MENDOTA – After playing in the final game of the Colmone Classic, Mendota and Stillman Valley hooked up again on Dec. 14 at the MHS gym and the result was the same – a 49-41 Cardinal victory over the Trojans.

Mendota fell behind 15-8 after the first eight-minute session and never recovered. Stillman Valley stretched the lead to 27-15 at intermission and held a 39-26 advantage heading to the fourth. The Trojans was able to slice the final margin to under double digits by outscoring Stillman Valley, 15-10, in the final frame.

Mendota placed two players in double-figure scoring, led by Krew Bond with 13 points. Izaiah Nanez dropped in two three-point field goals on his way to a 10-point night, while Isaac Guzman also had a pair of treys and chipped in with six points.

***

The Trojans played their first-ever game in the Three Rivers Conference and they held on for a 56-53 triumph over Bureau Valley on Dec. 17 at the MHS gym.

The game was tight from start to finish, with Mendota (2-6, 1-0) leading at the end of every quarter. The count was 16-15 after one period and 30-28 at intermission. Mendota held a 42-39 lead heading to the fourth frame.

Rafael Romero paced the Trojan attack with 19 points, while Bond knocked down a pair of three-pointers on his way to a 17-point output. Guzman and Nanez also fired in two three-pointers. Eight of Bureau Valley’s 21 field goals were from beyond the three-point arc.