Mount Vernon freshmen team gets sound advice

MOUNT VERNON - Mount Vernon freshman Blake Booth had some simple advice for his team after a 61-48 loss to Maquoketa.

'We just need to score more points,” he said.

Mustangs freshman coach Ben Knake told his team to control their attitude, energy and effort in the next game.

The freshmen were trying to improve on their 9-8 record last week and started off strong, winning the opening tip. After two minutes, Gabe Randall hit a 3-pointer, starting a good night for him. Consecutive scores by the Cardinals, however, gave them an early lead.

'We started out slow and they had too many rebounds,” Knake said.

Early 3-pointers by Randall and Matt Martin kept the 'Stangs in the game, however, and they trailed just, 13-10, after the first quarter.

'The game was just clicking for me,” Randall said after scoring 15 points in the first half.

The Cardinals' zone defense kept the Mustangs on their heels and led to many steals and baskets. The second quarter moved very fast and ended with a buzzer beating 3-pointer by Cam Butterbaugh that cut the Maquoketa lead to 31-27. Turnovers in the first half - 11 for Mount Vernon and 3 for Maquoketa - were a huge difference.

Maquoketa came out after halftime with intense defense as if it were playing from behind, but couldn't stop Randall. He had an explosive early third quarter and brought the Mustangs' deficit down to one. The Cardinals started to force some crucial turnovers, however, and shut down Booth, who put up 31 points in his previous game.

The game started to heat up and a huge double foul after players were wrestling for the ball led to an injury and a 10-minute delay. Maquoketa led at the end of the third quarter, 44-39.

Early in the fourth quarter, the game went back and forth. The Cardinals started to come on in the clutch, making oodles of baskets. The Mustangs tried to shoot over the zone, but couldn't come through.

'Their zone confused us, but Gabe (Randall) kept us in it,” Booth said.

The zone led to fast transitions for Maquoketa and the Mustangs got caught up in foul trouble.