Wildcats win three; Holtz reaches 1,000 points

Boys basketball

   Avery Holtz reached the 1,000 career points mark, and the Maquoketa Valley Wildcats won three times last week to extend their winning streak to five.

   MV played host to Clayton Ridge Jan. 23, and earned a 47-36 win after leading 28-15 at halftime. Kody Hoeger scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds for the ‘Cats. Avery Holtz had 10 points and five assists. Treyton Cook had eight points, Lance McShane had six points and 10 rebounds, and Toby Grimm had six points, five rebounds and five assists.

   On Jan. 24, the Wildcats rolled to a 72-32 home victory over Springville, outscoring the Orioles in each of the four quarters. Holtz scored 23 points, surpassing the 1,000 career point mark in the process. McShane had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Cook had 12 points and five steals. Brady Wall came off the bench to score 10 points. Hoeger had three points and 10 rebounds.

   The Wildcats then played at Edgewood-Colesburg Jan. 27, and won 68-29, as McShane had 28 points and 10 rebounds. Holtz also had a double-double, with 14 points and 10 assists. Hoeger had 10 points and six rebounds; Grimm had eight points and six rebounds.

Girls basketball

   Maquoketa Valley picked up a pair of  lopsided wins in recent girls basketball action.

   The Wildcats (6-5, 11-7) scored a 93-13 win at Starmont of Arlington Jan. 20, as Bianka Ronnebaum scored 26 points. In all, 10 MV players scored. Haley Ronnebaum added 15 points, Ella Mensen came off the bench to tally 11, Kennedy Rausch scored 10, Leah Reicher had nine, Lanni Beaman and Madison Thompson each had six, Grace Richter had five, Jada Knipper had three, and Alexis Halverson had two. MV led 60-2 at halftime.

   In a non-conference Jan. 23 home game against Clayton Ridge, the Wildcats won 60-42, pulling away with a 15-6 fourth quarter. Three ‘Cats scored in double figures. Bianka Ronnebaum had 18 points, six assists and five rebounds. Haley Ronnebaum had 16 points, six rebounds and three steals. Richter had 10 points and six rebounds.

Wrestling

   Maquoketa Valley participated in a wrestling meet at Edgewood-Colesburg Jan. 24, and went 1-2. The Wildcats defeated Central Elkader 36-30, but lost to Monticello 65-11 and to North Fayette Valley 66-18.

   Brayden Bjorkgren went 3-0 with a pin, a technical fall and a forfeit win. Mason Jolley pinned his Central Elkader opponent.

   The Tri-Rivers Conference Tournament, which was scheduled for Jan. 28 at Midland, was postponed due to winter weather.