Saunders sparks West comeback

IOWA CITY - Mikaela Morgan provided the will. Rachael Saunders, without a doubt, was the spark.

Saunders scored 10 third-quarter points to turn the game on its ear, and Class 5A sixth-ranked Iowa City West stormed back from an 11-point deficit to defeat No. 7 Iowa City High, 71-61, in a Mississippi Valley Conference girls' basketball game Friday night at West High School.

'It was time to show the basketball we're capable of playing,” said Saunders, a freshman. 'Coach (B.J. Mayer) told me, if I had an open look, go for it. If not, get it to my teammates.”

West (19-2 overall, 12-1 MVC) wrapped up the Valley Division crown.

'That's a big deal to us,” Mayer said. 'Our side is a really strong side. (Cedar Rapids) Kennedy and Linn-Mar are really good teams. To win this thing, it's a great accomplishment.”

City High (14-7, 10-3) settled for a Mississippi Division title share with Cedar Rapids Xavier.

The Little Hawks were the better team for 2 1/2 quarters. City High led, 36-30, at halftime and extended the margin to 41-30 at the 6:50 mark of the third quarter before West came storming back.

Saunders fueled a 22-5 blitz through the rest of the quarter. She scored on a feed from Dani Craig in transition, then added a putback. Then, she punctuated a three-point play (on another offensive board) and a 3-pointer with a zestful scream.

'She brought a lot of energy to the floor,” Mayer said. 'She gave us a spark.

'And Mikaela, she started not wanting to lose. She started to own the boards, she hit some shots. It really picked up the team.”

Morgan led the Women of Troy with 20 points. Saunders finished with 13, Grace Tafolla 11.

'Saunders was a key contributor for them off the bench,” said City Coach Bill McTaggart. 'We played 2 1/2 really good quarters, but turnovers ... we had too many turnovers to beat them.”

The Little Hawks committed 13 of their 23 turnovers after halftime, and shot just 5 of 23 from the field in the second half.

West took its largest lead at 60-46 with 5:23 left. Kenya Earl hit a couple of 3-pointers and Courtney Joens added another to cut the deficit to 64-58 at the 2:45 mark, but West scored the next seven points, all from the line.

Earl led the Little Hawks with 21 points. Freshman Ashley Joens posted 20 points (including 15 of 16 free throws) and 10 rebounds.

Both teams open 5A regional play next Saturday.

IOWA CITY WEST 71, IOWA CITY HIGH 61

At Iowa City West

IOWA CITY HIGH (61): Sarah Plock 1-2 0-0 2, Ashley Joens 2-9 15-16 20, Samantha Blowers 1-3 0-0 3, Kenya Earl 7-12 3-4 21, Sara Blowers 2-4 0-0 6, Courtney Joens 1-12 4-4 7, Sydney Schroder 1-2 0-0 2, Lillian Christopherson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 15-44 22-24 61.

IOWA CITY WEST (71): Bella Lozano-Dobbs 0-3 1-2 1, Grace Tafolla 1-3 8-8 11, Ali Tauchen 3-5 1-3 7, Dani Craig 1-7 2-2 5, Mikaela Morgan 9-14 2-3 20, Rachael Saunders 4-5 4-5 13, Emily Halverson 2-3 3-4 7, Jessie Harder 2-3 0-2 5, Logan Cook 0-0 0-0 0, Maddie Huinker 0-1 2-2 2. Totals 22-44 23-31 71.

Halftime: City 36, West 30. 3-point goals: City 9-22 (A. Joens 1-3, Sam.Blowers 1-2, C.Joens 1-6, Earl 4-7, Sar.Blowers 2-4), West 4-14 (Tafolla 1-3, Craig 1-6, Morgan 0-1, Saunders 1-1, Harder 1-2, Huinker 0-1). Team fouls: City 22, West 17. Fouled out: Earl. Rebounds: City 32 (A.Joens 10), West 27 (Morgan 8). Assists: City 7 (Plock 3), West 8 (Craig 3). Steals: City 9 (three with 2), West 14 (Morgan 5). Turnovers: City 23, West 16.

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