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Splash Sisters

WEBSTER CITY – So much for scouting reports.

Based on what offensive strategies Boone used in a 32-20 loss to top-ranked (Class 3A) Nevada in its season opener last week, Webster City head girls’ basketball coach Nicole Muhlenbruch felt she had a good grasp on what her team needed to do defensively when it opened its season against the Toreadors Saturday afternoon inside the WCHS gymnasium.

And then Boone came out and threw one curveball after another en route to a 65-44 rout of the Lynx.

Instead of relentlessly pounding the ball inside to talented sophomore center Claire Sandvig, the Toreadors were all too happy to let two more youngsters, freshman Madlyn Danner and sophomore Caitlynne Shadle, light it up from the outside.

Danner, making her first career start, buried three first-quarter 3-pointers and scored a game-high 18 points, while Shadle canned a pair of treys and notched 16 points. Boone connected on eight triples in all just a few days after it made only 2 of 10 shots from outside the arc against Nevada.

“When I scouted them they didn’t shoot that well, so that was a little bit of a shock,” Muhlenbruch said. “They pounded the ball inside when I scouted them (against Nevada) and that’s what we talked about and worked on. So that’s on me.”

WCHS senior center Kayla Miller provided solid defense on Sandvig and limited her to just four points. But too many times, the Lynx left Danner and Shadle wide open on the perimeter and the duo made WCHS pay.

Four first-quarter 3-pointers against the Lynx zone defense helped the Toreadors build an 18-8 lead. A switch to a man-to-man set by WCHS in the second quarter slowed down the long-distance bombs, but Boone’s talented guards simply transitioned to attacking the basket.

Danner and Shadle combined for 23 first-half points and the Toreadors increased their advantage to 38-22 at the intermission.

“We got behind in that first quarter and we couldn’t get out of that hole,” Muhlenbruch said. “We just didn’t get out there (on defense) and we were a step late all the time everywhere on defense.”

WCHS (0-1) made an early run in the third quarter and trimmed its deficit to 38-28 just 82 seconds into the period on a triple by Gabbi Hoversten, followed by a traditional 3-point play by Cassidy Bultena.

The Lynx got as close as 10 later in the quarter as well, but Boone answered with a 9-0 run over the final 2 minutes to up its margin to 20 points, 52-32. Danner scored six points during the spurt and Dianna Slight knocked down a 3 from the wing.

Boone’s biggest lead of 26 points (56-39) came off its final triple of the game by Shadle with 3:34 remaining.

Despite the lopsided outcome, there were plenty of positives for the Lynx, particularly at the offensive end of the floor.

Hoversten and Bultena, both senior veterans and three-year starters, notched nine points apiece to lead the way. Miller and reserve post player Cassidy Nerland were both solid inside the paint; they scored seven points each and combined to haul down nine rebounds.

Working the ball inside-out worked well in the second half.

“There were times where it was awesome how we moved the ball, but we can’t have spurts. We have to do that all the time,” Muhlenbruch said. “Those low post girls have to touch the ball and if they don’t then our offense isn’t going to run as well. They don’t have to shoot it all the time, but they’re drawing that defense in on them.”

Allie Flaws chipped in five points and two assists in her first court action in 21 months. The senior guard missed the entire 2014-15 season because of a knee injury.

Bultena also yanked down five rebounds. Hoversten registered four assists and two steals, while Chelsey Wagoner finished with one bucket and two steals.

WCHS will spend the bulk of this week preparing for its North Central Conference opener at home on Friday against Fort Dodge St. Edmond.

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