IHSA

The Dixon boys basketball team used a third-quarter surge to post a 60-56 win over Genoa-Kingston in a Big Northern Conference road game Friday night, while the Sterling boys saw a halftime lead disappear in a 74-63 loss to United Township in East Moline.

The Rockford Lutheran Crusaders hit five 3-pointers and built a 16-point lead in the first quarter Friday night, and after running the fast break repeatedly for the next three quarters, they cruised to a 91-67 Big Northern Conference win over the Rock Falls Rockets at Tabor Gym.

Polo was able to get going on both ends of the court after going into halftime tied with Ashton-Franklin Center on Friday night, and used a fourth-quarter surge to pull away for a 67-49 NUIC South win at home.

In a game full of runs, Newman put together more than Hall to come away with a 53-41 victory in a Three Rivers Conference East Division game Friday in Spring Valley.

Defending regional champion Freeport will host 11-school competition on Saturday

The Rock Falls girls basketball team went on the road Thursday night and defeated Freeport 58-52 in a nonconference game, while the Sterling girls stuck with Moline the entire way before falling 52-44 in a Western Big 6 game at Wharton Fieldhouse.

Trailing by seven points at halftime and down 10 early in the third quarter, the Newman Comets turned up their defensive pressure and turned to their transition game on offense to rally for a 43-40 win over Riverdale on Thursday evening in Sterling.

Playing without leading scorer Baylen Damhoff and senior Braden Dykstra on Thursday night in an NUIC South home game, Fulton played ... well, like it has the last month plus. The 61-41 win over Eastland marked the Steamers' 15th in a row, and kept them unbeaten in league play.

Morrison senior forward Shelby Veltrop broke the girls basketball program’s all-time scoring record last week, and now sits at 1,323 points in her career.

When the Dixon Duchesses play at their own pace, they’re tough to beat, especially at home. The Duchesses took the lead midway through the first quarter Wednesday night and never trailed again, defeating Big Northern Conference rival Rock Falls 41-24 at Lancaster Gym.

Lindee Poper became the fourth Polo girls basketball player to reach 1,000 career points, scoring 26 points to lead the Marcos to a 62-55 win over Forreston on Wednesday night in an NUIC South home game.

The Rock Falls boys basketball team missed a potential game-winning shot at the buzzer Tuesday night in a 58-57 loss to Rockford Christian in a Big Northern Conference game on the road.

The Sterling Golden Warriors couldn’t seem to miss for three quarters Tuesday night against the Rochelle Hubs. After a 34-point first quarter, they continued to score at will for the next two periods, then finished off a 90-55 nonconference win at Musgrove Fieldhouse.

Defensive pressure is what has made the Comets defense tough to face this season. Tuesday night, in a Three Rivers East battle with visiting Mendota, Newman forced 32 turnovers and allowed just 32 shots in a 66-46 win.

The Byron Tigers jumped out to a quick double-digit lead lead and held the Dixon Dukes scoreless fo the first 7:29 on their way to a 58-36 victory in their Big Northern Conference game Tuesday night at Lancaster Gym.