Mendota’s Blake Stamberger has to use his left hand during a shot as Dixon’s Beau Bailey applies defense on Jan. 26 at the MHS gym. (Reporter photo)

Mendota finally shook free from North Boone in the second half and went on to post a 71-50 triumph in a Big Northern Conference varsity boys’ basketball game on Jan. 23 at Poplar Grove.

The Trojans owned an 18-13 lead after the opening quarter, but North Boone managed to close the gap down to one (31-30) at the half. The game remained tight through three quarters (52-46) before Mendota went on a 19-4 tear in the fourth frame to win handily.

All five Trojan starters hit double figures in scoring, led by Kaine Pizano-Olson with 17 points. Ben Bokus was next with 15 points, followed by Blake Stamberger with 13, and Bryson Prusator and Preston O’Sadnick with 11 apiece. Mendota had three double-digit rebounders topped by O’Sadnick with 15, while Bokus and Stamberger each had 12.

The Trojans connected on 44 percent of their field goal attempts, 60 percent of their free throws and had 48 rebounds, while North Boone shot 28 percent from the floor, 75 percent from the line and had 26 boards.

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Mendota couldn’t keep pace with Dixon and dropped a 54-32 decision to the Dukes in BNC play on Jan. 26 at the MHS gym.

Dixon, which led by as many as seven points in the first half, owned a 23-18 halftime lead, and then ramped up its play in the third quarter. The Dukes opened the second half with six straight points to go up by double digits (29-18).

Prusator, who was held scoreless in the first half, finally broke into the scoring column with back-to-back three-pointers to make it a five-point margin again with 4:15 to go in the quarter, but Mendota went the next four minutes without scoring. During that stretch, Dixon reeled off 13 straight points to put the game on ice.

The Trojans (8-15, 2-4) managed just four points in the fourth period.

O’Sadnick and Stamberger each had eight points to pace the Trojans in scoring.