Balanced and tenacious, No. 1 Mount Vernon tops Center Point-Urbana, 68-41

MOUNT VERNON — Franck-ly, this team has that look.

Unselfish. Balanced. And very, very good.

“Obviously, our pieces fit,” Mount Vernon Coach Nate Sanderson said. “All of our girls can score, and they don’t care who does it.”

All five starters reached double figures, and the Class 3A top-ranked Mustangs handled Center Point-Urbana, 68-41, in a Wamac Conference East Division girls’ basketball game Tuesday night at Mount Vernon High School.

“We like to run in transition, move the ball and get a lot of assists,” said Courtney Franck, who combined with twin Taylor Franck for 11 of them.

“Our goal is to pass ahead before half court, and we do a good job of that.”

Chloe Meester paced the Mustangs (12-1 overall, 3-0 Wamac East) with 16 points. Both of the Francks added 12 points, Sydney Huber 11, Savanna Wright 10.

Mount Vernon was a 3A state semifinalist last year. Two reasons that this team might climb higher — a more aggressive man-to-man defense, and the arrival of Wright, a freshman laden with ability.

“We knew she was going to be good, but we didn’t know she was going to be this good, this early,” Sanderson said.

“She creates so much that we might not have had in the past,” said Courtney Franck, who posted 10 rebounds, five assists and five steals.

The Mustangs scored the first 10 points, enjoyed a 21-5 lead after the first quarter, and rolled from there. They finished at 53.8 percent from the field (28 of 52) and nailed 8 of 13 tries from behind the arc.

Taylor Franck scored 10 of her 12 points in the first half.

“I just trust my teammates and take what comes to me,” she said. “Everybody has their own moment.”

Addy Tupa scored seven points to lead CPU (7-5, 2-1). Four others added six points apiece.

The teams play again at Center Point on Jan. 31.

BOYS: Mount Vernon 56, Center Point-Urbana 46

Josef Briesemeister scored 13 of his 17 points in the second half, and the 3A 10th-ranked Mustangs moved into sole possession of first place in the Wamac East.

The Mustangs (10-1, 3-0) held CPU without a field goal in the fourth quarter, and rallied from a 26-22 halftime deficit.

Kellen Haverback added 15 points for the winners.

Cooper Grimm paced CPU (5-5, 2-1) with 11 points.

Mount Vernon 68, Center Point-Urbana 41

At Mount Vernon

CENTER POINT-URBANA (41): Deni Katcher 2-2 0-0 6, Avery Sweeney 2-5 0-0 5, Addilyn Wade 0-2 0-0 0, Addy Tupa 3-6 0-0 7, Mya Hillers 2-9 2-2 6, Grace Estling 1-6 4-6 6, Adelyn Stien 1-6 4-4 6, Josie Klett 1-6 0-0 3, Maya Burkhart 0-5 0-0 0, Emily Bowe 1-2 0-0 2, Sydney McCormick 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 13-49 10-12 41.

MOUNT VERNON (68): Savanna Wright 4-7 0-0 10, Taylor Franck 5-10 0-0 12, Chloe Meester 7-11 2-2 16, Courtney Franck 4-9 2-2 12, Sydney Huber 5-11 0-0 11, Eryn Jackson 1-1 0-0 3, Rylee Rasmussen 2-3 0-0 4, Quinn Pershing 0-0 0-0 0, Alivia Truitt 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-52 4-4 68.

Center Point-Urbana 5 12 9 15 — 41

Mount Vernon 21 14 20 13 — 68

3-point goals: CPU 5-21 (Katcher 2-2, Sweeney 1-3, Wade 0-2, Tupa 1-3, Hillers 0-3, Estling 0-2, Klett 1-3, Burkhart 0-3), Mount Vernon 8-13 (Wright 2-3, T. Franck 2-3, C. Franck 2-3, Huber 1-3, Jackson 1-1). Team fouls: CPU 7, Mount Vernon 12. Fouled out: T. Franck. Rebounds: CPU 27 (Hillers 6), Mount Vernon 32 (C. Franck 10). Assists: CPU 7 (three with 2), Mount Vernon 18 (T. Franck 6). Steals: CPU 4 (Sweeney 2), Mount Vernon 10 (C. Franck 5). Turnovers: CPU 13, Mount Vernon 9.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com