Hot start keys No. 1 Springville

SPRINGVILLE — Don't challenge the Springville Orioles to a game of hot-potato.

Few move the ball faster, or more willingly.

'We just try to make the ball move more quickly than the defense can move,' said Coach Nate Sanderson.

The first half was an offensive symphony for the Class 1A top-ranked Orioles, who hit nearly 70 percent from the field before intermission, then coasted past North-Linn, 48-29, in a Tri-Rivers Conference West Division girls' basketball matchup Friday night at Machovec Gymnasium.

Springville (10-0 overall, 6-0 TRC West) hit 16 of 23 shots in the first half on its way to a 34-16 advantage. Eleven of the 16 baskets were assisted.

'We do a lot of stuff in practice, play a lot of passing games,' said Megan Wagaman, the Orioles' lone senior starter. 'We work it there so we can do it here.'

Added Rylee Menster, simply: 'We passed the ball around until we found the open person.'

Menster posted a monster first quarter, posting 14 points and four steals as the Orioles jetted to a 16-4 lead. The long-armed, quick-handed sophomore finished with 21 points, seven steals.

Wagaman added 13 points, 13 rebounds and four assists, and Springville took sole possession of first place in the division.

'We executed really well in the first half,' Sanderson said. 'Our ball movement was really good. A lot of our shots were right around the basket, with a couple open 3-pointers in there.'

It's not just the guards that are willing to dish the ball. Post Mikayla Nachazel led the Orioles with five assists.

'They're good,' said Lynx Coach Brian Wheatley. 'They're really good. It was a combination of them playing really well and us playing not so well defensively. We gave them way too many good looks in the first half.'

The Orioles cooled considerably after halftime. The Lynx (10-2, 5-1) scored the first seven points of the third quarter to get within 34-23, but Springville opened it back up in the fourth.

'We can still do some things better,' Sanderson said. 'If we can get more consistent, we'll be harder to defend.'

Anna LeGrand paced North-Linn with nine points.

Both teams face tough tests Saturday. Springville tangles with 1A No. 3 Turkey Valley as part of Rivalry Saturday at the U.S. Cellular Center; North-Linn plays at 3A No. 8 Monticello.

SPRINGVILLE 48, NORTH-LINN 29

At Springville

NORTH-LINN (29): Katie Kurt 4-11 0-0 8, Morgan Boer 2-11 0-1 4, Anna LeGrand 3-12 0-0 9, Ashley Tull 2-5 0-2 4, Jackie Falconer 1-3 0-0 3, Kylie Kurt 0-4 1-2 1, Rachel Supple 0-0 0-0 0, Emma Ware 0-0 0-0 0, Becca Aberle 0-1 0-0 0, Mallory Holub 0-0 0-0 0, Jenna Gallery 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 12-47 1-5 29.

SPRINGVILLE (48): Megan Wagaman 6-11 0-0 13, Rylee Menster 9-14 0-0 21, Madi Wagaman 1-4 1-2 3, Alyssa Jaeger 1-3 0-0 2, Mikayla Nachazel 4-9 1-2 9, Sydney Williams 0-2 0-0 0, Chrissy Hoogland 0-0 0-0 0, Sami Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Nichole Kane 0-0 0-0 0, Katelyn Gloeckner 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-43 2-4 48.

Halftime: Springville 34, North-Linn 16. 3-point goals: North-Linn 4-22 (Katie Kurt 0-4, LeGrand 3-11, Falconer 1-2, Aberle 0-1), Springville 4-10 (Megan Wagaman 1-3, Menster 3-5. Jaeger 0-1, Williams 0-1). Team fouls: North-Linn 7, Springville 10. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: North-Linn 26 (Tull 8), Springville 34 (Megan Wagaman 13). Assists: North-Linn 5 (Falconer, Kylie Kurt 2), Springville 13 (Nachazel 5). Steals: North-Linn 7 (Falconer 4), Springville 11 (Menster 7). Turnovers: North-Linn 13, Springville 15.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com