Just like last year: Elkader Central tops Maquoketa Valley at Rivalry Saturday

Delaney Scherf drives the baseline repeatedly in a 20-point effort; veteran Warriors win, 48-40

Nov. 26, 2022 1:14 pm, Updated: Nov. 26, 2022 3:01 pm

Elkader Central’s Delaney Scherf (30) drives baseline in the Warriors’ 48-40 win over Maquoketa Valley on Saturday at Kirkwood Community College. (Geoff Stellfox/The Gazette)

Central Elkader’s Alyson Feickert (44) fights through traffic to put up a shot during Rivalry Saturday on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (Geoff Stellfox/The Gazette)

Maquoketa Valley’s Jada Knipper (21) tries to get up a shot through traffic during Rivalry Saturday on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (Geoff Stellfox/The Gazette)

CEDAR RAPIDS — Rivalry Saturday rematch.

Rivalry Saturday replay.

Delaney Scherf connected on 9 of 14 shots, mostly on a variety of drives to the basket, in a 20-point performance that led Class 1A ninth-ranked Elkader Central past Maquoketa Valley, 48-40, Saturday morning at Johnson Hall.

“In our first game (against MFL MarMac), we were 8 of 9 on 3-pointers in the second half,” Central Coach Mark Wiley said. “Today we weren’t getting balls to kick out.

“We had more opportunities today to use the high post and baseline drive. We probably could have done it 10 or 12 more times.”

The Warriors (2-0) topped Maquoketa Valley here for the second straight year (it was 48-43 last season).

They’re not a merely a promising cast of up-and-comers any more. This is a team with a major purpose.

“We have the pieces to be very good when we play our game,” Scherf said.

Central scored seven straight points for an early 9-5 lead, and held the upper hand throughout. But it wasn’t secure until about 3 minutes to go.

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Leading 34-28 after three quarters, the Warriors went on a 10-4 push for their largest lead of the game.

Ashlyn Scherf added 10 points for Central.

Haley Ronnebaum led Maquoketa Valley (1-1) with 17 points and four steals.

Elkader Central 48, Maquoketa Valley 40

At Johnson Hall

MAQUOKETA VALLEY (40): Bianka Ronnebaum 2-8 1-2 5, Alexis Halverson 2-6 1-2 5, Jada Knipper 1-2 1-2 3, Leah Reicher 0-0 0-0 0, Haley Ronnebaum 6-15 2-4 17, Kennedy Rausch 1-7 0-0 2, Kelsey Hoeger 0-2 0-0 0, Ella Mensen 2-3 0-0 4, Grace Richter 1-3 2-5 4, Macee Nolan 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 15-46 7-15 40.

ELKADER CENTRAL (48): Haley Frieden 3-9 2-2 8, Ashlyn Scherf 3-6 4-4 10, Grace Kuehl 0-3 0-1 0, Lexi Loan 0-1 0-0 0, Delaney Scherf 9-14 0-0 20, Gracie Cummer 2-5 0-0 4, Aly Feickert 3-3 0-0 6. Totals 20-41 6-7 48.

Maquoketa Valley 9 6 13 12 — 40

Elkader Central 11 12 11 14 — 48

3-point goals: Maquoketa Valley 3-17 (Rausch 0-6, Hoeger 0-2, B. Ronnebaum 0-2, Halverson 0-1, H. Ronnebaum 3-6), Central 2-11 (Frieden 0-5, A. Scherf 0-1, Kuehl 0-1, Loan 0-1, D. Scherf 2-3). Team fouls: Maquoketa Valley 15, Central 14. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Maquoketa Valley 23 (B. Ronnebaum 6), Central 29 (Cummer, Loan 6). Assists: Maquoketa Valley 7 (B. Ronnebaum 4), Central 5 (Loan, D. Scherf 2). Steals: Maquoketa Valley 11 (H. Ronnebaum 4), Central 6 (D. Scherf 3). Turnovers: Maquoketa Valley 14, Central 19.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com