At 15-0, Maquoketa Valley is the area’s last area girls’ basketball unbeaten

Scot Moenck isn’t one for hyperbole.

“We guard, we play hard,” said Moenck, girls’ basketball coach at Maquoketa Valley. “That’s what we do.”

And win.

At 15-0, the Class 2A ninth-ranked Wildcats are final remaining unbeaten team in the area. They’ve gotten here with veteran leadership, a talented freshman and a defense that is allowing 32.2 points per game.

“We’ve got all the pieces of the puzzle,” Moenck said. “But we’re nowhere near where we need to be yet.”

Maquoketa Valley has always been formidable under Moenck, peaking with a 25-1, state runner-up finish in 2021.

The Wildcats were forced to swallow a bitter pill at the end of last season. Up by seven points with less than a minute left in regulation, they lost in overtime to Iowa City Regina in the regional-semifinal round.

“If we’re making those mistakes at the end of games, I need to focus more on those situations at practice,” Moenck said. “If you don’t pay attention to the little details, they can become big problems.”

Thanks to that stifling man-to-man, pressing defense, the Wildcats haven’t been forced to the wire much this season. They beat Montezuma by three points at Rivalry Saturday on Nov. 30, then held off North Linn by four at Troy Mills on Dec. 20.

Another challenge awaits Friday at home against Springville, then a rematch with North Linn looms Jan. 31 at Delhi.

Junior Grace Richter leads the team in scoring at 13.0 points per game, and Bianka Ronnebaum (12.3 points, 6.2 rebounds per game) highlights a senior class of five.

“The seniors have led,” Moenck said. “They’ve been positive role models. Our practices are really competitive.”

To no surprise, freshman guard Audra Burbridge has become an immediate contributor. She is third on the team in scoring (12.0 ppg) and leads in assists (4.0 per game) and steals (4.9).

“The kid is fearless,” Moenck said. “She has another gear, and the older kids love her and accept her.”

Lilly Appreciation Night

Cedar Rapids Xavier hosts Cedar Rapids Washington in a girls’/boys’ doubleheader Friday at Ron Thillen Gymnasium.

Halftime of the boys’ game will feature a video tribute to the career of Xavier girls’ coach Tom Lilly, who announced in November that this will be his final season.

Lilly is in his 40th year, and owns a career record of 635-301, including 446-199 in 27 seasons at Xavier.

He coached the Saints to five state championships, most recently in 2022.

This year’s team is 11-4 overall, 6-2 in the Mississippi Valley Conference, and appears to be peaking. The Class 4A 10th-ranked Saints whipped 3A No. 3 Dubuque Wahlert, 62-33, Tuesday behind 26 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists from Kansas signee Libby Fandel.

Washington (7-6, 5-2) has won five in a row.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com