All four Mercer County basketball teams were in action at North Central Missouri College’s Holiday Hoops on Monday. The teams from Mercer took on King City while the teams from Princeton locked up with Linn County. Both Mercer teams and the Princeton boys scored victories while the Princeton girls were handed a loss.
Mercer Girls 51
King City Girls 36
The Mercer girls continued their assault on the 2013-2014 season, moving to 6-0 on the year with a win over King City. Mercer jumped out to a 13-9 first-quarter lead and led 25-17 after two quarters of play. After both teams scored nine points in the third quarter, Mercer closed the game with a 17-10 run to pick up the victory.
Mercer was paced by a trio of freshmen on the night as Nicole Kost scored 23 points, Bailey Owens scored 17 points and Lindsay Wyatt finished with 11.
Mercer Boys 51
King City Boys 43
The Mercer boys trailed 12-6 after the first quarter and 26-20 at halftime, but rallied in the second half. Mercer surged ahead in the third quarter and took a one-point lead into the final frame. Mercer put King City away in the fourth quarter with a 16-9 run to even their season record at 3-3.
Mercer was led by Cash Hartley, who scored a team-high 15 points in the win.
Both Mercer teams will be back in action on Friday, traveling for a non-conference doubleheader with Northeast Nodaway at 6 p.m.
Linn County Girls 47
Princeton Girls 44
The Princeton girls led by a point after the first quarter, but pushed their advantage to 25-18 by halftime. In the third quarter, things fell apart for Princeton as Linn County battled back and took a 38-31 lead. Princeton was unable to overcome the poor quarter, falling by four points.
Princeton, now 4-4 on the season, was led by Paige Phillips, who scored 15 points in the loss, and Maddie Enright, who finished with 11.
Princeton Boys 62
Linn County Boys 49
The Princeton boys scored a solid victory, taking advantage early with a 15-6 run to start the game. Linn County kept the game close in the second quarter, but in the second half, Princeton slowly pulled away for the double-digit victory.
The Tigers were led by Brant Faulkner, who scored 20 points and Justin Hamilton pitched in with 17 points. The Tigers also got 12 points from Hunter Boxley, five from Drew Cox, four from Adam Milburn and three each from Jordan Adams and Jason McLain.
With the win, the Tigers moved to 5-2 on the season
The Princeton boys were back in action today at Holiday Hoops, taking on Tina-Avalon at noon. Both Princeton squads will get back to action on Tuesday, traveling to Polo for a Grand River Conference doubleheader, beginning at 6 p.m.
Area Standings
– Girls –
Mercer 6-0
Trenton 8-2
Princeton 4-4
Gilman City 4-4
Newtown-Harris 3-6
Grundy R-5 1-5
Tri-County 0-7

– Boys –
Princeton 5-2
Grundy R-5 4-2
Trenton 6-4
Mercer 3-3
Tri-County 4-5
Newtown-Harris 3-5
Gilman City 0-7