Elkader Central snaps Maquoketa Valley’s regular-season win streak at Rivalry Saturday

CEDAR RAPIDS — No, Maquoketa Valley isn’t the same team as last year.

But a streak is a streak. And Elkader Central snapped it.

The Warriors took control with a 10-2 third-quarter run and topped Class 1A 12th-rated Maquoketa Valley, 48-43, in a girls’ basketball game as part of Rivalry Saturday at Johnson Hall.

“We scrimmaged them over the summer, and it was really ugly,” said Central’s Delaney Scherf, who paced the Warriors (2-0) with 16 points.

“But we were playing really good team basketball today.”

Last year’s Class 2A state runner-up, Maquoketa Valley (1-1) saw its regular-season win streak end at 21.

The first half was back and forth, and the Wildcats had their final lead at 25-23 early in the third quarter. But Central assembled that pivotal 10-2 surge and led the rest of the way.

The largest margin was 47-37 with less than a minute to go.

“This sets us up nice for the future,” said Central Coach Mark Wiley, who employs a roster dominated by juniors and sophomores. “We had a good nucleus coming back. (Grace) Kuehl had a really nice third quarter for us.

“We’re playing well right now, but we can’t settle for that.”

Haley Frieden added 13 points for Central. Carissa Sabers paced Maquoketa Valley with 11.

Elkader Central 48, Maquoketa Valley 43

At Johnson Hall

MAQUOKETA VALLEY (43): Carissa Sabers 5-9 0-2 11, Kylie Chesnut 2-7 2-8 6, Bianka Ronnebaum 2-6 0-0 6, Liz McDowell 3-7 0-0 6, Kelsey Hoeger 2-7 0-0 5, Caelyn Sands 0-1 0-0 0, Ella Mensen 1-1 0-0 2, Haley Ronnebaum 1-6 0-2 3, Erin Knipper 2-2 0-0 4. Totals 18-46 3-11 43.

ELKADER CENTRAL (48): Hannah Asche 2-5 0-0 5, Haley Frieden 4-9 3-3 13, Ashlyn Scherf 1-6 0-4 2, Grace Kuehl 4-7 0-2 8, Delaney Scherf 4-11 6-10 16, Kaitlyn Wiley 0-0 0-0 0, Grace Cummer 1-2 0-0 2, Carly Kluesner 0-2 0-0 0, Alyson Feickert 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 17-43 9-19 48.

Maquoketa Valley 12 11 5 15 -- 43

Elkader Central 12 11 10 15 -- 48

3-point goals: Maquoketa Valley 4-15 (Sands 0-1, Sabers 1-3, B. Ronnebaum 2-5, H. Ronnebaum 0-2, Hoeger 1-4), Central 5-15 (Asche 1-1, Frieden 2-6, Scherf 0-3, Kuehl 0-1, D. Scherf 2-4). Team fouls: Maquoketa Valley 17, Central 12. Fouled out: Sabers. Rebounds: Maquoketa Valley 25 (Chesnut 8), Central 19 (three with 4). Assists: Maquoketa Valley 7 (Sabers, Mensen 2), Central 5 (D. Scherf 3). Steals: Maquoketa Valley 3 (three with 1), Central 9 (A. Scherf 4). Turnovers: Maquoketa Valley 9, Central 7.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com