Mendota’s sophomore boys’ basketball team jumped out to an early lead and maintained it throughout in a 51-40 triumph over Hall in Three Rivers Conference action on Jan. 25 at Spring Valley.

The Trojans opened a 17-7 margin after the first quarter as Owen Aughenbaugh lit up the net with a trio of three-pointers on his way to an 11-point outburst. Mendota maintained the 10-point bulge at halftime (32-22) and carried a 40-32 advantage to the fourth frame.

Aughenbaugh finished with a game-high 19 points for the Trojans, while Logan Dewey dropped in 13 markers and Cale Strouss added seven.

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The Trojans won their third straight game with 45-41 nail-biter over St. Bede in a conference contest on Jan. 28 at the MHS gym.

St. Bede jumped out to a 12-6 lead at the end of one and was able to hold the advantage at halftime and heading to the fourth. But the tide turned in the final eight minutes as Mendota outscored the visitors, 12-7, to pull out the victory. The Trojans scored hit nine of 14 free throws in the final frame.

Strouss pumped in three three-pointers on his way to a 15-point performance to pace the attack. Kaleb Kleckner chipped in with eight points, while Aughenbaugh and Dewey provided seven points apiece.

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Mendota hosted North Boone on Jan. 29 and the visitors came away with a 41-24 victory over the Trojans.

The game was tight for 24 minutes, with the Trojans only down 28-24 entering the fourth quarter, but Mendota went scoreless over the final eight minutes while North Boone totaled 13 fourth-quarter points.

Dewey’s seven points led Mendota and Aughenbaugh had five markers.