WEBSTER CITY - Marty McKinney doesn't know when the Webster City boys' basketball team last ran through the North Central Conference without a loss. Truth be told, he doesn't care to know either.
But step by step, game by game, his Lynx are closing in on league perfection.
Seventh-ranked (Class 3A) Webster City had no trouble brushing off Clarion-Goldfield in the final conference home game Friday night inside Jeff Gym. The Lynx built a 22-point halftime lead and then coasted the remainder of the way to a 58-42 victory.
Article Photos
DFJ photo by Tracy Runneberg
Sam Mossman floats towards the basket after a steal during Webster City’s 58-42 win over Clarion-Goldfield on Friday in Jeff Gym. He scored 10 points.
The Lynx are now 15-2 overall and 15-0 in the NCC with league road dates against Clear Lake, Algona and Humboldt remaining on the docket.
"I wouldn't have a clue, but I bet it's been a long time, if ever," McKinney, the Lynx head coach, said when asked about the program's history of going unbeaten in the NCC. "But we're not worried about that right now. We're just going one game at a time."
The latest step was over before the Lynx even had time to work up a good lather. They opened up a 19-12 lead after one quarter and then buried Clarion-Goldfield (3-17, 2-15) with a 20-5 second-quarter spurt.
Fact Box
Webster City 58, Clarion-Goldfield 42
Clarion-Goldfield (3-17, 2-15 NCC) - Luke Maxheimer 0 0-0 0, Colin Odland 1 0-0 3, Adam Stevens 1 0-0 3, Dominic Brandt 4 1-2 9, Ryan Waters 3 0-0 7, Trenton Sann 4 0-0 9, Max Gangestad 2 0-2 4, Wyatt Sann 1 0-5 2, Stephen McAtee 1 3-4 5. Totals: 17 4-13 42.
Webster City (15-2, 15-0 NCC) - Jonny Davis 8 3-3 19, Garrett Gourley 1 0-0 2, Sam Mossman 4 0-1 10, Bryan Swon 5 0-0 10, Ben Mossman 0 0-0 0, Brandon Carlson 1 0-0 3, Nick Olmstead 0 0-0 0, Andrew May 3 1-2 7, Nick Erritt 0 0-0 0, Boone Myers 3 1-2 7, Austin Myers 0 0-0 0, Nick Thilges 0 0-0 0. Totals: 25 5-8 58.
Clarion-Goldfield12 5 12 13-42
Webster City19 20 12 7-58
3-point field goals - C-G 4 (Odland, Stevens, Waters, T. Sann); WC 3 (S. Mossman 2, Carlson). Rebounds - WC 19 (B. Myers 4). Steals - WC 15 (S. Mossman 5). Assists - WC 12 (Davis 4). Team fouls - C-G 9, WC 14. Fouled out - none.
"I thought we did what we wanted to do in the first half," McKinney said. "In the second half, with a 22-point lead, I thought we went through the motions a little bit, but this was another step in the right direction."
Two-time first-team all-conference point guard Jonny Davis led all scorers with 19 points, and he also distributed four assists. Sam Mossman and Bryan Swon both dropped in 10 points, while Boone Myers and Andrew May had seven each.
Swon, a three-year starter at forward, went down in the early moments of the fourth quarter with a sprained ankle and he didn't return. He was already dealing with a tender ankle that kept him out of last Friday's win over Eagle Grove, and McKinney says this latest injury could keep him sidelined for Tuesday's tilt at Clear Lake.
"His ankle problems have been high ankle problems, and now this is a low ankle sprain, so it just adds to the discomfort," McKinney said. "But Bryan's a tough kid and he's going to fight through it."
Clear Lake will undoubtedly be riding a wave of momentum when they entertain the Lynx on Tuesday. The Lions upstaged Fort Dodge St. Edmond, 61-53 in overtime, in their home gym on Friday.
"It's going to be a battle up at Clear Lake, and I've already talked to the kids about how we need to be ready to go," McKinney said. "The three (conference) teams we have left are all dangerous and we're going to have to play well if we don't want to lose any one of those games."