Mount Vernon jumped to No. 2 in the Class 3A rankings last week after downing previous No. 2 Benton Community, 53-45, on Tuesday, Dec. 5, in Mount Vernon.
The Bobcats swapped spots with the Mustangs at No. 5.
“It is a step forward to what we want to become,” sophomore guard Courtney Franck said after the Benton game. “Every day we are moving forward and becoming better.”
The Bobcats, known for their perimeter shooting, did sink 10 3-pointers against the Mustangs, but didn’t have an answer inside for Mount Vernon posts Chloe Meester and Brynley Rassmussen.
“This year, the consistency has really been there for both of them,” Mount Vernon Coach Nate Sanderson said. “Very different styles of game, too. Bryn is traditional back-to-the-basket, and Chloe is more shoot-over-the-top, and more mobile.”
Both posts had 12 points.
“You don’t see a lot of teams with two big people,” Meester said. “I would say we are pretty much the exact same. One could be in foul trouble, like I was tonight, then Bryn came come in and does what she does.”
Mount Vernon got out to an 18-8 lead after one quarter. But the Bobcats cut that margin to five at halftime, 27-22, and Emma Townsley hit a driving layup to start the third quarter.
Meester scored two buckets on the block, then Mount Vernon hit 7-of-8 at the foul line. So even through McKenna Kramer hit two of her six 3-pointers, the Mustangs led by 12, 44-32, after three quarters.
Benton finished the game 10 of 29 from the arc. Mount Vernon did a good job of getting a hand in the face of their shooters.
“We just needed to talk, make sure close out fast enough, as quick as we can,” Franck said. “And then if there are screens, talk through it, and close out on the shooters.”
Mount Vernon (5-0) followed that big win up with a 58-52 conference win at Vinton-Shellsburg on Friday, Dec. 8, and a non-conference victory against MVC foe Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 70-42, on Saturday, Dec. 9.
Next up was a game at South Tama (0-5) on Tuesday, Dec. 12, and at Center Point-Urbana (1-4) on Friday, Dec. 15.
Mount Vernon sophomore Courtney Franck defends Benton Community senior Emma Townsley during their game Tuesday, Dec. 5, in Mount Vernon.