Opportunities lost: Mustangs fall in 3A final

DES MOINES -- Too many turnovers.

Too many missed free throws.

Too many inside opportunities left unclaimed.

It was all too much to overcome.

"It just wasn't our night," Mount Vernon Coach Bob Kintzel said after fourth-ranked Davenport Assumption defeated the No. 2 Mustangs, 50-39, to capture the Class 3A girls' basketball state championship Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena.

The Mustangs (24-3) were bidding to win their second straight title -- they were 2A champions last year -- but their hopes sank amid a sea of turnovers and missed opportunities.

"We had a lot of chances, but we didn't take advantage of them," said Micah Wieditz. "It just wasn't a good night."

Mount Vernon turned the ball over 26 times, shot 26 percent from the field and 50 percent from the line. That didn't get it done.

Assumption (25-2) didn't let down after knocking off No. 1 Ballard in the semifinals. The Knights jumped to an 11-0 advantage, weathered a 13-0 Mount Vernon run in the second quarter, then maintained a small lead most of the rest of the way before pulling away at the end.

"We came out strong, then they made a big run," said Melissa Youngblut, the all-tournament captain. "But once we got our tempo back, we were able to put it away."

Leading 38-36, the Knights concluded the game with a 12-3 run. A three-point play by Danielle Moore kicked it off at the 4:03 mark.

Youngblut was joined on the all-tournament team by Moore, Wieditz, Mount Vernon's Taylor Dicus, Ballard's Taylor Greenfield and DeWitt Central's Jen Keitel.

Dicus registered 18 points and 17 rebounds as Mount Vernon notched a 46-30 rebounding advantage. Amanda Platte added 16 boards, but shot 1-for-11 from the floor and committed 11 turnovers.

Youngblut led Assumption with 13 points. Moore and Kate Fennelly added 10 apiece.

"They were a very smart team," Dicus said. "We were told to go in and try to draw fouls."

The Mustangs had no trouble getting to the line. The problem was converting; they were 12 of 24 from the stripe.

They made just 12 of 46 field-goal tries, many from 8 feet and in.

Assumption's early surge was symbolic. Mount Vernon's first seven possessions consisted of five turnovers and five missed shots -- all from close in, all heavily contested.

Mount Vernon scored 13 straight points early in the second quarter for a 19-18 lead. Platte found Dicus under the basket for an easy basket at the 2:40 mark to put the Mustangs briefly ahead. It turned out to be their only lead of the game.

Assumption closed the half with an 8-3 run for a 26-22 halftime lead. The Mustangs tied it at 29-29 and 31-31 late in the third quarter, but that was as good as it got.

"We dug ourselves a hole, we got back in the game, but it came down to the turnovers and the (poor) shooting," Kintzel said. "We have a great effort, but things didn't fall our way tonight."

AT DES MOINES

DAVENPORT ASSUMPTION (50): Emma Ambrose 1-6 0-0 2, Melissa Youngblut 3-9 5-6 13, Kate Fennelly 2-5 2-2 10, Hailey Schneden 2-5 1-1 5, Danielle Moore 2-6 6-7 10, Abbey Strajack 0-3 0-1 0, Haley Fox 0-5 2-2 2, Kate Herrig 1-1 0-0 2, Jasmine Binion 3-6 0-1 6, Mary Kate Fennelly 0-1 0-0 0, Sam Johannsen 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 15-47 16-20 50.

MOUNT VERNON (39): Liz Skotowski 2-9 1-2 6, Taylor Dicus 6-12 6-9 18, Courtney Kintzel 0-1 0-0 0, Micah Wieditz 2-6 0-0 6, Amanda Platte 1-11 5-9 7, Kylea Weber 0-4 0-2 0, Sarah Ryan 1-3 0-2 2. Totals 12-46 12-24 39.

Halftime: Assumption 26, Mount Vernon 22.

3-point goals: Assumption 4-11 (Ambrose 0-1, Youngblut 2-2, K.Fennelly 2-4, Moore 0-1, Strajack 0-3), Mount Vernon 3-11 (Skotowski 1-7, Wieditz 2-3, Weber 0-1).

Team fouls: Assumption 19, Mount Vernon 19.

Fouled out: Kintzel, Dicus.

Rebounds: Assumption 30 (Binion 9), Mount Vernon 46 (Dicus 17),

Assists: Assumption 9 (K.Fennelly 4), Mount Vernon 8 (Platte 3).

Steals: Assumption 13 (Youngblut 5), Mount Vernon 8 (Kintzel, Ryan 2).

Turnovers: Assumption 16, Mount Vernon 26.