Pitz returns, contributes for Bobcats

CEDAR RAPIDS — You hear 'ACL,' you think 'season-ending.'

Morgan Pitz thought otherwise.

'The doctors gave me the option,' Pitz said. 'They said I could have surgery, and I'd be out six months. Or I could try a brace. That would allow me to come back and help the team.'

She chose the latter. And she was mighty valuable as Class 4A third-ranked Western Dubuque blew past 3A No. 5 Spirit Lake in the second half for a 49-28 triumph at Rivalry Saturday at the U.S. Cellular Center.

A junior point guard, Pitz scored 12 points and hit all seven of her free-throw attempts as Western Dubuque (11-0) won its 32nd consecutive regular-season game.

The Bobcats trailed, 26-23, in the third quarter, then scored 26 consecutive points.

'We were much better in the second half,' said Bobcats Coach Amy Ostwinkle. 'Early in the game, we were hesitant to attack the gaps. But our defense sparked our offense, and that's the way it's been the last couple games.'

Pitz was injured in the Bobcats' season opener against South Tama. She was back, with a brace, for Tuesday's game against Marion. Knee pain is less of an issue, she said, than conditioning.

'It's just short spurts in and out of the game right now, while I get back in the groove,' she said.

Spirit Lake (7-3) held its largest margin at 24-20, then led 26-23 before the Bobcats clamped down. A three-point play by Pitz tied it, a basket by UNI recruit Megan Maahs untied it, and the Bobcats' run was just beginning.

It was 32-26 by the end of the quarter, 49-26 before the Indians scored the game's final basket with 15 seconds left.

Maahs led all scorers with 13 points, 11 in the second half.

WESTERN DUBUQUE 49, SPIRIT LAKE 28

At U.S. Cellular Center

SPIRIT LAKE (28): Bailee Newman 3-7 0-0 7, Joie Veldman 1-5 0-0 2, Erin Dau 0-4 2-4 2, Macy Smith 3-8 3-4 9, Anna Brown 1-10 1-2 4, Brooke Harrington 1-1 0-0 2, Paige Peterson 0-1 0-0 0, Carly Hassel 0-2 0-0 0, Hailey Praska 0-1 0-0 0, Makenna Murray 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 10-41 6-10 28.

WESTERN DUBUQUE (49): Blair Burds 1-3 0-0 3, Abigail Dolphin 3-3 0-0 8, Morgan Pitz 2-5 7-7 12, Megan Maahs 5-13 3-3 13, Jessica Cartee 1-7 1-2 3, Madison Simon 1-5 0-0 6, Lauren Kramer 0-0 0-0 0, Jenna Willer 0-0 0-0 0, Ireland Hill 0-1 0-0 0, Quinn Herbst 0-1 1-2 1, Mckenzie Maahs 1-3 1-2 3. Totals 15-41 6-13 13-16 49.

Halftime: Western Dubuque 19, Spirit Lake 19. 3-point goals: Spirit Lake 2-16 (Newman 1-2, Veldman 0-3, Brown 1-7, Peterson 0-1, Hessel 0-2, Praska 0-1), Western Dubuque 6-13 (Burds 1-2, Dolphin 2-2, Pitz 1-2, Megan Maahs 0-4, Cartee 0-1, Simon 2-2). Team fouls: Spirit Lake 12, Western Dubuque 11. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Spirit Lake 22 (Smith 6), Western Dubuque 27 (Cartee 8). Assists: Spirit Lake 5 (Veldman 3), Western Dubuque 8 (Pitz, Maahs 2). Steals: Spirit Lake 4 (four with 1), Western Dubuque 8 (three with 2). Turnovers: Spirit Lake 13, Western Dubuque 12.

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