MENDOTA – A game that Mendota looked like it had under control came down to a nail-biting conclusion, but the Trojans managed to prevail, 52-49, over Genoa-Kingston in a Big Northern Conference tussle on Dec. 5 at the MHS gym.

The Trojans held a 12-5 lead after the first period and then scored the first two baskets of the second quarter to go on top by double digits (16-5). Mendota owned a 20-12 halftime advantage.

The lead continued to grow for the Trojans when they emerged from intermission and scored seven consecutive points to open the second half to grab a comfortable 27-12 lead. But Genoa-Kingston outscored Mendota, 19-10, over the remainder of the third frame to make it a 37-31 contest with one quarter left to play.

Mendota looked like it was going to pull away on several occasions in the fourth, but the Cogs answered each time and eventually closed the gap down to just one point, 48-47, with 2:36 left. The scored remained that way until Mendota’s Blake Stamberger was fouled on a rebound and sank two free throws to make it 50-47 with 53 seconds to go.

Genoa-Kingston’s Nate Nesler tried to tie the game with a three-point attempt with 10 seconds left, but it misfired and Stamberger grabbed the rebound. He was immediately fouled and converted one of two free tosses to make it 51-47. G-K’s Griffin Hansen made a layup with 3.3 left, and then the Cogs fouled Ben Bokus and he made one of two free throws with 1.4 ticks to seal the win.

Bryson Prusator led the Trojan scoring attack with 15 points on five of seven shooting from three-point range. Ethan Ruiz added 10 points and Bokus dropped in nine tallies. Stamberger topped the team with nine rebounds, while Bokus had six caroms and four assists.

The Trojans (3-4, 1-1) made 49 percent of their field goal attempts, 58 percent of their free throws and had 24 rebounds, while G-K shot 31 percent from the floor, 88 percent from the line and had 25 boards. Mendota committed 15 turnovers, five more than the Cogs.