Warriors Fall to Mendota in Regional Opener

Boxscore

Daily Gazette Article

The SHS Boys’ Basketball team saw its season come to an end with a 63-60 loss to Mendota in the quarterfinals of the Rock Falls 3A Regional Monday.

SHS (11-18) jumped out quickly, taking an 11-4 lead on the strength of three pointers from Sterling Thornton, Zack Everett and Zach Rehmert.  Mendota (17-12) responded in a big way however.  The Trojans scored 22 of the games next 25 points to take a 26-14 second quarter lead.

Sterling trailed 33-19 at half-time and 50-31 in the third quarter before beginning a rally.  A combination of pressure defense creating turnovers and Mendota missing numerous free throws allowed SHS to make it a game late.  A three from Alex Soriano, the Warriors ninth of the game, pulled SHS within four (61-57), but the Warriors would not record another field goal (a Rehmert layup) until less than five seconds remained.

Rehmert paced Sterling with 15 points.  Thornton added 11, while Soriano and Cornell Hartz tallied eight each. Everett recorded a team-high eight rebounds.