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McKinney goes off on Gaels, blisters Jeff Gym nets for 31 points in 10-point win

Webster City seniors Taylor McKinney (left) and Grace Hoversten (34) celebrate the Lynx 49-39 victory over St. Edmond inside Jeff Gym on Friday. McKinney scored a season-high 31 points and Hoversten had 10. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

BY TROY BANNING

tbanning@freemanjournal.net

WEBSTER CITY — Taylor McKinney the basketball player grew up in Jefferson Gymnasium. It’s where she fine-tuned her shooting motion during those late evenings by her dad Marty’s side at his Webster City boys’ basketball practices.

All she wanted was one game — just one chance to shine — inside the legendary venue. She got her wish Friday night and was more than prepared for the moment.

McKinney lit up Jeff Gym like few previously had during its seven decades of hosting varsity games before it went dark in 2012. And everyone marveled.

Lynx junior Jenna Miller (left) wins a scramble for a loose ball during the first half against the Gaels on Friday. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Behind a 5 for 5 start and 15-point first quarter, McKinney torched St. Edmond for 31 points and, more importantly, pushed WCHS to a pivotal 49-39 North Central Conference victory in front of a large and appreciative crowd.

“I really pushed for a game here, I think I was the first one to ask my dad about it, and I really enjoyed it,” McKinney said after she drilled 11 of 19 shots, including 6 of 12 from behind the arc, and registered five steals, four assists and four rebounds. “The atmosphere in here was huge and that was the part I was looking forward to the most. Jeff Gym is just a different breed … I’m really going to miss it.”

It was a much-needed boost of confidence for both McKinney and the Lynx. She was coming off a quiet seven-point performance in a loss to South Central Calhoun last Tuesday, while WCHS (3-3, 1-1 NCC) was able to end a two-game slide.

“She was due and she needed to have a game like this to get back in the swing of things,” WCHS head coach Nicole Muhlenbruch said.

McKinney scored eight points in the game’s initial 1:37 and had 13 — all of the Lynx points — by the 4:40 mark of the first period.

WCHS guard Tatum Goings (2) goes inside to battle for a rebound during the second half against St. Edmond on Friday in Jeff Gym. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Without starting guard Kelly Stoakes, who sat out as a precaution due to a head injury, WCHS needed its leader to step to the forefront. And it all began with the early flurry.

“That start was huge,” McKinney, who either connected or assisted on 15 of the Lynx 18 field goals and poured in 24 first-half points, said. “Starting well was my main focus and with those first five shots, I was ready to go after that.”

WCHS needed the explosive offense in the first half because its defense was more than a little lackluster. St. Edmond (0-4, 0-2 NCC) continually beat the Lynx press and got wide open looks either under the basket or from the perimeter.

The Gaels entered the night averaging 27 points per game. They had 24 and a three-point lead by the 4:10 mark of the second quarter, but the advantage dissolved following McKinney’s fourth triple, which ignited an 11-1 run that gave the Lynx a 32-25 halftime lead.

“I stomped my foot quite a bit and called timeouts,” Muhlenbruch said when asked about her team’s defense. “After the press we just couldn’t drop back and match up. We couldn’t seem to get organized and find a person.”

DFJ photo/Troy Banning

WCHS switched to a zone defense late in the first half and limited St. Edmond to 15 points over the final 20 minutes.

Grace Hoversten scored six of her 10 points in the second half. Back-to-back baskets on the right block by the senior forward midway through the third period extended the Lynx lead to 10 points, 38-28.

St. Edmond closed the third on an 8-2 spurt to pull within 40-36, but the Lynx answered with seven consecutive points to start the fourth, as McKinney buried her sixth 3 to increase the lead to 11 points, 47-36.

Trailing by 10 points, the Gaels opted to allow WCHS to dribble out the final two minutes to send the old confines into celebration mode.

Hoversten also ripped down eight rebounds and distributed three assists. Leah Kasch collected four more boards to go along with two points.

DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Leah Neverman (16 points) and Cambrie McBride (13 points) combined to can five 3-pointers to pace the Gaels. Maggie Harvey (seven points) knocked down two more.

WCHS needed every bit of momentum it could muster in the lead-up to Tuesday’s road trip to Clear Lake to take on the second-ranked (Class 3A) Lions.

“This is huge for us going into a big, big game,” McKinney said after the fifth 30-plus point performance of her career. “We’re ready to take on Clear Lake and end the first half of the season on a good note.”

Webster City 49, St. Edmond 39

Friday at Webster City

St. Edmond (0-4, 0-2 NCC) — Avery Galles 0 0-0 0, Emma Alstott 0 0-0 0, Kelli Kersten 1 0-0 2, Katie Flattery 0 0-0 0, Cambrie McBride 4 1-2 13, Emma Neverman 0 1-2 1, Leah Neverman 7 1-1 16, Gracie Harvey 2 1-2 7, Anna Kolacia 0 0-0 0, Klara Baker 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 4-7 39.

Webster City (3-3, 1-1 NCC) — Tatum Goings 0 0-0 0, Taylor McKinney 11 3-3 31, Kayley Wibholm 0 0-0 0, Shelby Queen 0 0-0 0, Leah Kasch 1 0-0 2, Morgan Gallentine 1 0-0 2, Kaylyn Anderson 0 0-0 0, Grace Hoversten 3 4-4 10, Jenna Miller 1 0-2 2, Allie Carr 0 0-0 0, Adalie Schwandt 1 0-0 2. Totals: 18 7-9 49.

St. Edmond 16 9 11 3 — 39

Web City 19 13 8 9 — 49

3-point field goals — SE 7 (McBride 4, Harvey 2, L. Neverman); WC 6 (McKinney 6). Rebounds — WC 23 (Hoversten 8, McKinney 4, Kasch 4). Steals — WC 12 (McKinney 5). Assists — WC 8 (McKinney 4, Hoversten 3). Turnovers — WC 8. Team fouls — SE 11, WC 8. Fouled out — none.

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