Nichole Kane’s big shots extend Springville’s streak

They faced a hot team. They endured foul trouble.

And the Springville Orioles survived Tuesday night, because Nichole Kane wasn't afraid to take a clutch shot. Or two.

Entering crunch time at 1-for-8 from the field, Kane stuck a game-tying baseline shot in the final seconds of regulation, then hit the go-ahead 3-pointer in overtime as Class 1A top-ranked Springville fought off Maquoketa Valley, 62-58, for its 19th consecutive victory.

'They really didn't guard her all night,' Springville Coach Nate Sanderson said. 'She was open. We kept telling her to shoot, and she made some big ones there at the end.'

The defending 1A champion, Springville (3-0 overall, 2-0 Tri-Rivers West) owns the state's second-longest winning streak (Pocahontas Area has won 32 in a row), but it very nearly came to an end Tuesday at home. Maquoketa Valley (3-1, 1-1) led by as many as 11 points early and made 10 3-pointers.

'If they shoot the way they did against us, they're going to be really tough to beat,' Sanderson said.

But the Orioles found a way, though their top two guns (Mikayla Nachazel and Rylee Menster) were in foul trouble. Nachazel fouled out in overtime.

A pair of returning first-team all-staters, Nachazel (23.0 ppg) and Menster (22.3 ppg) will get the majority of opponents' attention.

'That will definitely give the others opportunities, and they can do a lot of things well,' Sanderson said.

Alyssa Jaeger was the hero at the end of last year's state final, hitting two late free throws to beat Turkey Valley. Tuesday, it was Kane's turn.

The Orioles' next big challenges will come on back-to-back days (Jan. 6-7), at North Linn and against Turkey Valley at Rivalry Saturday.

Another long winning streak — Western Dubuque's 47-gamer in regular-season competition — also remained intact Tuesday, 58-55 at Mount Vernon.

Morgan Pitz scored 13 points, Karlie Fagan added 11 and Lindsey Eimers supplied 10. The Bobcats (4-0 overall, 1-0 Wamac East) trailed, 34-32, at halftime and led by just one point with a minute remaining.

IOWA CITY: HOOPS CENTRAL

Iowa City figured to be an area hot spot this season, and the three schools in the town have combined to start 11-0.

'There's a lot of kids here that play a lot of basketball in the offseason, and I'm sure the other schools can say the same,' West Coach B.J. Mayer said. 'They're making themselves better, and that makes their teams better.'

City High and West both are 4-0 overall, 3-0 in the Mississippi Valley Conference, though the Little Hawks have a stiff challenge Friday at home against Cedar Falls (3-0, 3-0) that will determine sole leadership in the Valley Division. West is alone in first place in the Mississippi Division.

Regina (3-0 overall, 2-0 River Valley) is a heavy favorite to win its ninth consecutive league title. The Regals have won their first three games by an average of 38.7 points.