Top-ranked Mount Vernon roars back to the girls’ state basketball tournament

MOUNT VERNON — When they’re at their best — running, pressing, sharing — the Mount Vernon Mustangs play a rare brand of beautiful basketball.

Unstoppa-ball.

“We did a great job moving the ball,” junior guard Courtney Franck said. “When we do that, it’s hard to stop us.”

That’s not bragging. It’s the truth.

Top-ranked Mount Vernon dominated from tip to horn, and handled Benton Community, 68-22, in a Class 3A girls’ basketball regional final Saturday night at Mount Vernon High School.

Four (and nearly all five) starters scored in double figures, and Mount Vernon (23-1) posted a third-quarter shutout defensively.

The result was a 22nd consecutive victory and a second straight trip to the state tournament.

State semifinalists last year, the Mustangs (23-1) return to Des Moines as the 3A favorite. They’ll face unranked West Marshall (19-5) in the first round at 5 p.m. Monday, March 3.

“We want to play for a state title, but more than anything I think they all want to keep playing together,” Mount Vernon Coach Nate Sanderson.

“Our guards were so active in the full court. They were able to get some turnovers and run-outs.”

The turnover margin was 21-6 (Mount Vernon collected 16 steals, Benton none), and that led to a disparity in shot attempts (the Mustangs were 28 of 56, the Bobcats 5 of 30).

Chloe Meester, who will play volleyball at Louisville next year, led the Mustangs with 16 points. Savanna Wright, a freshman who is both smooth and fearless, added 14 points and six steals.

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“Not a lot of freshmen get to experience something like this in their first year,” Wright said. “It’s surreal. I’m excited, and hopefully we can go catch ourselves a title.”

Evansville recruit Sydney Huber posted 11 points, Courtney Franck 10 (plus 10 rebounds, seven assists and four steals), Taylor Franck nine.

Benton (9-15) was coming off a regional-semifinal shocker over No. 13 Mediapolis, but the Mustangs simply were at a different level.

Taylor Franck scored two quick buckets, and Mount Vernon was up 6-0 less than 80 seconds into the game.

It was 21-9 after a quarter, 42-16 at halftime.

The Mustangs scored the first 19 points of the second half, and the last 11 minutes were played under a continuous clock.

“Our defense was locked in,” Sanderson said.

Aubrey Kelly led Benton with 12 points (all in the first half) and grabbed five rebounds.

Mount Vernon 68, Benton Community 22

Class 3A Regional Final, at Mount Vernon

BENTON COMMUNITY (22): Sophia Seeck 0-3 2-2 2, Avery Kramer 0-2 0-0 0, Aubrey Kelly 3-13 5-6 12, Hannah Greiner 1-3 1-2 3, Hailey Suiter 0-1 0-0 0, Talulah Schroeder 0-6 2-2 2, Anna Embretson 0-0 0-0 0, Stelle Tjelmeland 1-1 0-0 3, Reagan Brooks 0-0 0-0 0, Avery Franzenburg 0-0 0-2 0, Emily Kulbartz 0-0 0-0 0, Mya McCarville 0-1 0-0 0, Georgie Holmes 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 5-30 10-14 22.

MOUNT VERNON (68): Savanna Wright 5-9 3-3 14, Taylor Franck 3-8 3-5 9, Chloe Meester 8-13 0-1 16, Courtney Franck 5-7 0-0 10, Sydney Huber 4-13 3-4 11, Eryn Jackson 1-2 0-0 3, Rylee Rasmussen 0-1 0-0 0, Quinn Pershing 0-1 0-0 0, Alivia Truitt 1-1 0-0 3, Lucy Wischmeyer 1-1 0-0 2, Sophia Meester 0-0 0-0 0, Ella Wilson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-56 9-13 68.

Benton Community 9 7 0 6 — 22

Mount Vernon 21 21 16 10 — 68

3-point goals: Benton 2-10 (Seeck 0-2, Kramer 0-2, Kelly 1-5, Tjelmeland 1-1), Mount Vernon 3-13 (Wright 1-5, T. Franck 0-2, Huber 0-4, Jackson 1-1, Truitt 1-1). Team fouls: Benton 16, Mount Vernon 11. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Benton 25 (Kelly, Schroeder 5), Mount Vernon 32 (C. Franck 10). Assists: Benton 3 (Greiner 2), Mount Vernon 16 (C. Franck 7). Steals: Benton 0, Mount Vernon 16 (Wright 6). Turnovers: Benton 21, Mount Vernon 6.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com