Boys Basketball: Warriors Place 3rd at SV Thanksgiving Classic

Rock Falls Boxscore

The SHS Boys’ Basketball team fell short in its effort to repeat as champions of the Sauk Valley Thanksgiving Classic. The Golden Warriors had to settle for third place with a record of 3-2 after a pair of heartbreaking overtime losses to Princeton and Rock Falls. Rock Falls won the tournament with a perfect 5-0 record.

On Saturday in the tournament’s final game in front of a huge crowd at Homer B. Musgrove Fieldhouse, the Golden Warriors dropped a 63-60 double-overtime decision to Rock Falls.

It was a back and forth game, with Sterling leading by as many as 11 in the first half, and Rock Falls coming back to lead by as many as seven in the second. Rock Falls led 48-41 with just over 2-minutes to play when the Golden Warriors went on a 7-0 run to tie the game and force overtime. Chris Fritsch, Alejandro Rivera and Patrick Petrosky all scored baskets during the run.

In the first overtime, Rock Falls took a 56-54 lead on a basket by Jace Anderson with just under 10 seconds to go. Sterling raced back down the floor and scored on a layup from Fritch off an assist from Jose Knox to tie the game at 56 and force the second extra session.

In overtime number two, Sterling took a 60-58 lead with just under 2:30 to play, and went scoreless the rest of the way.

Petrosky and Fritsch both recorded career highs by scoring 23 and 20 points respectively to lead the Golden Warrior attack.

On the sophomore level, Sterling cruised to the tournament championship by winning all five games by at least 15 points.

Next Up: The Golden Warriors open NIB-12 West play Friday (12/2) at 7:30 p.m. against Geneseo at Musgrove Fieldhouse.