The Mount Vernon Mustangs girls basketball team are on something of a roll, having one their second game in a row Saturday, Nov. 26 at Kirkwood as the team took on Cedar Rapids Kennedy, winning 56-30.
The game was part of Rivalry Saturday, where 16 different teams clashed.
Kennedy is a 5A squad led by Lindenwood University commit Kaliyah Sain, and Coach Nate Sanderson said the team “offered a stout early season test for us.”
“Both teams got off to a slow start in the first half. Kennedy scored the first four points of the game before Chloe Meester came off the bench to give us a spark. Meester finished with a career-high 14 points, including 10 in the opening half. She was aggressive attacking her defender, and did a great job running the floor. It was easily the best game of her young career,” said Sanderson.
The Mustangs were off to a 10-4 lead after the first quarter, but Kennedy’s pressure led to “multiple turnovers”, according to the coach.
Halftime found the two teams locked at 17 each.
It wasn’t until the third quarter, Sanderson said, that the team “really found our groove offensively.”
“Kennedy began to tire as the second half went on, and we were able to pull away in the fourth quarter,” said the coach.
The Mustangs closed the game on a 35-7 run, and kept Kennedy without a field goal in the fourth period.
“Our defense continues to improve as we held Kennedy under 25 percent shooting for the game, and forced 25 turnovers,” said Sanderson.
Lilly See, a senior, led the Mustangs in scoring with 15 points, along with nine rebounds, three assists, and two steals. All of See’s points came in the second half of the game. Sophomore Chloe Meester was just behind with 14 points, four rebounds, two blocks, and a steal.
Peyton Simpson returned after missing the season opener with an illness, and finished with seven points, six rebounds, four steals, and three assists.
“She was aggressive with her drive, and pulled down some key rebounds in traffic at the defensive end,” Sanderson said.
The team can next be caught in action Friday night at home, when the Mustangs take on Center Point-Urbana at 7:15 p.m.
1 2 3 4 T
Mount Vernon 10 7 21 18 56
Kennedy 4 13 12 1 30
Statistic Kennedy MV
Points 30 56
Field Goals 11/46 21/44
2 Point 8/28 18/35
3 Point 3/18 3/9
Free Throws 5/15 11/22
Assists 0 8
Rebounds 38 36
Offensive 18 12
Defensive 20 24
Blocks 3 4
Steals 7 19
Turnovers 25 18
Personal Fouls 19 11