SPRING VALLEY – Mendota ended with a 2-2 record and a fourth-place finish in the 12-team Hall Colmone Classic held Dec. 2-9 at Spring Valley.

The Trojans won their pool with a 62-47 win over Stillman Valley on Dec. 6.

After playing to a 14-all tie at the conclusion of one period, Mendota took control in the second quarter by putting up 21 points compared to 10 for Stillman Valley. Izaiah Nanez keyed the second-quarter uprising with 13 points, including knocking down a pair of three-pointers.

Nanez finished with a game-high 23 points. Aden Tillman also had a hot hand from three-point land, connecting on five treys on his way to a 17-point showing. Cameron Kelly chipped in with eight markers.

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The Trojans squared off with Rock Falls in the semifinal-round and the Rockets claimed a 64-47 victory on Dec. 8.

A fast start by the Rockets keyed their win as they zoomed out to a 24-8 lead after the opening stanza. Mendota doubled its scoring total in the second quarter, but still trailed 37-24 at the break. Rock Falls owned a 50-32 advantage after three periods.

Three Trojans hit double figures in scoring, led by Nanez with 15 points. Tillman was next with 11 points and Braiden Freeman added 10 tallies.

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Another quick start by the opposition, this time LaSalle-Peru, doomed the Trojans in an 88-47 setback in the third-place game on Dec. 9.

The Cavaliers scorched the net from the outset, pouring in five three-pointers on their way to a 27-12 lead after the first quarter. L-P continued its onslaught in the second stanza with five more trifectas to take an insurmountable 49-20 halftime advantage, and then it connected on six shots from long range in putting up 25 points in the third quarter.

For the game, the Cavaliers pumped in 18 three-pointers and 15 conventional baskets. Jack Jereb drilled eight treys and led L-P with 24 points. Josh Senica was next with 23 tallies for the Cavaliers.

Tillman paced the Trojans (4-5) with 17 points on five three-pointers, while Nanez had 11 points.

Final day results: 1^st place – Fieldcrest 62, Rock Falls 42; 3^rd place – LaSalle-Peru 88, Mendota 47; 5^th place – Princeton 52, Pontiac 43; 7^th place – Hall 73, Marquette 71; 9^th place – Bureau Valley 64, St. Bede 44; 11^th place – Putnam County 51, Stillman Valley 48

All-tournament team: Corban Chhim, Bureau Valley; Connor Reichmen, Fieldcrest; Izaiah Nanez, Mendota; Alec Novotney, Marquette; Gavin Sands, Rock Falls; Josh Senica, LaSalle-Peru; Riley Weber, Pontiac; Noah LaPorte, Princeton; Brady Ruestman, Fieldcrest; Kuitim Heald, Rock Falls; MVP – Brady Ruestman, Fieldcrest.