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Wamac girls’ basketball squads have flexed their muscles against the MVC
Led by three wins by Marion, the Wamac is 7-1 against its bigger-school competition
Dec. 7, 2023 1:56 pm, Updated: Dec. 7, 2023 2:24 pm
Bigger isn’t always better. And in this case, it’s nowhere near.
The early portion of the girls’ basketball season has included eight encounters between the Metro-centric Mississippi Valley Conference and the more rural Wamac Conference.
Through Tuesday, the count is 7-1 in favor of the Wamac.
“The conference is just loaded with good teams,” said Marion Coach Henry Martinson, whose team is off to a 5-0 start, featuring three wins against MVC opponents (Linn-Mar, Dubuque Wahlert and Cedar Rapids Washington), all by margins between seven and 11 points.
Thursday’s rankings from the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union support Martinson’s claim.
Clear Creek Amana (4-0) is ranked No. 2 in Class 4A; Solon (5-0), Mount Vernon (4-0) and Benton Community (3-1) are No. 1, No. 2 and No. 5 in 3A.
Marion has risen to No. 11 in 4A.
“I think our ball movement is top notch,” Martinson said. “We don’t have one girl that says, ‘I’m the star.’
“Last year, we were probably tied or ahead in 80 to 90 percent of our games in the fourth quarter, but we couldn’t hold on. People were pointing fingers at each other. This group is senior-dominated, and they get along well.”
Clear Creek Amana is the other Wamac team to have multiple victories against the MVC, beating neighbor teams Iowa City West (57-45) and Iowa City Liberty (50-45).
The MVC’s lone win came from Western Dubuque, 56-32 over West Delaware on Nov. 28.
Two more Wamac-vs.-MVC games are scheduled for Saturday: Marion travels to Iowa City High, and Mount Vernon visits Cedar Rapids Kennedy.
“In the league or out, it seems we don’t have any nights off right now,” Martinson said.
Tuesday eye-openers
Western Dubuque (4-2 overall, 1-0 MVC) earned its first victory of the Varsity Bound era (since 2008) against Cedar Rapids Xavier on Tuesday, 68-56, at Epworth.
The Bobcats were 5-17 last season, but caught fire in the postseason before dropping a Class 4A regional-final decision to the Saints, 54-46.
Carson Koerperich made 10 of 12 shots in a 24 point spree Tuesday, and North Dakota State commit Karrington Asp provided 20 points and 17 rebounds.
Cedar Rapids Prairie was unfazed by a 41-point season-opening loss to Johnston.
The Hawks have followed with a pair of impressive victories, including a 59-40 verdict at Waterloo West on Tuesday.
Emily Larson led the Hawks (2-1 overall, 2-0 MVC) with 19 points. Highly anticipated freshman KeaOnna Worley added 12, and Brynlie Hadenfeldt posted seven rebounds and six assists to go with five points.
Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com
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