For the second time this season, Windsor faced Sterling in a Class 4A Tri-Valley Conference game that is also a rematch of the Class 4A state title game a year ago.

The Wizards (7-2 Tri-Valley, 12-5 overall) were far more competitive this time than they were the first time they faced the defending state champion Tigers, losing 56-50 at Reg Figal Gymnasium on Tuesday.

“We definitely played them better,” Wizards assistant coach Doug Hammond said. “We made a good run in the first quarter and went up. Then, Xavier Talton took over. He's just a great player.”

Talton, Sterling's senior point guard and a University of Colorado signee, scored 10 of 11 points in the first quarter for the unbeaten Tigers (8-0, 15-0).

Still, Windsor maintained contact, having a chance to tie the game, down by 3 points in the final seconds.

Senior Aaron Schmidt led the Wizards with 23 points and was the only Wizard in double figures.

Wizards junior forward Alex Baldwin couldn't convert a 3 that could have sent the game in overtime.

SHS 11 10 18 17 — 56

WHS 10 6 16 18 — 50

WHS — Tyson Merkey 0 1-2 1, Mitch Spykstra 1 2-4 4, Drew Martin 1 1-2 4, Aaron Schmidt 9 1-2 23, Alex Baldwin 2 3-6 7, Dylan Ochsner 1 0-0 3, Lucas Watts 3 2-2 8, Dalton Walker 0 0-0 0, Adam Ross 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 10-18 50.

3-point field goals — WHS 6 (Martin, Schmidt 4, Ochsner).

Total fouls — WHS 17.