Mount Vernon junior varsity scores a rout

MOUNT VERNON - The Mount Vernon JV boys' basketball team dominated Maquoketa at the Mount Vernon Middle School late last month, beating the Cardinals, 71-31.

The Mustangs got out to a quick 5-0 lead after a number of Cardinals turnovers and led 9-2 at the end.

Early in the second quarter, momentum changed when sophomore Abe Kinrade of Maquoketa had a huge slam dunk after a turnover by the Mustangs, making the score 12-7. It was a thrilling end to the second quarter as the Mustangs drove down the court and nailed a couple 3-pointers. including a buzzer beater from freshman Garrett Welch to make it 36-15 Mustangs going into halftime.

It was a very defensive third quarter for Mount Vernon, which outscored its opponent 20-9. The score at the end of the third was 56-24 Mustangs.

It was a slow start to the fourth quarter for both teams, but it was a shutdown quarter for the Mustangs, who only allowed Maquoketa five points to seal the game.

In their previous meeting at Maquoketa, the Mustangs barely squeaked out the win. But this time, Mount Vernon pulled it off to end a three-game slump.

'We were unselfish,” sophomore forward Trenton Baty said. 'We were passing the ball and getting open shots that helped us come out on top.”

'We had a lot of turnovers, but that's what happens in a fast paced game,” said sophomore shooting guard Zach Krogmann.