MFL MarMac girls claim share of UIC title
With 17 points, Autumn Shaw had one of her best games of the season in the win over West Central. (Photos by Audrey Posten)
Evelyn Fritz and the Bulldog defense limited West Central to just 13 points in last week's game.
Ava Kishman netted eight points against the Blue Devils.
By Audrey Posten | Times-Register
The MFL MarMac girls basketball team wrapped up its regular season last week, defeating West Central but dropping the finale at Kee.
The Bulldogs overwhelmed the Blue Devils 67-13 in a Feb. 4 game in Monona. West Central scored six points in the first quarter, but mustered only two in the second and fourth periods and three in the third.
MFL MarMac made just over 50 percent of its shots, led by a season-high 17 points from Autumn Shaw, who missed only one of her attempts that night. The senior also grabbed four rebounds.
Emma Driscoll was a perfect 5-5 from the field and hit one three-pointer. She finished the game with 12 points, three rebounds and two assists. Ava Kishman netted eight points, five steals, four assists and a rebound, while Samantha Ruff contributed eight points, five rebounds and three assists off the bench.
The Bulldogs couldn’t sustain that momentum against Kee on Feb. 7. Trailing 9-7 after the first quarter, they out-scored the Hawks 12-10 in the second for a 19-19 tie at halftime. Kee pulled ahead by four points at the end of the third period, then closed the game on an 11-5 run to win 38-28.
The Hawks made just three of 17 three-point attempts on the night and only half of their free throws, but were 35.9 percent from the field. It was just enough to best the Bulldogs, who made only 25 percent of their shots and one of 17 three-pointers. MFL MarMac made it to the free throw line only twice. They also turned the ball over 19 times to Kee’s 16 and had five shots blocked.
Cora Keehner posted an eight-point night off the bench and collected seven rebounds and a steal. Emme Wikner also scored eight, to go with three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Kishman put up seven points and team highs with eight rebounds and four steals.
The loss set the Bulldogs’ season record at 14-8. It was just their second in the Upper Iowa Conference and spoiled their bid to win the title outright in back-to-back seasons. The other loss was to co-champion Turkey Valley, who finished with an identical UIC record, with one loss to the Bulldogs and the other to Kee.
MFL MarMac has this week off, before postseason play begins Tuesday, Feb. 18. The team will host 9-11 Wapsie Valley in Class 2A - Region 8 action, starting at 7 p.m. The winner will advance to the regional semifinal at Maquoketa Valley on Friday, Feb. 21.
