PLANO – The Mendota Trojans played four games and finished in 18th place in the 24-team Plano Christmas Classic held Dec. 26-30.
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PLANO – The Mendota Trojans played four games and finished in 18th place in the 24-team Plano Christmas Classic held Dec. 26-30.
Mendota began the tournament with a 44-35 loss to Morris on Dec. 26.
After trailing 25-16 at the half, the Trojans mounted a comeback in the third quarter and closed the gap down to two (31-29) heading to the fourth frame. But Mendota managed only six points over the final eight minutes while Morris put up 13 tallies.
Kaine Pizano-Olson topped the scoring column for Mendota with 11 points, while Ben Bokus supplied eight markers. Bokus had three steals and three assists, while Blake Stamberger and Preston O’Sadnick had five rebounds apiece.
Neither team shot the ball well, with the Trojans connecting on 32 percent of their field goal attempts and 57 percent of their free throws. Morris shot 38 percent from the floor and 43 percent from the stripe. The Redskins owned a 35-20 advantage on the glass and committed 18 turnovers, four more than Mendota.
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Mendota bounced back with a 59-54 triumph over Yorkville Christian in a second-round game on Dec. 27.
The game was tight throughout with Yorkville Christian holding a one-point lead after the first quarter and Mendota owning a one-point advantage at halftime. The Trojans led 44-42 heading to the fourth frame where they slowly pulled away for the win.
Bokus exploded for 21 points to lead the Trojans and Pizano-Olson contributed 18 tallies. Stamberger topped the team with seven rebounds and four blocked shots.
The Trojans had a good game shooting the basketball, hitting 51 percent from the floor and 75 percent from the charity stripe. Yorkville Christian made 48 percent of its field goal tries and 64 percent of its free tosses. Mendota led in rebounding, 23-17, and turned the ball over 13 times compared to 16 for its opponent.
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Mendota and Plano had to play an overtime session and the Trojans prevailed, 53-51, in a third-round game on Dec. 28.
The Reapers increased their 21-19 halftime lead to 37-29 after three quarters, but the Trojans stormed back in the fourth period and tied the contest to force overtime.
Pizano-Olson came off the bench to score 25 points for the Trojans. Bokus helped out with 15 markers, while Stamberger snatched 12 rebounds.
Plano had 23 more shots at the hoop, but only made four more field goals. The Trojans hit 44 percent of their field goal attempts and 61 percent of their free throws, while Plano shot 34 percent from the field and 75 percent from the line. Mendota held a 29-26 advantage on the glass and committed 13 turnovers, two more than Plano.
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The Trojans wrapped up the tournament with a 50-36 loss to Kaneland in the consolation championship game on Dec. 30.
Mendota fell behind early and could never catch up. The Trojan trailed 13-4 after one quarter and 27-17 at halftime.
Prusator hit four three-pointers on his way to a team-high 14 points. Stamberger added six points and five rebounds.
Mendota shot 37 percent from the field, 33 percent from the line and had 17 rebounds, while Kaneland hit 47 percent from the floor, 56 percent from the stripe and had 25 caroms. The Trojans (6-10) turned the ball over nine times, one more than Kaneland.
