Wildcats, Wall top Orioles

Girls basketball

     MV (6-1, 11-2) traveled to Springville Jan. 8, and scored a 55-41 win. Up 35-18 at halftime, the Wildcats found themselves in a close game after a 15-4 third quarter advantage for Springville, bringing the Orioles to within six, 39-33. But MV’s 16-7 fourth quarter advantage sealed the win.

     Sam Wall scored 29 points, shooting 11-for-15 from the field. Emerson Whittenbaugh had six points and 11 rebounds. Taya Tucker had six points, and Ella Imler had five points and five assists. Maddy Anderegg and Wall made three steals apiece.

     “I was really pleased with the start we got off to in this game,” Maquoketa Valley coach Scot Moenck said. “I felt we were patient offensively, and we did an excellent job of sharing the basketball.

     “Defensively we have to be better. Once we figure out how to put 32 minutes together, we can be pretty special.”

Boys basketball

     The Wildcats (3-3, 7-4) earned a 55-48 win at Starmont Jan. 4 to start the new year, as Andrew Holtz scored 32 points. The sophomore was 10-for-16 from the field and 11-for-15 from the free throw line.

     Blake Becker added seven points, while Owen Mensen and A.J. Ambundo scored six apiece. Brian Heims had four rebounds.

     Things didn’t go as well for MV in a Jan. 8 game at Springville, which the Wildcats lost 47-27. Holtz and Heims led the team with eight points apiece; Heims had eight rebounds and Holtz had seven, along with four assists and two blocks. Mensen scored seven points. Ambundo had four points and six rebounds.

Wrestling

     Last week was an active one for the Maquoketa Valley wrestling team, which had three meets in the space of five days.

     The first was a double dual at Starmont Jan. 7. MV lost 46-24 to Bellevue, and 47-30 to Starmont. Carter Kruse won two matches, by decision and pin. Tim Harmon and James LeGassick also scored pin victories, and Evan Elgin won a match by decision. There were several forfeit victories mixed in as well.

     On Jan. 10, the Wildcats hosted Central City and Midland in another double dual meet. MV defeated Central City 54-9, and topped Midland 48-33. Michael Schaul and Elgin each scored two pins. Other pin winners were Parker Sternhagen and Harmon.

     The Wildcats then competed in the Cascade Invitational Jan. 12. MV totaled 76.5 points to finish seventh out of 14 teams. Union of La Porte City won the meet with 221.5, followed by Western Dubuque with 182.5.

     Harmon finished third at 152 pounds. In fourth were LeGassick at 170, Elgin at 195 and Michael Feldmann at 220. Sternhagen was fifth at 138. Schaul placed sixth at 126, and Kruse was sixth at 182.

     “I was happy with how the guys competed (last) week,” Maquoketa Valley coach Tim Andrews said. “I feel like we are moving in the right direction as a team. We left some matches out there on Saturday that we need to learn from as we move into three good weeks of practice time before the postseason.”