Nicole McDermott fuels Cascade to RVC North title

MONTICELLO - Mike Sconsa called Nicole McDermott 'one of the best rebounding guards we've had” at Cascade.

And maybe, by the time she's done there, one of the most complete guards.

The sophomore compiled 25 points, 10 rebounds and six steals as the Class 2A sixth-ranked Cougars wrapped up the outright River Valley Conference girls' basketball championship with a 50-36 win over 3A No. 9 Monticello Tuesday night at Monticello High School.

It's the fourth title in five years for the Cougars (18-3, 15-1).

'We had high expectations,” McDermott said. 'We knew this was going to be a tough one on the road. It's an awesome feeling.”

Clinging to a 31-27 lead entering the fourth quarter, the Cougars finally pulled away. McDermott made the play to get it going, wrestling the ball away after a Monticello defensive rebound, then converting a three-point play.

'She fuels that team,” Monticello Coach Donnie Kremer said after the Panthers (15-5, 12-4) saw a seven-game winning streak come to an end. 'She's the cog that gets them going.”

'That's my role,” McDermott said. 'My teammates hold me accountable to do what I do, and they do their job.”

Monticello scored seven straight points to tie the game, 21-21, midway through the third quarter, then Cascade controlled the remainder.

'We got stops, we rebounded and we got to the free-throw line,” Sconsa said.

Jordan Simon and Skylar Dolphin added seven points apiece for the Cougars.

Taylor McDonald hit four 3-pointers and paced Monticello with 15 points. Lauren Ries added 14.

'I can't fault our effort, but they took away our shooters, and our inside game was non-existent tonight,” Kremer said.

In the boys' game, 2A No. 2 Cascade closed with a 22-6 run and rallied for a 56-44 win. Brock Simon's steal and dunk highlighted the surge.

The Cougars (19-0, 15-0) fought back from a 14-point second-quarter deficit. John Supple led them with 13 points, and Simon added 11.

Kyle Sperfslage tallied 15 points for Monticello (8-10, 5-9).

CASCADE 50, MONTICELLO 36

At Monticello

CASCADE (50): Nicole McDermott 9-14 7-11 25, Anne Ryan 1-8 0-0 3, Jordan Simon 1-8 5-6 7, Rachel Trumm 1-4 0-0 2, Abbie Ruggeberg 2-11 1-2 6, Abigail Welter 0-1 0-0 0, Skylar Dolphin 3-5 0-0 7, Zoe Ryan 0-0 0-0 0, Robyn Takes 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 17-51 13-19 50.

MONTICELLO (36): Taylor McDonald 5-12 1-3 15, Madison Fellinger 2-6 0-0 5, Lauren Ries 4-16 5-9 14, Madison Lambert 0-2 0-0 0, Jordan Kuper 1-6 0-0 2, Sydney Hansen 0-1 0-0 0, Gabrielle Steiner 0-0 0-0 0, Carly Hayen 0-4 0-0 0, Tori McDonald 0-0 0-0 0, Caitlyn Cruise 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 12-47 6-12 36.

Halftime: Cascade 19, Monticello 14. 3-point goals: Cascade 3-14 (McDermott 0-2, A.Ryan 1-4, Simon 0-2, Ruggeberg 1-5, Dolphin 1-1), Monticello 6-22 (T.McDonald 4-7, Fellinger 1-5, Ries 1-9, Lambert 0-1). Team fouls: Cascade 15, Monticello 15. Fouled out: T.McDonald. Rebounds: Cascade 40 (McDermott, Trumm 10), Monticello 34 (T.McDonald, Ries, Hayen 7). Assists: Cascade 6 (McDermott, Simon 2), Monticello 5 (Fellinger, Kuper 2). Steals: Cascade 14 (McDermott 6), Monticello 6 (Ries 3). Turnovers: Cascade 10, Monticello 17.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com