The Mount Vernon Mustangs beat the Benton Community Bobcats 53-45 in a girls’ basketball game at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023.

Mount Vernon Mustangs guard Taylor Franck (11) reacts after the Mustangs defeated the Bobcats at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Mount Vernon Mustangs center Chloe Meester (20) shoots the ball with pressure from Benton Community Bobcats guard Emma Townsley (3) and Benton Community Bobcats forward Zoey Junge (23) in the first quarter at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Benton Community Bobcats guard Emma Townsley (3) and Benton Community Bobcats forward Jessa DeMoss (34) pressure Mount Vernon Mustangs center Brynley Rasmussen (24) as she looks to shoot in the first quarter at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Mount Vernon Mustangs Sydney Huber (23) shoots a three-pointer in the fourth quarter against Benton Community at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Benton Community Bobcats forward Zoey Junge (23) shoots the ball in the second quarter against Mount Vernon at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Mount Vernon Mustangs guard Taylor Franck (11) hugs teammate Mount Vernon Mustangs guard Peyton Simpson (25) after defeating Benton Community at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Benton Community Bobcats forward Aubrey Kelly (20) and Benton Community Bobcats forward Piper Nelson (10) jump up to block Mount Vernon Mustangs center Chloe Meester (20) as she goes for a layup in the fourth quarter at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

A foul is called on Benton Community Bobcats guard Emma Townsley (3) as she and Benton Community Bobcats forward Zoey Junge (23) block Mount Vernon Mustangs center Brynley Rasmussen (24) as she goes for a layup at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Mount Vernon Mustangs guard Taylor Franck (11) guards Benton Community Bobcats guard McKenna Kramer (12) as she looks to pass the ball in the first quarter at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Mount Vernon Mustangs center Chloe Meester (20) shoots the ball and gets a basket for the Mustangs in the first quarter against Benton Community at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Mount Vernon Mustangs center Brynley Rasmussen (24) looks to shoot with pressure from Benton Community Bobcats forward Jessa DeMoss (34) in the first quarter at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Benton Community Bobcats guard Emma Townsley (3) shoots the ball with pressure from Mount Vernon Mustangs center Chloe Meester (20) in the third quarter at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Mount Vernon Mustangs guard Courtney Franck (10) looks to pass the ball as she drives towards the basket in the first quarter against Benton Community at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Mount Vernon Mustangs guard Eryn Jackson (5) and Benton Community Bobcats forward Hannah Greiner (30) fight for possession of the ball in the second quarter at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Benton Community Bobcats forward Aubrey Kelly (20) reaches out to save the ball from going out of bound in the third quarter against Mount Vernon at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Mount Vernon Mustangs guard Eryn Jackson (5) guards Benton Community Bobcats guard McKenna Kramer (12) as she looks to pass the ball in the second quarter at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Benton Community Bobcats forward Aubrey Kelly (20) shoots the ball with pressure from Mount Vernon Mustangs guard Courtney Franck (10) in the third quarter at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Mount Vernon Mustangs guard Courtney Franck (10) reaches out to save the loose ball in the third quarter against Benton Community at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Benton Community Bobcats guard Emma Townsley (3) shoots a three-pointer in the second quarter against Mount Vernon at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Mount Vernon Mustangs center Chloe Meester (20) celebrates with teammate Mount Vernon Mustangs guard Taylor Franck (11) in the second quarter against Benton Community at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Mount Vernon Mustangs Sydney Huber (23) fouls on Benton Community Bobcats forward Piper Nelson (10) as they fight for control of the ball in the first quarter at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Benton Community Bobcats guard McKenna Kramer (12) reaches up to block Mount Vernon Mustangs guard Courtney Franck (10) as she shoots the ball in the first quarter at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Benton Community Bobcats forward Piper Nelson (10) pushes back into Mount Vernon Mustangs center Brynley Rasmussen (24) as she goes for a layup in the second quarter at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Benton Community Bobcats forward Aubrey Kelly (20) and Mount Vernon Mustangs guard Courtney Franck (10) both dive to get possession of the loose ball in the third quarter at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Benton Community Bobcats forward Zoey Junge (23) fouls on Mount Vernon Mustangs center Chloe Meester (20) as she goes for a layup in the first quarter at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Benton Community Bobcats guard McKenna Kramer (12) yells out to her teammates to move as she looks to pass the ball with pressure from Mount Vernon in the second quarter at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Benton Community Bobcats forward Zoey Junge (23) reacts after being elbowed in the mouth as Mount Vernon Mustangs center Brynley Rasmussen (24) jumps up to shoot the ball in the fourth quarter at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Benton Community Bobcats forward Aubrey Kelly (20) and Mount Vernon Mustangs center Chloe Meester (20) reach out to get possession of the rebound in the fourth quarter at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Mount Vernon Mustangs guard Courtney Franck (10) jumps up to catch the ball as the Mustangs burn out the clock in the fourth quarter against Benton Community at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Benton Community Bobcats guard Emma Townsley (3) knocks the ball away from Mount Vernon Mustangs guard Courtney Franck (10) as she goes for a layup in the fourth quarter at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Mount Vernon Mustangs center Chloe Meester (20) reaches up to block Benton Community Bobcats guard Emma Townsley (3) as she goes for a layup in the third quarter at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Mount Vernon Mustangs guard Taylor Franck (11) and Mount Vernon Mustangs guard Courtney Franck (10) guard Benton Community Bobcats forward Piper Nelson (10) as she dribbles the ball down the court in the third quarter at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Benton Community Bobcats forward Piper Nelson (10) reaches out to block Mount Vernon Mustangs center Brynley Rasmussen (24) as she shoots the ball in the fourth quarter at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

The Mustangs celebrate after defeating the Bobcats at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

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