Hall takes down Mendota

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SPRING VALLEY — Ben Miklavcic made the most of his last game at Red Devil Gymnasium, pouring in 31 points to help the Red Devils top NCIC Lincoln foe Mendota 59-55 at Senior Night for Hall, a game Hall never trailed in.

Miklavic was dead-on all evening for Hall (15-1, 2-7), finishing with 12 field goals, including six three-pointers. Miklavic was also a force on the defensive end, registering four blocked shots in the game.

“I just came out with a lot of emotion tonight,” said Miklavcic. “It’s Senior Night, I just wanted to come out and do the best I could, try and win at all cost tonight.”

“He was on fire like (Davidson College standout) Stephon Curry the other night. He was unconscious from everywhere,” said Mendota coach Jan Thompson of Miklavcic. “He was the reason why they won that game tonight.”

Miklavic scored 11 points in the first frame, including three treys, to help the Red Devils jump out to an early 10 point, 19-9 advantage.

Mendota clawed back at the beginning of the second, scoring the first three baskets of the quarter to pull within four, 19-15. Later in the quarter, the Trojans were able to cut the Hall lead to a single point, 25-24, on a Dillon Pakenham three with 1:12 left until intermission.

Miklavcic sent the Red Devils into the locker room on a high note, banking in a trey from the top right of the key as time expired in the half to give Hall a 28-24 advantage going into the break.

Hall extended their lead in the third quarter, paced by six points in the frame from Miklavcic.

Mendota entered the fourth down seven, 43-36, and managed to cut the Hall advantage to three, 50-47, on a pair of free-throws from Jordan Fritz with just under two minutes to go in regulation.

Wes Herrmann quickly answered for the Red Devils with a pair of his own from the foul line with 1:30 left to play, and Noel Santiago added another two from the charity stripe to put Hall up seven, 54-47 with 43 seconds left.

Nick Ganz kept things interesting for the Trojans, as he scored two quick baskets sandwiched around another pair of free throws from Herrmann, but clutch free shooting from Hall’s Santiago and fellow senior Brian Nolasco iced things out for the Red Devils.

While Hall coach Mike Filippini was extremely impressed with Miklavcic’s offensive output, he credited the Hall defensive effort against Mendota center  Brandon Smith with winning the game for the Red Devils.

“The difference in the game was Adam Doll, Rob Booker and Billy Gaull did a hell of a job on Smith,” said Filippini. “They probably combined for four total points, but they held Smith to nine. The last time (Mendota’s 61-52 win over Hall on Jan. 23) he had 31.”

“I thought they frustrated him, and I think those kids deserved to be mentioned because they did a hell of a job, and without them we wouldn’t of won.”

Senior guard Noel Santiago joined Miklavic in double digits, finishing with 10, including four clutch free-throws late.

Ganz led Mendota with 15 points, Pakenham was second in scoring for the Trojans with 11, including three shots from behind the arc.