Big final quarter sends 'Cats into break with win

Girls basketball

     Maquoketa Valley outscored Alburnett 20-12 in the fourth quarter to wrest away a hard-fought 64-58 victory in the Wildcats’ final game before winter break, Dec. 20 in Delhi.

     MV had double-digit leads at three different points in the game, but trailed 46-44 heading into the final quarter before battling to the lead.

     Sam Wall had a big night with 27 points, making three of eight shots from three-point range. Emerson Whittenbaugh shot 7-for-12 from the field and finished with 15 points. Maci Freiburger had a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Ella Imler contributed nine assists and three steals.

     “This was a very tough game,” Maquoketa Valley coach Scot Moenck said. “Alburnett is a senior-dominated team, so we knew going into this game it was going to be tough and they would make runs at us.

     “We got down (by) two in the fourth quarter and nobody panicked. We were so good down the stretch in executing our sets and hitting free throws. They have come a long way since November.”

     The Wildcats headed into the break with records of 4-1 in the Tri-Rivers Conference and 9-2 overall.

Boys basketball

     Maquoketa Valley battled a tough Alburnett team in the final boys basketball game before winter break, as Alburnett won 65-30 Dec. 20 in Delhi.

     The Pirates outscored MV in each of the four quarters, including a 24-12 third quarter margin that opened the Alburnett lead to 50-25.

     Blake Becker led the Wildcats with seven points, Andrew Holtz and Brian Heims had six apiece, and Mason Lubben added five. Holtz also had four assists. Heims pulled down three rebounds.

     “I think we saw the effects of playing four games in six days,” Maquoketa Valley coach Eric Conner said. “We just never got into the flow of the game offensively or defensively. Overall, though, our guys continued to play hard.

     The Wildcats are 2-2 in the Tri-Rivers Conference, 6-3 overall.