Mustangs at full strength for regionals

On the floor and on the bench, the Mount Vernon Mustangs appear to be playing with a full deck at last.

'(Wednesday night), we finally had everybody practicing,” said Mount Vernon Coach Dennis Roloff. 'When we're healthy, I wouldn't want to play us. We can put up a lot of points.”

In the regular-season finale Tuesday, the Mustangs were without three starters - Libby Ryan (back), Jacque Murray (flu) and Kaitlyn Volesky (ankle). Still, somehow, they managed to rally and defeat DeWitt Central in overtime.

Only two players (Alli Platte and Haley Corkin) have played in every game this season. Even Roloff, now in his third season at Mount Vernon after a long, successful tenure at Cedar Rapids Kennedy, missed a game while hospitalized with dehydration.

But Roloff says everyone's a go when the Mustangs (13-8) host Tipton on Saturday in a Class 3A regional quarterfinal. Tipoff is 7 p.m.

'If we've got everybody, we've got five girls capable of scoring in double figures at any time,” Roloff said. 'And with Volesky, it really gives us an inside presence.”

Volesky, a sophomore, has played just eight games this season. She has battled a back injury, then suffered a high ankle sprain. In her eight games, though, she netted 16.3 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, shooting 67.5 percent from the floor.

Regionals open across the state Saturday in 3A and 2A, though most of the top-end 2A teams don't begin until Tuesday's second round.

The hottest area 3A team, without a doubt, is No. 6 Center Point-Urbana (17-4), which carries a 12-game winning streak into the postseason. The Stormin' Pointers are Wamac Conference West Division champions and host Anamosa (3-18) in the first round.

Two other area teams are ranked in 3A. No. 12 Union (17-4) hosts Aplington-Parkersburg (10-12) while No. 14 Mid-Prairie (14-7) entertains Williamsburg (4-18).

The top 3A game in the area might be at Solon, where the Spartans (13-8) face Benton Community (11-10).

Area ranked teams in 2A that earned first-round byes are No. 3 North Linn (20-1) and No. 13 Cascade (18-3), both of which reached the state semifinals last season, along with No. 12 Iowa City Regina (18-3) and No. 15 West Branch (16-5).

SATURDAY'S CLASS 3A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All games, 7 p.m.)

Region 2

Waterloo Columbus (3-18) at Hampton-Dumont (18-2)

Aplington-Parkersburg (10-12) at Union (17-4)

Forest City (13-9) at Clear Lake (15-6)

Garner-Hayfield/Ventura (15-7) at Algona (12-9)

Region 3

North Fayette Valley (4-17) at Osage (22-0)

New Hampton (5-16) at Independence (6-15)

Oelwein (3-18) at Crestwood (18-2)

Waukon (7-14) at Dyersville Beckman (8-13)

Region 4

Anamosa (3-18) at Center Point-Urbana (17-4)

West Liberty (9-12) at Monticello (14-7)

Tipton (2-19) at Mount Vernon (13-8)

Camanche (12-10) at Northeast (13-9)

Region 5

Bondurant-Farrar (4-17) at Nevada (18-3)

South Tama (6-15) at East Marshall (9-12)

Williamsburg (4-18) at Mid-Prairie (14-7)

Benton Community (11-10) at Solon (13-8)

SATURDAY'S CLASS 2A REGIONAL FIRST ROUND

(All games, 7 p.m.)

Region 4

Edgewood-Colesburg (10-11) at Wapsie Valley (11-11)

South Winneshiek (7-14) at Denver (7-14)

North Butler (0-19) at Saint Ansgar (7-13)

Postville (5-16) at MFL MarMac (11-10)

Region 5

Lisbon (7-14) at Bellevue (7-15)

Wilton (2-18) at North Cedar (5-16)

Danville (9-12) at Wapello (7-14)

West Burlington (3-18) at Columbus Community (15-6)

Region 6

Jesup (1-20) at Alburnett (13-8)

Grundy Center (12-9) at BGM (16-5)

North Mahaska (4-17) at Highland (14-7)

Cardinal (10-11) at Eddyville EBF (13-8)

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