July 16, 2025
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Area girls basketball roundup (Dec. 6) Mount Ayr, Diagonal, Lenox, O-M earn wins

By STAFF REPORT
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Diagonal junior Maddie Lohmann (left) and junior Cassidy Lohmann (second from left), along with coach Gina Gunsolley watch as the final seconds wind down of the Maroons’ 43-39 come-from-behind win over Murray Friday in Diagonal. The win moved the Maroons to 3-1 on the young season. (CNA photo)

Mount Ayr 73,

Southwest Valley 58

MOUNT AYR — Morgan Shuey had a 27-point night, but the Mount Ayr Raiderettes outdid the Timberwolves with four double-digit scorers in a 73-58 win at home Friday.

Tess Shields had 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting and four assists to lead the way. Megan Warin scored 14, Blair Glendenning scored 12 and Sara Winemiller added 10 as the Raiderettes assisted on 22 of their 28 made baskets.

The Raiderettes shot out to a 24-9 lead after a quarter, but the Timberwolves contested Mount Ayr more closely the rest of the night.

“I thought we got off to a great start as we exploded out of the gates and we had some great composure at the end as SWV was making a run,” Mount Ayr coach Thad Streit said. “Morgan Shuey is a nice player and she made some tough shots to get SWV back into the game.”

UP NEXT — Mount Ayr (3-0) hosts its fourth straight home game to start the season with a game against East Union (0-2), Tuesday at 6:15 p.m.

Lenox 48, Bedford 37

LENOX — Strong defensive stands in the first and fourth quarters helped the Lenox Tigers fend off the Bedford Bulldogs Friday 48-37.

Lenox gave up just five points in the first and seven in the fourth, while Katelyn Belding led the way with 11 points, nine rebounds and three steals in the home win.

Jessica Anderson assisted on four buckets, as both she and Morgan Parrish scored 10 points each.

It was on the boards that Lenox really dominated. The Tigers outpaced the Bulldogs in rebounds 40-18.

UP NEXT — Lenox (2-1), will next play at East Union (0-2) Friday at 6:15 p.m.

Diagonal 43, Murray 39

DIAGONAL — The Diagonal Maroonnettes overcame an 11-point third-quarter deficit and mounted a 15-0 run that helped pave the way for a 43-39 home win over Murray Friday.

Diagonal won for the third time in four outings.

“It was a very nice win,” said Diagonal coach Gina Gunsolley.

Diagonal grabbed a 39-35 lead late in the fourth, allowed Murray to score four straight, and then scored four straight points to end the game to seal the deal.

The Maroon offense and defense contributed to their rally in the fourth quarter.

“We had some shots fall. We got some stops in our press,” Gunsolley said. “The girls did what they need to do to find the open person or hit the outside shot.”

Murray pushed Diagonal hard for four quarters.

“Murray has always been challenging,” Gunsolley said. “Jerry (Shields) has been excellent from day one ever since I was in school. It’s always a challenge to face Murray.”

Beating their longtime rival is a boost for the Maroons early in the season.

“It’s definitely a big confidence builkder,” Gunsolley said. “We talked about how much time we’ve put in the gym, how much better we’ve gotten. We need to keep it up. We’re finally doing it.”

The loss taught Murray an important lesson about finishing a gme.

“Found out this evening that high school girls basketball teams play 32 minutes instead of 24,” Murray coach Jerry Shields said. “After the third quarter, we headed for the bus. Complete offense shut down caused by ourselves. Credit to Diagonal for not giving up.”

The Mustangs had control of the game through three quarters.

“Up nine, I thought we had it salted away,” Shields said. “We stopping doing anything we had been doing except turning the ball over. We did that.”

The Mustangs had an opportunity to put the game away at the free throw line, but went just 8-of-20.

“Our free throw shooting and turnovers are the two things that killed us,” Shields said.

Murray was clicking for the first three quarters.

“We passed the ball around. We were moving the ball quick. We were getting easy shots,”Shields said.

Katie Sobotka scored 15 points. Kasydi Klommhaus, Emily Newton and Bailey Taylor had seven points each.

Breianna Klein scored 14 for Murray and had five rebounds. Ally Waske had six points, seven boards and four blocks.

UP NEXT — Diagonal (3-1), will play at Orient-Macksburg (1-1) Tuesday at 6 p.m. Murray (2-1) will head to Mormon Trail (2-1) for a game 6 p.m. game Tuesday.

Orient-Macksburg 48, Melcher-Dallas 25

ORIENT —The Orient-Macksburg Bulldogs shut out Melcher-Dallas in the fourth quarter of their 48-25 home win Friday.

Brooklyn Sammons put up 14 points, Kaela Eslinger scored 13 and Katie Walter contributed 11 points and eight rebounds in the win.

Riley Rasmussen added six points and six rebounds.

UP NEXT — O-M (1-1) hosts Diagonal (3-1) Tuesday at 6 p.m.