A year older, Bobcats are unfazed and unbeaten

Because they remain unrattled, the Western Dubuque Bobcats remain undefeated.

Last year's Class 4A state runner-up, No. 2 Western Dubuque has tightened its defense, allowing just 25.5 points per game since Christmas break. The Bobcats (14-0 overall, 8-0 Wamac Conference East Division) have held their opponents to 35 points or less in 10 consecutive games.

'Teams try to get into the lane on us. They try to attack and get us into foul trouble,” said Bobcats Coach Amy Ostwinkle. 'But the girls do such a good job reacting and rotating. It make it tough for people to score.”

The Bobcats generally play man-to-man, both in the full- and half-court sets, though they did implement a 3-2 zone periodically against West Delaware last week.

Western Dubuque was a somewhat surprising state finalist last March, knocking off Sioux City Heelan and Ballard before falling, 55-51, in the championship game to Harlan.

Another year together has meant another year of maturity.

'I just see so much more confidence in the girls,” Ostwinkle said. 'You can see it in the girls when a team makes a run on them. Last year, it would get them rattled. That's not the case any more.”

Senior guard Rose Simon-Ressler (14.2 ppg) and junior post Megan Maahs (12.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg) remain the primary focus. Ostwinkle said Simon-Ressler is most likely headed to Minnesota State-Mankato next year while Maahs is receiving strong looks from Division-I mid-majors.

Morgan Pitz, a sophomore point guard, has made tremendous gains after spending much of last season on the JV squad. Pitz averages 8.6 points and 3.1 steals per contest.

'She gives us some extra length at 5-10,” Ostwinkle said. 'Even as a sophomore, she doesn't let things faze her.”

Some folks already are whispering about a Harlan-Western Dubuque state-final rematch. It's far, far too early to go there, Ostwinkle acknowledges.

'There are so many good teams in 4A,” she said. 'The girls just want to focus on the next game and go out and play ball.”

The Bobcats host Dyersville Beckman tonight.

FITZPATRICK LEADS BIG BOARDERS

At 5-foot-10, Kari Fitzpatrick isn't a giant on the basketball floor.

Still, the Edgewood-Colesburg senior ranks second in the state in rebounds, at 14.8 boards per game.

Fitzpatrick is one of four area players in the top six statewide in rebounding. Shelby Hembera of Cedar Valley Christian is third at 13.3, followed by Erica Armstrong of Clayton Ridge (fifth, 13.0) and Jolissa Kriegel of BGM (sixth, 12.8).

HUBER HITS 1,000

Alburnett junior Taylor Huber reached the 1,000-point mark in Friday's win over Central City.

Huber added 23 points Tuesday against Lisbon, and has 1,035 for her career. She is averaging 19.3 points per game this season.

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