Last season, Mount Vernon girls’ basketball rode its tenacious zone defense to the Class 3A state semifinals.
Now, the top-ranked Mustangs are shifting defenses several times a game. It certainly worked to confuse No. 7 Williamsburg on Friday, Dec. 13. Mount Vernon won, 64-42.
“For the three years I’ve been here, we’ve played 99 percent in zone,” Mount Vernon coach Nate Sanderson said. “Now, we’ve probably shown 4 or 5 looks in the first few games.
“One, we really have great athletes, and they make everything look good, and two, we’ve got the experience to make some adjustments.”
The Mustangs held a 31-24 lead at halftime. That’s when Sanderson got to work.
“Coach came into the locker room and said, we’ve got to change up our defense,” junior Taylor Franck said. “We’ve got to throw them off a little bit.”
Mount Vernon (5-1) came out in a modified 1-3-1 look, and proceeded to go on a 14-2 run. That boosted the lead to 19 points, 45-26.
All five starters scored during the run, led by Taylor Franck with three baskets.
“We like having the different defenses,” Franck said. “We all feel like it challenges everyone and makes them think a little bit harder throughout the game.”
Williamsburg (4-1) never made a serious run the rest of the game.
Sydney Huber led the offense with 16 points. Taylor Franck had 15 points, Savanna Wright had 11 and Courtney Franck had 10. Senior post Chloe Meester had seven points and eight rebounds.
Zoe Allen led the Raiders with 18 points.
On Tuesday, Dec. 10, Mount Vernon beat Benton Community 62-27.
The Mustangs led 19-3 after one quarter and did their best to limit the Bobcats 3-point shooting. Benton was 7-of21 from the arc, and only made three 2-point baskets. The Bobcats were forced into 20 turnovers.
Meester had 17 points and eight rebounds to lead the offense. Huber added 13 points.
This week will be a grind for the top-ranked Mustangs. Mount Vernon hosted defending state champion Solon on Tuesday, Dec. 17, and next travels to No. 10 West Delaware on Friday, Dec. 20. Then a matinee game Saturday, Dec. 21, at Illinois powerhouse Bolingbrook, in the Chicago suburbs.
“The good thing about our team; nobody is scared,” Taylor Franck said. “As the No. 1 team, sometimes you can be scared to lose, but we always want to play to win.”