Mount Vernon rules in a ragged 3A girls’ basketball regional opener

MOUNT VERNON — One reason for Mount Vernon’s swift climb this season has been a vast uptick in its shooting.

Another has been an outbreak of unselfishness.

“From the first day, Coach (Nate Sanderson) has preached sharing the ball,” senior McKenzie Rentschler said. “Not necessarily settling for a good shot, but finding a great shot.

“One more pass, that’s so key.”

The Mustangs weren’t terribly accurate in their Class 3A regional-quarterfinal girls’ basketball game Saturday night at Mount Vernon High School. But they were willing and able to share.

Fifteen baskets, 15 assists.

The result was a ragged 48-31 victory over Independence. Take it, smile and move on.

“A lot of stuff didn’t go our way,” Rentschler said. “We were kind of all over the place. But we battled through it.”

Rentschler broke the school record for 3-pointers in the season (her five triples bumped her season total to 56) and the Mustangs’ 15 assists gave them 300 for the season, another record.

Mount Vernon (12-10) will travel to Story City on Wednesday for a regional-semifinal date with No. 9 Roland-Story (17-5) — a 59-18 victor over South Tama.

The Mustangs have been one of the state’s most improved teams after going 1-20 last season.

“I love to see them share it like that,” Sanderson said. “We’ve got to play that way, because we don’t have a dominant player. But it’s more fun to watch when the ball goes in.”

Mount Vernon scored the first eight points and led throughout, despite hitting just 15 of 49 shots from the field (30.6 percent). That included 9 of 36 from 3-point range.

Twenty-four of the Mustangs’ 28 first-half shots were from behind the perimeter.

Rentschler was 5 of 14 from deep and led all scorers with 18 points. Peyton Simpson added four treys (in 12 attempts) and added 13 points. Liz Dougherty scored 10.

It wasn’t just the scorers who contributed. Kameron Brand didn’t score a point, but collected six assists and six rebounds. Lilly See counted eight boards and four assists to go with two points. Brynley Rasmussen pulled down a team-high nine rebounds to complement a five-point outing.

Independence, which retired at 5-17, was within 15-14 early in the second quarter, then Mount Vernon reeled off eight points in a row, including back-to-back Rentschler treys.

It was 26-15 at halftime, then the teams played virtually even in the second half until Mount Vernon scored the final four points at the end.

Independence was 12 of 54 from the field (22.2 percent). Annie Johnson led the guests with nine points and 12 rebounds; Bella Ressler chipped in nine points and 11 boards.

Mount Vernon 48, Independence 31

Class 3A Regional Quarterfinal, at Mount Vernon

INDEPENDENCE (31): Shanna Kleve 2-4 0-1 6, Bella Ressler 3-8 2-2 9, Madison Michael 3-17 0-0 7, Annie Johnson 4-13 1-2 9, Maggie Albert 0-1 0-0 0, Callie Rawlins 0-5 0-0 0, Bella Louvar 0-0 0-0 0, Reaghan Ressler 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 12-54 3-5 31.

MOUNT VERNON (48): McKenzie Rentscher 5-16 3-4 18, Kameron Brand 0-4 0-0 0, Lilly See 0-4 2-4 2, Peyton Simpson 4-12 1-2 13, Liz Dougherty 4-7 2-5 10, Brynley Rasmussen 2-4 1-2 5, Eryn Jackson 0-1 0-0 0, Ashlyn Steen 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 15-49 9-17 48.

Independence 10 5 8 8 — 31

Mount Vernon 15 11 10 12 — 48

3-point goals: Independence 4-14 (Kleve 2-4, B. Ressler 1-4, Michael 1-6), Mount Vernon 9-36 (Rentschler 5-14, Brand 0-4, See 0-4, Simpson 4-12, Jackson 0-1, Steen 0-1). Team fouls: Independence 16, Mount Vernon 12. Fouled out: Rawlins. Rebounds: Independence 41 (Johnson 12), Mount Vernon 12 (Rasmussen 9). Assists: Independence 4 (Michael 4), Mount Vernon 15 (Brand 6). Steals: Independence 11 (Michael 4), Mount Vernon 12 (Simpson 4). Turnovers: Independence 20, Mount Vernon 19.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com