Rivalry Saturday XXI: Iowa City West 48, Mount Vernon 37

ANAMOSA — The timeout was requested, and the Iowa City West coaching staff stripped down to their black T-shirts.

“I didn’t know what was going on,” Grace Fincham said. “I thought they were all getting hot.”

No, they were just showing off a milestone. Fincham’s milestone.

The Drake University recruit reached the 1,000-point mark for her career, and 5A eighth-ranked West set a Rivalry Saturday record with 12 3-pointers in a 48-37 win over 3A No. 5 Mount Vernon at Anamosa High School.

“I knew I was getting close, but I didn’t know how close,” Fincham said. “I couldn’t do it without my teammates. I think we have a special group this year.”

Abby Neumiller (14 points, all in the first half) and Kate Van Waning (12) hit four triples apiece, and West improved to 3-1.

“Abby was due to knock down a few,” West Coach Nate Frese said. “We were 4-of-23 as a team (Friday) night.”

The Trojans were hot from the perimeter from the start. Neumiller nailed a pair of 3-pointers in the first quarter, two of West’s five on the way to a 21-12 lead.

It was 32-19 at halftime, then West took its largest lead of the game at 38-21 midway through the third quarter.

Fincham added 12 points, but her performance wasn’t offensive only.

“She did a great job defensively against (Mount Vernon’s Savanna) Wright, who is one of the handiest guards in the area,” Frese said.

Wright scored 17 points. The Mustangs (2-2) were without guard Taylor Franck, who was in a boot.

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