Sun file photo
Eryn Jackson goes up for a layup in play during her junior year against a defender trying to steal the ball.
Every super hero origin story is unique. The Mount Vernon 2025 girls’ basketball team has one, too. No. 1 Mount Vernon opened Class 3A state tournament play Monday, March 3, against West Marshall (19-5). Their semifinal game would be 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 6, against either Cherokee (22- 3) or Estherville-Lincoln Central (21-3). The 3A championship is at 8 p.m., Friday, March 7.
Wherever they finish, it is a long way from where they started. In 2021, Mount Vernon girls’ basketball went 1-20. Rough days. Coach Nate Sanderson was hired to revive the program. He had success building programs at Louisa-Muscatine and Springville.
“I spent the year before (MV) as an assistant at North Linn, and I had a ton of fun there, but I missed being a head coach,” Sanderson said. “Mount Vernon had a great culture and a small-town feel. A great girls’ basketball league and a strong athletic culture. It was a great opportunity.”
Sanderson had some good athletes to start with. Of course, that included future Volleyball Player of the Year Chloe Meester. To that point, volleyball was still her primary concern.
And despite the Mustangs improving to 12-11 her freshman year, her future on the court was not set in stone. A lot of elite volleyball players end up playing that sport through the winter, too, with a club, instead of playing high school basketball.
“My freshman year was hard on me, mentally,” Meester said. “I wanted to quit after that year. But my friends all made me stay out.”
Meester was just a reserve and scored just seven points — total – as a freshman. As a sophomore, Meester averaged 9.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. As a team, Mount Vernon finished 16-8.
“My freshman year I wasn’t really big on basketball,” Meester said. “It became more important … not equal (to volleyball) … but basketball became more important to me.”
And Sanderson was happy to have her. “Her talent is unique,” he said. “She is one of the best volleyball players in the country. And she has shown it is possible to play both sports at a high level.” And talent? Sure. But also, a sense of bubbly optimism.
“She is a fun person to be around,” Sanderson said. “She’s a leader. Chloe is hugely instrumental in making our environment what it is. She makes it fun for everyone.”
And that has been key for Sanderson, who tries to make basketball practice the best part of the day for his players.
“We just want to continue to play basketball and have fun,” senior Eryn Jackson said. “Just be with our teammates. “Close friendships are what gets you the championship.”
During Meester’s sophomore year Mount Vernon also got its first look at Taylor and Courtney Franck, who as freshmen, showed they would be difference-makers.
Then Mount Vernon had a new face arrive. Sydney Huber joined the team as a junior after playing two years at Cedar Rapids Xavier. Her sophomore year with the Saints she averaged 9.1 points per game.
“I didn’t know much about Mount Vernon,” Huber said. “I knew Chloe through club volleyball, but that was all. I didn’t know anyone else. “But when I got here, everyone was so nice to me. It made it easy for me to fit in. It was a great program and culture. Everyone is a great teammate and everyone likes each other. Everyone wants one another to get better.
“That’s why we’ve been successful.” Huber averaged 12.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game as a junior.
“She was like the perfect piece for us,” Sanderson said. “Her skill set, her ability to shoot the ball. She’s another reliable ball handler. She solidified our press break. She’s an even better rebounder.
“A Swiss army knife that can do so many things for us. We wouldn’t be where we are without all the things she’s brought to the table.”
And just as important as her on-court skills? “She just loves basketball so much,” Sanderson said. “She loves to practice. She loves to shoot. She does it year-round. It is fun to coach someone that loves it that much.
“The example she’s set, her work in the offseason … she’s been a great addition to the program.”
The Franck twins moved into full-time starting roles as sophomores, as Meester and Huber led the way offensively. (Of course, Peyton Simpson and Brynlee Rassmussen had big roles as seniors.) Mount Vernon finished 22-4 and reached the state tournament for the first time since 2016. They lost in the 3A semifinals to ELC.
That set up this season. A No. 1 ranking and a 22-1 record, with a 22-game winning streak. The Franck twins have gone from defensive specialists to all-around terrors.
“Courtney and Taylor have spent a ton of time playing and getting better,” Sanderson said . “ We are averaging 4 or 5 less turnovers than last year. They both improved their perimeter shooting. They play faster. They bring so many different things to the table.”
And the piece de resistance was the addition of freshman Savanna Wright.
“I say often about Savvy, we knew she was going to be good, but we didn’t know she’d be this good, this early,” Sanderson said. “She is a lot of fun to be around and fit right in from day one.”
The Avengers have assembled. And now they have their final week playing together. The week before that week, Sanderson took them to practice at Shoot 360 in Cedar Rapids, Carver-Hawkeye Arena, and Cornell College. They spent one day just playing laser tag at Dragon’s Lair Family Adventure Center in Cedar Rapids and got ice cream after.
“There are nine days off in 3A,” Sanderson said, referring to the time between qualifying for state, and playing at state. “We do some things out of the ordinary and try to mix it up a little bit.”
At Wells Fargo Arena, Mount Vernon is top-ranked in 3A, and the top seed. The Mustangs are the favorites, much like they were this fall at the 3A volleyball tournament (which the Mustangs won).
‘“Obviously there is some pressure on us,” Huber said. “But if we handle it the right way, it’s good. We’re the team that everyone wants to be. We just have to play like we know we can.”