Mensen’s free throw lifts Wildcats

CEDAR RAPIDS - She's a good free-throw shooter. Really, she is.

But some uncharacteristic struggles at the line Saturday had Megan Mensen seeking help. She got it from her sister.

'I knew I had to do something differently, and Brianna told me to bend my legs a little more,” Mensen said.

Advice taken.

Mensen hit the second free throw with 4.7 seconds left to give Maquoketa Valley a 45-44 win over Alburnett in a Tri-Rivers Conference West Division game as part of Rivalry Saturday at the U.S. Cellular Center.

A 75-percent foul shooter coming into the game, Mensen had missed her first four attempts Saturday before hitting the tie-breaker.

'I felt really good having her there,” said Wildcats Coach Scot Moenck.

Maquoketa Valley (8-2 overall, 4-2 division) led throughout the entire second half, taking a nine-point lead early in the third quarter before Alburnett (7-4, 3-3) rallied.

Maddy Schuchmann's drive got the Pirates even at 44-44. Mensen was in the middle of a scrum for a loose ball when she was fouled under the Maquoketa Valley basket.

She missed the first free throw, then nailed the second. Alburnett missed a desparation shot at the buzzer.

Brianna Mensen led the Wildcats with nine points. Payton Ries added eight.

Alburnett's Taylor Huber led all scorers with 14 points.

MAQUOKETA VALLEY 45, ALBURNETT 44

At U.S. Cellular Center

MAQUOKETA VALLEY (45): Sam Wall 1-6 1-2 3, Erin Digmann 1-6 1-2 4, Megan Mensen 3-7 1-5 7, Brianna Mensen 3-10 2-2 9, Payton Ries 3-8 2-4 8, Caitlin Schuman 1-3 2-2 4, Angie Wilson 1-2 0-0 2, Kristi Goedken 0-5 4-4 4, Macy Hoeger 2-5 0-0 4. Totals 15-52 13-21 45.

ALBURNETT (44): Maddie Volesky 1-6 4-4 7, Amber Porter 1-6 2-2 4, Kassidy Rose 1-5 3-6 6, Vanessa Hoyle 1-3 0-1 2, Taylor Huber 6-12 1-2 14, Maddy Schuchmann 2-8 2-4 6, Lexi Washburn 1-3 3-4 5. Totals 13-43 15-23 44.

Halftime: Maquoketa Valley 28, Alburnett 24. 3-point goals: Maquoketa Valley 2-14 (Wall 0-3, Digmann 1-5, B.Mensen 1-2, Schuman 0-2, Goedken 0-1, Hoeger 0-1), Alburnett 3-12 (Volesky 1-5, Rose 1-2, Huber 1-2, Schuchmann 0-3). Team fouls: Maquoketa Valley 21, Alburnett 21. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Maquoketa Valley 32 (Ries 7), Alburnett 30 (Washburn 5). Assists: Maquoketa Valley 10 (B.Mensen 4), Alburnett 4 (four with 1). Steals: Maquoketa Valley 8 (B.Mensen 3), Alburnett 1 (Volesky). Turnovers: Maquoketa Valley 16, Alburnett 21.

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