Area roundup: Sterling, Dixon boys basketball teams cruise to tournament victories

The Sterling boys basketball team jumped out to a big lead early and cruised to a 56-26 win over host Sycamore at the Strombom Holiday Tournament on Friday afternoon.

Andre Klaver had 18 points to pace the Golden Warriors, with JP Schilling scoring 13 and Kyle Billings hitting three 3-pointers and finishing with 11 points. Lucas Austin added nine points for Sterling, which led 22-7 after the opening quarter, 34-12 at halftime and 47-24 through three periods.

Lucas Winburn’s nine points led the Spartans, and Tyler York added eight.

Dixon 53, IVC 35: The Dukes led 16-5 after one quarter and never looked back in a win at the Dean Riley “Shootin’ the Rock” Tournament in Ottawa.

Jacob Gaither’s 22 points led Dixon (2-1), while Sky Goral and Karson Glessner both scored seven points, and Austin Hicks hit a pair of 3-pointers for six points. The Dukes led 33-14 at halftime and 47-27 through three quarters.

Nick Rainey led the Grey Ghosts with 18 points.

United Township 70, Rock Falls 48: The Rockets were outscored 19-8 in the second quarter and 20-12 in the third in a loss at the Geneseo Thanksgiving Shootout.

Booker Cross scored 17 points, and Gavin Sands added 12 for Rock Falls. Chevy Bates chipped in seven points.

De’Vontay Wright had 18 points, and Mahki Johnson scored 17 for the Panthers.

Rockford Christian 79, Morrison 61: The Mustangs fell behind 20-9 after one quarter and couldn’t catch back up in an Oregon Thanksgiving Tournament loss.

Beau Brackemeyer had 16 points to lead Morrison, while Trey Strating and Mason Dykstra both scored 13. Devin Mouw hit two 3-pointers and finished with nine points, and Alex Anderson added eight for Morrison, which was outscored only 41-40 in the second and third quarters, then 18-12 in the fourth.

Kevion Cummings poured in 29 points for the Royal Lions, and Christian Cummings chipped in 18 points.

Polo 61, LaMoille 23: The Marcos outscored the Lions 21-6 in the first quarter, then put away an AFC Thanskgiving Tournament win with a 20-4 scoring edge in the third period.

Kahlil Sankey scored 16 points, Tyler Merdian finished with 14, and Carson Jones added 12 for Polo (1-2), which will play AFC for fifth place Saturday.

Joe Quest’s seven points paced LaMoille.

AFC 61, Leland 37: The Raiders picked up their first win of the season at their own tournament, using a 25-6 second-quarter run to pull away from a 21-13 lead after the opening quarter.

Lane Koning led a balanced AFC attack with 17 points, with Jordan Harris scoring 14, Carson Rueff adding 13, and Mason Munroe chipping in 12. The Raiders (1-2) will play Polo for fifth place Saturday.

Ian Cameron’s 10 points paced Leland, and Gunnar Nelson added eight.

Fulton 54, Monmouth-Roseville 41: The Steamers improved to 3-0 on the season and advanced to Saturday’s championship game at the 10 & 32 Tip-Off Classic in Orion with a win over the Titans.

Baylen Damhoff and Ethan Price both had 13 points to pace Fulton, with Damhoff hitting three 3-pointers. Ian Wiebenga added 10 points, and Jacob Jones scored nine for the Steamers, who outscored Mon-Rose 27-11 in the second and third quarters.

Connor Thompson had 11 points, and Charlie Fletcher finished with nine for the Titans.

Ridgewood 65, Erie-Prophetstown 62: The Panthers outscored Ridgewood 26-16 in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough to erase a 32-18 halftime deficit in a loss at the Orion tournament.

Kolby Franks poured in 29 points, and Connor Sibley finished with 14 for E-P, with both players hitting three 3-pointers. Caleb Naftzger chipped in 10 points.

Josh Maher scored 24 points to lead Ridgewood.

Bureau Valley 60, Stark County 44: The Storm improved to 4-0 on the season with another win at the Wally Keller Invitational at Wethersfield High School in Kewanee.

Boys bowling

Oregon 9th in Rockford: The Hawks rolled a 5,116 to place ninth at the NIBPA Preseason Tournament at Don Carter Lanes, a meet comprised of teams from the NIC-10 and NIBC conferences.

Isaac Kaltenbrun led Oregon with a 1,139 six-game series, highlighted by a 228 second game, to finish 21st overall. Bryan Immel rolled a 1,042 series, with a 208 final game, to place 33rd. Brandon Rowe was 35th with a 1,034 series that he opened with a 213 game. Jackson Werren was 43rd overall with a 952 game that included a 235 third game, and Stylar Klapp was 44th with a 949; he bowled a 206 third game.

The Hawks were the highest-placing NIBC team at the event.