WCHS sophomore Taylor McKinney holds the ball in the final seconds of the Lynx win over Gilbert on Saturday. One night after becoming the Lynx all-time 3-point record holder, she tied the single-season mark in a 57-45 road victory over Gilbert. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

GILBERT — It was a simple question without a simple answer. But the guess was laughable.

In all of her years playing basketball, just how many 3-pointers does Taylor McKinney think she’s tossed up towards the basket whether it’s in practice or games?

“I would probably say a good thousand,” she said after she cashed in on four and scored a game-high 24 points in Webster City’s 57-45 road win over Gilbert on Saturday. “Maybe more than that, but I’m not sure.”

Maybe? The answer made her dad and Lynx boys’ head coach Marty McKinney shake his head.

“I don’t know if we’re quite in the millions yet, but it’s a lot,” he said. “A lot more than a thousand, that’s for sure.”

WCHS senior forward Cassidy Nerland looks to split the double team of Gilbert’s Emma Kruse (5) and Kenzie Miller (4) during the first half on Saturday. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Two numbers that Taylor McKinney is aware of are 66 and 43. Those were the career and single-season 3-point field goal records at WCHS prior to this season. The sophomore flew by Shauna Olson’s all-time record on Friday and against Gilbert she tied Trisha Crystal’s single-season record. Single-game 3-point records haven’t been kept, but it’s a good bet the seven she canned against Clarion-Goldfield-Dows would’ve shoved her to the top of that list as well.

“It means a lot to break any record,” McKinney said. “I’m really glad I’m able to break them as a sophomore, but I can’t do it without my teammates. They help out a ton.”

McKinney had plenty of help against Gilbert (10-9). Cassidy Nerland produced her ninth double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Grace Hoversten came off the bench and performed well with eight points.

Despite some fatigue from the previous night’s win over CGD, the Lynx (9-8) led throughout. McKinney drained two first-quarter 3-pointers to help push WCHS out to an 18-11 lead. Gilbert stormed back late in the second period with a 10-2 flurry to close to within 28-24 at the intermission, but it never got closer than three after the break.

“At halftime I told the girls that there were 16 minutes left and I wanted them hustling their butts off,” WCHS head coach Nicole Muhlenbruch said after her team’s third consecutive win. “They gutted it out for those 16 minutes.”

Lynx sophomore Grace Hoversten scores from the baseline during the second half on Saturday. WCHS knocked off Gilbert, 57-45. DFJ photos/Troy Banning

Gilbert double-teamed Nerland whenever she touched the ball in the first half, but for whatever reason went away from it in the second half. Nerland made them pay by pouring in 10 of her points in the third and fourth quarters; she scored the first four points of the third.

Two more McKinney triples late in the third quarter extended the lead to 40-32 with eight minutes to play.

Sarah Hinners kept Gilbert within striking distance. The forward, who finished with 20 points, reeled off five straight to pul the Tigers within three, 42-39, with 6:20 remaining. But WCHS answered with a 13-3 run and Sarah Vogelbacher pushed the lead back to double digits with a bomb from outside the arc with 3:30 to go.

WCHS outscored Gilbert 15-6 over the final six minutes.

Halle Mason contributed four points and six rebounds to the win. Vogelbacher had five boards; McKinney distributed five assists and Zoey Woodle handed out three.

DFJ photo/Troy Banning

The Lynx will look to make it four straight wins Tuesday night when they host Fort Dodge St. Edmond at 6:15 p.m.

Webster City 57, Gilbert 45

Saturday at Gilbert

Webster City (9-8) — Haley Flaws 1 0-1 2, Taylor McKinney 8 4-4 24, Halle Mason 1 2-2 4, Sarah Vogelbacher 1 0-0 3, Zoey Woodle 0 0-2 0, Grace Hoversten 4 0-0 8, Cassidy Nerland 7 2-2 16. Totals: 22 8-11 57.

Gilbert (10-9) — Kenzie Miller 2 0-0 6, Emma Kruse 0 0-0 0, Hannah Thatcher 1 1-2 3, Emma Bulman 3 1-2 9, Thea Rotto 1 0-0 2, Sarah Hinners 8 4-4 20, Jordyn Milhous 2 1-3 5. Totals: 17 7-11 45.

DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Webster City 18 10 12 17 — 57

Gilbert 11 13 8 13 — 45

3-point field goals — WC 5 (McKinney 4, Vogelbacher); GIL 4 (Miller 2, Bulman 2). Rebounds — WC 31 (Nerland 10, Mason 6, Vogelbacher 5). Steals — WC 3. Assists — WC 14 (McKinney 5, Woodle 3). Team fouls — WC 11, GIL 13. Fouled out — none.