Early slate hasn't ground Cascade down

Life in the River Valley Conference is a grind.

"A good kind of grind," Cascade girls' basketball coach Mike Sconsa said. "Every night is tough, really tough."

The Class 2A 12th-ranked Cougars have been up to the challenge, grinding out a 6-0 record (6-0 RVC) heading into Friday's North Division showdown at 3A No. 9 Monticello (5-1, 5-1).

They have done it by winning a series of close games against quality opponents. The last four victories — against Wilton, Bellevue, Camanche and West Branch — have come by eight, nine, four and nine points.

'Four or five of our top kids have played varsity the last three years, and they've played a lot of basketball in the offseason,' Sconsa said. 'We've focused a lot on improvement (since last year's 14-11 season).'

Senior Abbie Ruggeberg is averaging about 11 points per game, followed by freshman guard Nicole McDermott (9 ppg) and senior Lisa Tucker (8 ppg).

'We struggle sometimes to put the ball in the hole,' Sconsa said. 'But we're getting to the line more, and we're slashing to the basket a little more.

'We're perfectly imperfect.'

According to the BC Moore computer, Cascade has faced 2A's second-strongest schedule to date, and it gets no easier before Christmas break.

After the Monticello contest, the Cougars face non-conference challenges with unbeaten North Linn (at Troy Mills on Monday) and Anamosa (at home, Tuesday).

ACT I FOR CPU, MARION

They shared the Wamac Conference West Division championship last year. Friday night, Center Point-Urbana and Marion square off for the divisional lead in a battle on unbeatens at Marion.

Both teams are 7-0 overall, 3-0 in the division, and both have been dominant.

Led by junior Chloe Rice (18.3 points per game) and freshman Kayba Laube (16.0), Class 4A second-rated Marion is the top-scoring squad in that class at 67.9 points per game, allowing 32.1.

Class 3A No. 5 CPU is scoring at a 69.2-point clip, allowing 35.1. Seven different Stormin' Pointers are averaging at least 5 points per game, led by junior Allison Wooldridge (12.3 ppg), who has committed to Wisconsin-Green Bay.

The rematch is Jan. 27 at Center Point.

RECORD NIGHT FOR WAECHTER

Sigourney's Brooke Waechter set school records for points (36) and 3-pointers (eight) in the Savages' 64-40 home win over Tri-County on Tuesday.

Waechter, a junior, made 13 of 18 shots from the field, including 8 of 11 from long range. She was 2 of 2 from the free-throw line, and also recorded six rebounds and six steals.

Sigourney jumped to a 24-6 lead after one quarter and improved to 7-0 overall, 5-0 in the South Iowa Cedar League. The Savages will face their toughest test to date on Friday, when they host Montezuma (5-2, 4-1).

Waechter's big night increased her scoring average from 11.0 points per game to 14.9, second best on the team.