After win over Central, Bulldogs shocked by Clayton Ridge
Mackenzy Ruff and the MFL MarMac defense held Central to just 21.6 percent shooting from the field in a 58-29 win on Feb. 2. The Bulldogs also forced 12 steals and blocked three Warrior shots. (Photo by Bev Hamann)
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
The MFL MarMac girls basketball team went 1-1 last week, nabbing an easy victory over Central before an uncharacteristic loss at Clayton Ridge.
The Bulldog defense starred in the 58-29 win over Central on Feb. 2, holding the Warriors to just 21.6 percent shooting from the field. Central never scored more than 10 points in a quarter, including zero in the final period. The Bulldogs also forced 12 steals and blocked three Warrior shots.
MFL MarMac, meanwhile, hit 44 percent of its shots, including seven of 16 three-pointers. Riley Moreland led the team with 19 points and six rebounds. Her stat line also included three steals, two assists and two blocks. Kayden Gillitzer added 18 points—half of which were from behind the arc—as well as four rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block. Miranda Lang finished the game with 10 points, four assists, three rebounds and three steals.
Unfortunately, the Bulldogs couldn’t sustain that success into the Feb. 6 match-up with 7-9 Clayton Ridge. MFL MarMac was down early, 8-3, in the first quarter, but went on a 12-8 run in the second period to cut the deficit to 16-15 at halftime. The third quarter ended with the teams tied at 30. But it was Clayton Ridge who had the edge down the stretch, out-scoring the Bulldogs 16-12 to pull off the 46-42 upset.
MFL MarMac struggled from the field, shooting just 23.4 percent. The team also went cold from the three-point line, sinking only three of 19 attempts. Rebounds were another key factor in the loss, with the Eagles pulling down 45, compared to 17 by the Bulldogs.
Moreland was again MFL MarMac’s leading scorer, with 13 points. She also picked up four rebounds, four steals, an assist and the team’s two blocks. Carlie Jones had nine points and two rebounds off the bench, while Ashley Shaw chipped in seven points, two rebounds and an assist. Gillitzer totaled five points, five rebounds, five steals and two assists.
The Bulldogs now sit at 14-5 overall and 12-3 in the Upper Iowa Conference. They’ll wrap up the regular season this week, hosting NFV on Feb. 8, then Decorah on Feb. 11. MFL MarMac will start postseason play on Feb. 16, with a Class 2A Region 1 quarterfinal game at 13-6 Jesup.
