In a battle of the two teams ranked atop the early season Class 1A Associated Press rankings, No. 2 Pecatonica dominated early and often to beat No. 1 Eastland 67-36 for the Eastland Holiday Tournament title Thursday night.

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Sterling faces off against Alleman Friday, Dec. 20, 2024 at home in boys basketball. Sterling won 68-51.

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Eastland faces off against Pecatonica for the title in the Eastland Shootout basketball tournament Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. Pecatonica won 67-36. Photos by Erin Henze - Shaw Local News Network

Sherrard rallied from an 11-point deficit midway through the fourth quarter to run its winning streak to six straight with a 46-42 victory over the Sterling Golden Warriors on Monday night at Musgrove Fieldhouse.

Sterling hopes it will help in the end after playing the top three teams in the Western Big 6 Conference after a loss to No. 3 Quincy at home Friday night. Quincy's Keshaun Thomas had a team-record 25 rebounds, breaking the late Tom Lepper's mark.

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The Sterling Warriors take on the Quincy Blue Devils in boys basketball on Friday, December 13, 2024 at Homer Musgrove Fieldhouse in Sterling.

Rock Falls and La Salle-Peru both scored victories Wednesday at the Colmone Classic.

Fourth-ranked Eastland improved to 4-0 after a 55-42 win over Newman on Tuesday. The Cougars used a 16-5 run in the third quarter to take control.

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Newman and Eastland clash Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024 on the court at Eastland High School. Eastland took the game 55-42.