landgraf was next with 11 markers and Ryne Strouss contributed 10 tallies. Bureau Valley had a balanced scoring attack with four of the five starters hitting double digits. The Storm knocked down eight shots from three-point range.

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Hot-shooting Kewanee dealt the Trojans a 64-50 loss in a conference match-up on Jan. 21 at Kewanee. Mendota dropped to 1-3 in league play.

The Boilers raced out to a 19-11 lead after the first period. Mendota’s offense heated up in the second quarter as it fired in four three-pointers, including three by Bond, but Kewanee matched the Trojans with four trifectas of its own to take a 39-27 lead to the locker room. The Boilers put the game away in the third frame when it outscored Mendota, 22-10.

Bond scored 30 of the Trojans’ 50 points and he ended with five field goals from three-point land. Isaiah Nanez added seven markers. Kewanee finished up with nine three-pointers.

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Mendota met up with former Big Northern foe Rock Falls and the Rockets came away with a 53-36 triumph on Jan. 22 at Rock Falls.

It was a slow start for both teams as Rock Falls owned a 5-3 lead after the first quarter. Bond pumped in 10 second-quarter points and helped the Trojans to a 17-14 halftime lead, but Rock Falls came out of the locker room with a vengeance and outscored Mendota, 37-19, in the second half to claim the win.

Bond paced the Trojans with 21 points, while Nanez and Isaac Guzman had five points apiece.

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Earlville rolled over Mendota, 52-33, on Jan. 24 at the MHS gym. The Trojans dropped to 3-14 on the season.

The Red Raiders jumped out to a 13-7 lead after the first quarter and carried a 20-12 advantage to intermission. The difference came in the third period when Earlville outscored the Trojans, 19-10, to move in front 39-22 with just eight minutes left to play.

Bond topped Trojan scorers with 16 points and Nanez supplied 11 tallies. Earlville placed three players in double figures, led by Ryan Browder with 16 points. He connected on four three-pointers.