Victory over South Winn puts MFL MarMac girls atop UIC standings
Emma Driscoll races past a South Winn defender in MFL MarMac’s victory on Jan. 27. (Photos by Audrey Posten)
Sam Ruff netted six points against the Warriors.
Khloe Schutte looks past a South Winn defender toward the basket in last week's MFL MarMac victory.
By Audrey Posten | Times-Register
A 47-35 victory over South Winneshiek on Jan. 27 sets the MFL MarMac girls basketball team up well to win the Upper Iowa Conference big school division.
The win was vindication for the Bulldogs, who lost to the Warriors 38-34 earlier this season.
“It was early on, and I thought their pressure got to us. So that was a point of emphasis in practice coming into this game,” said co-head coach Brian Bugenhagen. “Our girls did an outstanding job of handling that pressure and not getting sped up too much. When we had opportunities, we scored the basketball, and then we were able to get back and play good, solid defense.”
MFL MarMac built a 14-7 lead over South Winn in the first quarter and maintained a comfortable advantage throughout the game. The team shot 40.9 percent from the field and was five of eight from three-point range.
Rebounding was key for the Bulldogs, who pulled down 34 boards to the Warriors’ 18. MFL MarMac also nabbed 11 steals, contributing to 16 South Winn turnovers.
Olivia Driscoll was a perfect three-for-three from behind the arc, and led the Bulldogs with 15 points. Her four assists and four steals were also team highs, and five rebounds put her among the leaders.
Blair Winter added nine points and two assists. She supported the defense with three rebounds, four steals and two of the team’s five blocks.
Sam Ruff collected six points, eight rebounds, two steals, an assist and a block, while Cora Keehner finished the game with six points, three rebounds and a block.
The Bulldogs are now 12-5 overall and 10-3 in the conference standings—a one-game advantage over South Winn with two more conference games to go this week against North Fayette Valley and New Hampton. MFL MarMac has beaten both those teams already this season.
“By winning this game, it puts everything in front of us,” said Bugenhagen, although he admitted he likes to take it one game at a time.
With South Winn the only game on the schedule last week, “we have a week to prepare and some time off to get some kids healed up and get some good rest,” he said.
Being conference champions is one of the team goals each season. To come out on top during the first year of the expanded Upper Iowa Conference, with big and small school divisions, would be meaningful.
“To have our name up there, that’s something to be proud of,” Bugenhagen said. “We hope to make that happen.”
In addition to the games against NFV on Feb. 3 and New Hampton Feb. 6, MFL MarMac will also face Independence on Feb. 5. The team will close out the regular season at Springville next week, on Feb. 10.
