Mount Vernon girls’ basketball on 3-game winning streak

MOUNT VERNON — A week ago, the Mount Vernon girls' basketball team beat Dyersville Beckman Catholic at home, 52-25.

The Mustangs were coming off a big win, beating Anamosa by 31 points Friday night, and last Friday beat West Delaware, 66-48, for their third win in a row.

Senior guard Libby Ryan led the team against Beckman, scoring 17 points.

'It feels great,' Ryan said. 'Things are starting to click for us as a team and we are playing more consistent basketball.'

Despite a blowout loss in their season opener to Class 4A Marion, 60-24, the Mustangs are off to an impressive start to the season. In four of their five wins they've won by a margin of 19 points or more, including a 61-14 demolishing of Vinton-Shellsburg on Dec. 2.

'I feel like we've built up our team's confidence, as a whole and as individual players,' said junior forward Catherine Yeoman.

The Mustangs certainly have been playing with confidence these last three games.

'But we also know that we can't stop winning or let down at all,' Yeoman said. 'We know we have to keep working hard in practice if we want to achieve or goals.'

'We weren't hitting our shots last night, so we knew our defense had to dial up the intensity a little bit if we were going to get this win,' Ryan said about the Beckman game.

The Mustangs' true key to winning has been their defense. Holding opponents to just over 30 points per game in wins.

'Our coaches always emphasize to never get 'out hustled' by the other team,' said Ryan, who led the team with five steals against Beckman and was all over the place on both ends of the court.

The Mustangs have high hopes for this season, but they have ways to go. With a whole lot of season ahead the girls know what they need to accomplish their goals and are going to continue to work day in and day out.

Mount Vernon has a return date with Beckman, at Dyersville, on Tuesday.