Maquoketa girls withstand Marion run, break six-game losing streak

MARION – The Maquoketa girls' basketball team picked the right night to have their best offensive performance of the season.

The Cardinals (4-9) entered last night's game at Marion on a six-game losing streak, and had only passed the 50-point threshold once this season.

Maquoketa withstood a third-quarter run from the Indians (3-10), sank several late-game free throws and snapped that streak in a 54-42 win.

'I think the girls just kept their composure really, really well (tonight),' said Maquoketa Coach Maggie Furlong. 'That's the thing we've struggled with in games, we've let people come back. Tonight they did a really good job of not panicking and sticking to our game plan.

'Marion did all it could to frustrate and rattle Maquoketa coming out of halftime, and got as close as to within six points before some big 3-pointers from senior guard Taylor Bickford.

The Indians, who have now lost three of their last four games, couldn't quite get over the hump and really get back in the game.

'We struggled offensively in the first half, and the one thing that they've done all year is they don't quit,' Marion Coach Corby Laube said of his girls' effort in the third quarter. 'I thought in the third quarter we cut into it a little bit and were in position to make a run, and give them credit, it seemed like when they needed a big shot right when were about to make a run, they seemed to kind of bounce back and end our runs.'

Not only did Maquoketa answer on the offensive end, but the Cardinals frustrated Marion with relentless pressure in the final minutes of the game.

Laube said Maquoketa was able to rattle his girls, who were maybe forcing things in an effort to complete the comeback.

'When you're behind, you're forcing things and you're hurrying things because you're trying to catch up,' Laube said. 'We were trying to play fast on defense and then in transition, where you want to score quick but not be out of control. I think just playing from behind can be tough, and it forces you to make some decisions you don't want to make. Defensively, (Maquoketa was) disruptive, and they made a lot of plays.'

Marion was led by Michalyn Mohr, who 16 points and 10 rebounds, several of those boards coming during the Indians' effort to get themselves back in the game. Tessa Jordan added 11 points, going 3 of 3 from 3-point range, two of those coming in the third quarter.

But neither had the night that Maquoketa sophomore Chiara Atienza did, as the guard had a breakout game with 17 points, six rebounds and five steals. Furlong said her effort on both ends fueled the Cardinals.

Getting a win like this, Furlong said, can do wonders for confidence in a season that has been frustrating almost from the get-go.

'It was something we definitely needed, and it's really going to give them a little extra boost,' Furlong said. 'Confidence is what we're looking for, that's where we struggle. I think it's going to be a huge confidence booster for them, knowing they can hit a lot of those outside shots and withstand a comeback.' 

AT MARION

MAQUOKETA (54): Taylor Bickford 5-8 0-0 12, Amy Wirth 0-2 0-0 0, Allison Vandemore 4-10 0-0 8, Chiara Atienza 6-10 5-6 17, Aubree Taylor 2-2 1-3 5, Kailie Hazer 1-4 1-2 3, Demi Crist 1-6 1-2 4, Kaleena Wilkins 1-4 0-0 2, Liz Gavin 0-0 0-0 0, Bailey Lenz 1-2 1-1 3. Totals 21-48 9-14 54.

MARION (42): Jozee Peyton 1-6 0-0 3, Amanda Sahm 3-8 4-6 10, Holli Jones 0-3 0-0 0, Tessa Jordan 4-5 0-0 11, Michalyn Mohr 6-15 4-5 16, Bayley Fuller 0-1 2-2 2, Dani Dunne 0-2 0-0 0, Marissa Whitney 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 14-43 10-13 42.

Halftime – Maquoketa 28, Marion 15. 3-point goals – Maquoketa 3-7 (Bickford 2-2, Hazer 0-1, Crist 1-3, Wilkins 0-1). Marion 4-13 (Peyton 1-3, Sahm 0-2, Jones 0-1, Jordan 3-3, Mohr 0-1, Dunne 0-1, Whitney 0-2). Rebounds – Maquoketa 24 (Atienza 6). Marion 24 (Mohr 10). Total fouls – Maquoketa 15, Marion 15. Fouled out – None. Turnovers – Maquoketa 12, Marion 18.