Mustangs prevail in Wamacdandy with Williamsburg

CEDAR RAPIDS - Overall Wamac Conference girls' basketball champion? It's Mount Vernon.The Class 3A second-ranked Mustangs had a little bit more down the stretch and edged No. 8 Williamsburg, 54-50, in an interdivisional dandy between Wamac division leaders and the Rivalry Saturday finale at U.S. Cellular Center.“It was a great game. We kept our composure and played really well as a team,” said Mount Vernon's Liz Skotowski, who led all scorers with 16 points.Both teams have two-game leads in their divisions (Mount Vernon the East, Williamsburg the West), so this was the unofficial title game.The up-and-coming Raiders pushed Mount Vernon hard. But the Mustangs' experience - nearly everybody back from last year's 2A title team - was the difference in the end.With the Mustangs (14-1) trailing 45-44, Micah Wieditz drained a 3-pointer that ultimately put Mount Vernon ahead for good. Wieditz hit four straight free throws in the final minute, then Taylor Dicus hit the clinching foul shot with 6 seconds to go.“We came here with the intention to win,” Williamsburg Coach Aaron Feddersen said. “But I'm thrilled with the way we battled back. Our kids don't like to lose.”Mount Vernon appeared poised to pull away for much of the third quarter, but Williamsburg (14-2) closed the period with an 11-0 run - Molly Boland hit back-to-back 3-pointers - to tie it at 41-41.---- “We went to a zone because I thought we were giving up too many second and third shots,” Mount Vernon Coach Bob Kintzel said. “Then they started getting the ball to the wings and the corners.”---- Hannah Wilson's basket gave the Raiders their first and only lead of the second half at 45-44.---- Dicus added 13 points and 10 rebounds for Mount Vernon. Wieditz scored 12 and Amanda Platte had 10 points and eight boards.---- Freshman Paige Greiner paced the Raiders with 14 points and five assists. Mackenzie Bigbee added 12 points and eight rebounds.