Polo 59, Forreston 54: Another win, another night with numerous heroes.

That’s becoming the theme for the Polo boys basketball team as the Marcos needed every player’s best effort in their 59-54 win over Forreston.

“Every guy on this team can step up and take over a game,” Polo’s Grifin Buck said. “That’s what’s different about this year.

“Last year, we don’t win this game.”

Polo needed big efforts from multiple players, as the Marcos and Cardinals engaged in a seesaw affair.

“I don’t know if I can give you the exact details of every story line,” Polo coach Matt Messer said. “I’m still trying to remember exactly what happened in the final four minutes of that one.”

Connor Lincoln would score all eight of his points, including two 3-pointers, in the final quarter.

“It was the same thing we said after the South Beloit game,” Messer said. “Connor will struggle, but when it’s a big game, and time for a big shot, he delivers.”

The win inched the Class 1A 11th-ranked Marcos one step closer to the NUIC-East title.

“I’ve said it before, but I just can’t say enough about the mental toughness of this team,” Messer said. “We played in a summer tournament in LaCrosse against some elite teams, and ever since then, this team believes it’s in control of every game.”

- Scott Holland, GateHouse News Service