Mount Vernon takes a 19-game win streak into the postseason

CORALVILLE -- As dress rehearsals go, Mount Vernon couldn’t have asked for more.

“This was the perfect team for us to play,” Coach Nate Sanderson said. “A good opponent with a really good player in (Averie) Lower.

“They gave us a push in the third quarter. That’s what we needed.”

Class 3A top-ranked Mount Vernon was surgical in the first quarter and handled 4A No. 12 Clear Creek Amana, 61-42, in a Wamac Conference cross-divisional girls’ basketball game Tuesday night at Xtream Arena.

The Mustangs (20-1) won their 19th consecutive game and wrapped up the overall Wamac championship. They open regional play Saturday as the 3A team to beat.

“I feel good about who we are and where we are,” Sanderson said.

Added Chloe Meester, who registered 14 points and 16 rebounds: “A lot of teams don’t have what we have ... drivers and shooters and posts.”

Evansville recruit Sydney Huber led the Mustangs with 17 points. Taylor Franck joined Meester with 14 points.

“My biggest role is rebounding,” said Meester, a Louisville volleyball signee. “I’m working on finding better position on offense.”

Mount Vernon scored the first eight points of the game and led 23-10 after a first quarter in which it shot 10-of-15 from the field.

Meanwhile, the Mustangs held Lower to two first-half points.

“I felt our defense was really clicking,” Franck said. “It’s hard to guard Averie. She’s incredible. But we were able to communicate off the screens.”

Lower warmed up later (she finished with a game-high 18), and CCA (13-7) cut a 38-20 halftime deficit to 10 points early in the fourth quarter.

It was 55-42 before the Mustangs scored six late points from the free-throw line.

In addition to the three double-digit scorers, Mount Vernon got major contributions from Courtney Franck (seven points, nine rebounds, five assists) and freshman Savanna Wright (seven points, seven boards).

The Mustangs counted 14 assists.

“It’s so exciting to see everyone’s success,” Franck said. “We can all score. It’s about timing, and when the opportunity presents itself for whomever.”

Lena Evans added 10 points for CCA, all in the first half.

BOYS: Clear Creek Amana 80, Mount Vernon 51

Down 24-14 in the second quarter, CCA (17-4) flipped it completely with an 18-2 run, then pulled away in the second half.

Andrew Rotzoll led the Clippers with 16 points. Brock Hilsman added 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Mount Vernon slipped to 15-5.

Mount Vernon 61, Clear Creek Amana 42

At Coralville

MOUNT VERNON (61): Savanna Wright 2-8 2-2 7, Taylor Franck 6-13 1-2 14, Chloe Meester 7-9 0-0 14, Courtney Franck 3-9 0-0 7, Sydney Huber 5-11 5-6 17, Eryn Jackson 0-3 0-0 0, Rylee Rasmussen 0-0 2-2 2. Totals 23-53 10-12 61.

CLEAR CREEK AMANA (42): Averie Lower 7-14 1-1 18, Lena Evans 4-14 0-0 10, Kennedy Stratton 1-12 0-0 2, Nakia Tangang 1-6 2-2 4, Brooklyn Lee 1-7 0-0 3, Alex Schrage 2-4 0-0 4, Kelsey Leathers 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 16-57 4-5 42.

Mount Vernon 23 15 6 17 -- 61

Clear Creek Amana 10 10 13 9 -- 42

3-point goals: Mount Vernon 5-18 (Wright 1-5, T. Franck 1-3, C. Franck 1-1, Huber 2-7, Jackson 0-2), CCA 6-28 (Lower 3-10, Evans 2-6, Stratton 0-4, Lee 1-6, Schrage 0-2). Team fouls: Mount Vernon 5, CCA 12. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Mount Vernon 39 (Meester 16), CCA 30 (Lower 9). Assists: Mount Vernon 14 (C. Franck 5), CCA 8 (Evans 3). Steals: Mount Vernon 7 (T. Franck, Huber 2), CCA 5 (Lower, Evans 2). Turnovers: Mount Vernon 10, CCA 10.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com