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The Creston girls basketball team exploded in the second quarter here Monday, opening the season with a 54-40 win over Mount Ayr.
After playing through a sloppy first quarter that saw the Panthers trail the Raiderettes 7-6, Creston used a 12-0 run to pull away from Mount Ayr.
After sophomore Caylie Hickman hit a 3-pointer to draw Mount Ayr within 13-12, Taylor Briley sparked the Panther run with a 3-pointer from the wing.
Jenna Taylor followed with a 3-pointer of her own and then Briley got a steal that led to a layup. Coming out of a Mount Ayr time out, Cammy Rutherford got a basket in the post and Taylor hit two free throws.
Macy Larsen finally ended the Panther run with a basket off a feed from Megan Warin, but Briley hit another 3-pointer to give Creston a 28-14 advantage. Sara Winemiller ended the half with two free throws to cut the gap to 28-16.
“We didn’t take care of the ball and I think we really had those first game jitters to begin with,” Creston head coach Brent Douma said. “Made six turnovers and missed some shots. But good thing is we played good enough defense to only give up seven points and then could get a lead there in the second quarter.”
“We went through a stretch there in the second quarter, but we just didn’t score,” Mount Ayr head coach Thad Streit said. “We didn’t get any buckets, didn’t get any help. That kind of hurt us. We went into a lull. Nine points in a quarter is terrible. I tell you what, they didn’t miss a free throw and we didn’t get to the line. That needs to get better.”
Creston shot 14-of-17 from the free throw line for the game, with Mount Ayr shooting just 3-4.
Creston eventually built up an 18-point lead by the end of the third quarter, but after a Tess Shields 3-pointer, Warin layup and another basket by Tess Shields, the Raiderettes closed to within 48-37.
But Camryn Somers buried a 3-pointer in transition to thwart the Raiderette run.
“That was a dagger,” Streit said. “I remember that. I thought it was 10 and then she hit that three. That was a dagger. That hurt. You try to make a run an they answer with another three.”
Somers was one of three Panthers in double figures with 10 points. Taylor led the way with 18 points, including 9-of-10 shooting from the free throw line. Briley, who had 13 points at halftime, finished with 14. Taylor also grabbed 12 rebounds and Cammy Rutherford added eight points with 10 boards.
“I was really happy with Cammy Rutherford and some of the shots she made down low and a couple of the moves she had there,” Douma said. “All the starters contributed.”
For Mount Ayr, Warin led the way with 12 points and three assists, while Kelcie Shields finished with 11 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots.
Creston, now 1-0 overall, returns to action 7:30 p.m next Monday at Winterset. Mount Ayr, meanwhile, plays Monday at Lamoni.
MOUNT AYR (40) — Megan Warin 6 0-0 12, Kelcie Shields 5 1-2 11, Tess Shields 3 0-0 8, Sara Winemiller 1 2-2 4, Caylie Hickman 1 0-0 3, Blair Glendenning 1 0-0 2. Totals — 17 3-4 40. 3-point goals — 3 (T. Shields 2, Hickman 1). Assists — Macy Larsen 3, Warin 3, T. Shields 3. Steals — Larsen 3. Rebounds — K. Shields 10, T. Shields 5, Larsen 4, Winemiller 4, Warin 3. Team fouls — 14. Fouled out — none.
CRESTON (54) — Jenna Taylor 4 9-10 18, Taylor Briley 5 2-3 14, Camryn Somers 3 3-4 10, Cammy Rutherford 4 0-0 8, Lexie Little 2 0-0 4. Totals — 18 14-17 54. 3-point goals — 4 (Briley 2, Taylor 1, Somers 1). Rebounds — 39 (Taylor 12, Rutherford 10, Somers 7, Little 6, Briley 3). Assists — 12 (Somers 6, Little 2, Caitlin McIlravy 2, Briley 1, Rutherford 1). Steals — 8 (McIlravy 2, Briley 2, Taylor 2, Little 1, Rutherford 1). Blocked shots — 1 (Taylor 1). Turnovers — 13. Team fouls — 10. Fouled out — none.
Mount Ayr — 7 16 24 40
Creston — 6 28 42 54
JUNIOR VARSITY
The Creston girls JV team opened the season with a 64-24 win over Mount Ayr on Monday.
After leading 28-12 at halftime, Creston dominated in the second half.
“We gave great effort tonight. We have talked a lot about mentality — competing and getting after it. We did that tonight and that is our expectation every night out,” Creston JV coach Ryan McKim said. “That being said, we have a lot to get cleaned up, but that’s to be expected on the first night out. Overall, we were pleased with the effort.”
Brielle Baker led the Panther JV with 22 points, while Saige Rice chipped in 10 and Taylor Buxton scored nine. Breanna Wallace scored seven.
Paige Lynch and Kierston Klommhaus scored seven points apiece for Mount Ayr.
Creston (64) — Brielle Baker 22, Saige Rice 10, Taylor Buxton 9, Breanna Wallace 7, Madison Callahan 5, Jesse Vicker 4, Megan Haley 3, Logan Pettit 2, Cayla Maitlen 2. Halftime score — Creston 28, Mount Ayr 12.
Mount Ayr (24)