Boys Basketball: Warriors Down Ottawa, Back in First Place

Boxscore

The SHS Boys Basketball team cruised past an undermanned Ottawa Pirates team 62-38 Friday at Musgrove Fieldhouse. The win, combined with conference losses from Dixon and Geneseo, means there is a four way tie atop the NCIC-Reagan standings as Sterling, Dixon, Geneseo and LaSalle-Peru all have three league losses.

Sterling (11-13, 5-3) led Ottawa 26-16 at halftime and then put the game away in the third quarter, outscoring the Pirates 21-5. Sterling’s lead would grow as large as 31 in the second half.

Sterling had three players reach double-figure scoring, with Jose Knox leading the way with 16, which included three three-pointers and a seven-for-seven effort from the free throw line. Alec Monaghan had 13 points, five rebounds and five blocked shots, to go along with a pair of two-hand slam dunks. Danny Ramirez tallied 11 off the bench, equaling his career-high, which was first set at Ottawa on January 5.

Sterling held Ottawa to 34% shooting and forced 21 Pirate turnovers.

Ottawa was playing the game without the services of leading scorer Kyle McClendon, who is trying to battle back from illness.

Sterling has now beaten Ottawa five straight times. The Warriors improved 8-3 at home this season.

Next Up: Sterling plays a pair of conference road games next week - @ Streator on Tuesday (2/9) and @ Morris Friday.