Mount Vernon closed the regular season with a 64-38 non-conference win Tuesday, Feb. 13, at Washington.
Joe Briesemeister led the scoring with a career-high 28 points, followed by Joey Rhomberg with 12. Kellen Haverback had 10 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
“Joe was dominant inside and our guys made it a point of emphasis to feed him,” Mount Vernon Coach Derek Roberts said.
The Mustangs played without senior starters Jackson Kutcher and Cooper Parks, who were both out sick.
MV was up 30-26 at half. “We came out with some defensive intensity and ultimately allowed just 12 points to Washington in the second half,” Roberts said.
Mount Vernon (14-8) was scheduled to host Central DeWitt (9-13) in a Class 3A substate quarterfinal on Monday, Feb. 19.
The Mustangs are seeded third in 3A Substate 4. Marion is the top seed, Davenport Assumption is second, Maquoketa is fourth, and Cedar Rapids Xavier is fifth.
Win Monday, and Mount Vernon plays Thursday, Feb. 22, likely traveling to Assumption. The substate final is Monday, Feb. 26.
“You always have to beat a few good teams to go anywhere,” Roberts said.
Mustangs 64, Demons 38
MOUNT VERNON (64) – Joe Briesemeister 11-18 6-11 28, Joey Rhomberg 5-8 2-2 12, Kellen Haverback 5-10 0-2 10, Seth Rushford 2-7 0-0 6, Oliver Heinrichs 1-2 1-2 3, Atticus Rood 1-4 0-0 2, Cole Thurn 1-2 0-0 2, Stratton Ellyson 0-0 1-2 1, Gabe Fairchild 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 26-54 10-19 64.
WASHINGTON (38) – Kael Williams 1-3 0-0 2, Drew Conrad 3-10 0-1 6, Roman Roth 3-7 0-0 9, Logan McDole 3-8 0-0 6, Rajan Roth 2-4 0-0 4, Luke Schiebel 0-0 0-0 0, Andrew Shepherd 0-1 2-2 2, Nic Stone 2-6 0-0 5, Seth Shepherd 0-2 0-0 0, Oliver Hobscheidt 0-0 0-2 0, Noah Greiner 1-6 0-0 3, Aidan Schmitz 0-1 1-2 1. Totals 15-48 3-7 38.
Mount Vernon 12 18 27 7 – 64
Washington 12 14 7 5 – 38
3-point goals – MV 2-9 (Rhomberg 0-1, Haverback 0-3, Rushford 2-4, Fairchild 0-1), Washington 5-26 (Conrad 0-3, Ro.Roth 3-5, McDole 0-4, A.Shepherd 0-1, Stone 1-5, S.Shepherd 0-2, Greiner 1-5). Rebounds – MV 36 (Haverback 10), Washington 19 (Williams 5). Assists – MV 15 (Haverback 7), Washington 10 (McDole 4). Turnovers – MV 12, Washington 14. Total fouls – MV 11, Washington 16.