The Mount Vernon boys basketball team improved to 6-1 Tuesday, Dec. 20, with a home win over the Independence Mustangs.
The home team won by a score of 63-51.
Mount Vernon went into the half with a 29-17 lead, and went on to outscore the visiting team 21-7 in the third to assume a 50-24 lead heading into the fourth period.
The deficit seemed to light a fire under Independence, who topped the home team 27-13 in the fourth quarter. It was not enough of a comeback, and the Mount Vernon lead held until the end.
Joey Rhomberg led the Mount Vernon offense with 16 points, as well as leading in rebounds with 11.
Jackson Kutcher contributed 12 points and nine assists.
Zach Fall and Brady Erickson also scored in the double digits, providing 11 and 10 points, respectively. Fall pulled in seven rebounds and Erickson chipped in with five. Both players had three steals in the contest.
“I’m proud of our guys’ efforts for the first three quarters. They played well defensively,” said Mustangs head coach Derek Roberts.
“Despite the adversity and illnesses we’ve been battling, we’re okay heading into break at 6-1, but hungry to improve and strive for consistency the next two weeks in practice prior to a challenging January schedule,” he said.
“Joey Rhomberg displayed toughness on the boards, Jackson Kutcher didn’t shoot great, but had an excellent floor game distributing the ball, and Zach Fall was super solid for us on both ends.
“Jensen, Brady and Evan also did some really good things. Overall, it was a good team effort,” said Roberts.

Gallery • 2 Photos

Trent Bowman

Mount Vernon’s Caleb Dausener (No. 14) fires off a shot in play at home last week.