Disterhoft turns challenges into success, named Game Time League MVP

NORTH LIBERTY — Before the tip-off of Wednesday night's Game Time League championship game, Commissioner Randy Larson paused to talk about Iowa sophomore Ally Disterhoft.

Larson recalled how she wasn't afraid to go against bigger, older players in the women's summer league when she was still an underclassman at Iowa City West. He said he knew the day would come when he would announce Disterhoft as the league's scoring leader and MVP.

He did that Wednesday night, then added champion to her resume when her team — coached by Brendan Unkrich — defeated Larson's team, 81-58, for the league title.

Disterhoft scored 36 points, just shy of her average of 41. She led her team to an undefeated summer season.

Larson said Disterhoft is one of the best players he's seen in the 14-year history of the league.

'When she first played in the league, no one knew who she was,' Larson said. 'She had to have been the best high school defender I had ever seen. You can see this summer she might be the best or second-best player on the Iowa team going into next year.'

Disterhoft and her coach were quick to point out that the championship victory was made easier since Larson's team was without Iowa guard Melissa Dixon, who has been out the last two weeks with a foot injury.

'I really wish Dixon could have played,' Unkrich said. 'Whether I'm a coach or a player, I want to play against the best, and it would have been fun to see her play against us.'

Unkrich also pointed out that even though Disterhoft was named league MVP, much of her game can go unnoticed.

'I have her lead the huddle,' Unkrich said. 'I tell her she's in charge. She runs the team on the court, vocally and physically. But people can overlook how she carries herself during the game.'

For her part, Disterhoft shook off any notions of the superstar pedestal Larson placed her on when he addressed the crowd before the game. The Iowa City native said she just came to play basketball and to win, even though some people may see it as just a summer league.

'We come out here every night and try to play competitive,' Disterhoft said. 'We had a really fun summer, (and) it's always nice to go undefeated. When the game started, I just wanted to come out there play hard and get the win. I wanted to help our team however I could. When my shot was there I took it.'