Slow starts have plagued the Mendota Trojans on several occasions this season, and it did again against Ottawa Marquette.
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Putnam County’s Kaleb Wright contests the shot of Mendota’s Ben Bokus on Jan. 13 at the MHS gym. (Reporter photo)
Slow starts have plagued the Mendota Trojans on several occasions this season, and it did again against Ottawa Marquette.
The Trojans found themselves down by double figures after the first quarter and they never recovered in absorbing a 57-41 loss to the Crusaders in a nonconference game on Jan. 9 at Ottawa.
Mendota scored in single digits in three of the four quarters, including the opening stanza when it found itself down, 19-9. Marquette owned a 32-17 halftime lead and a 43-26 margin heading to the fourth.
Kaine Pizano-Olson’s 15 points paced the Trojans, while Ben Bokus added 13 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Preston O’Sadnick contributed six points and had seven boards. Blake Stamberger supplied five assists.
Mendota connected on 38 percent of its field goal attempts, 50 percent of its free throws and had 27 rebounds, while Marquette shot 42 percent from the floor, 60 percent from the stripe and also had 27 boards. The Trojans had 17 turnovers, 10 more than Marquette.
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Mendota tasted victory for the first time in the new year with a 59-44 decision over Putnam County in a nonconference game on Jan. 13 at the MHS gym.
The Trojans finally had a fast start to a game when they zoomed out to a 25-9 lead in the first half. Putnam County was able to cut into the Mendota margin and made it a 29-17 game at intermission.
Mendota scored 11 of the first 14 points of the second half and doubled up the cushion, 40-20. Kaine Pizano-Olson tallied the last seven points of the period for the Trojans.
Bokus led three Mendota players in double figures with 17 points. Pizano-Olson was next with 14 markers and Stamberger added 10. Stamberger led the team with 12 rebounds.
The Trojans shot 48 percent from the floor and 27 percent from the charity stripe, while Putnam County connected on 34 percent of its field goals and 53 percent of its free tosses. Mendota (7-12) owned a 28-26 rebounding edge and committed 12 turnovers compared to 21 for PC.
