Metro Sports Report

Gritty Mustangs fall short in OT

Mount Mercy Coach Aaron Jennings does not deal in excuses, but it's hard to beat the 17th-ranked team in the country with two of your star players on the bench.

That was the story on Saturday, despite a terrific rally that nearly snatched victory from defeat.

The short-handed Mustangs erased a 17-point deficit in the last six minutes of the second half Saturday with a furious comeback, but they ended up falling in overtime.

Peru State prevailed, 88-80, in a dramatic Heart of America Conference game at the Hennessey Recreation Center.

Mychael Brawner-Henley, who averages 13.6 points, will be sidelined for several more weeks after failing to meet school requirements. Bailey Basala, one of the top 3-point shooters in the country, twisted his ankle with 5 minutes left in the first half and did not play again after making five straight 3-pointers in less than eight minutes.

On top of that, star point guard Antwain Strong missed a key stretch in overtime after suffering a painful cramp in his leg.

"That makes a difference," said Jennings. "When three good players are not in the game, that absolutely makes a difference."

No. 7 Eagles spank Illinois Valley

The Kirkwood men's basketball team returned from its holiday vacation Saturday afternoon and dumped Illinois Valley, 110-72, in a non-conference game at Johnson Hall.

The seventh-ranked Eagles raised their record to 12-2 with five players scoring in double figures.

All-American Doug Wilson led Kirkwood with 19 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Luke Appel collected a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds.

Seybian Sims finished with 12 points and nine rebounds. Allante Pickens and Brady Sartorius also scored 12 points. Sartorius, who was sidelined before the holidays with a leg injury, also had eight assists, five rebounds and three 3-pointers.

No. 11 KCC women belt Marshalltown

MARSHALLTOWN - The Kirkwood women's basketball team scored the first 20 points of the ballgame Saturday and whipped Marshalltown Community College, 89-33, in a non-conference game in Marshalltown.

The 11th-ranked Eagles (12-5) led 32-1 after the first quarter and enjoyed a 51-5 bulge at intermission.

Paige Bradford paced Kirkwood with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Leah Robinson finished with 13 points and 10 boards, giving the Eagles two players with double-doubles.

Ashley Tull contributed 11 points and six rebounds. Anasha Hurst and Jheda Kennedy had 10 points apiece. Hurst had four steals.

Mount Mercy women taste victory

The Mount Mercy women's basketball team has staged some nice rallies in Heart of America Conference games this season and had a few near-misses, but the Mustangs kept falling short in league outings.

That ended Saturday.

Mount Mercy scored 28 points in the final quarter and defeated Peru State, 72-65, for their first victory in the Heart of America after eight straight defeats.

"It feels good, more-so for the girls than anything," said Coach Micha Mims. "It's been a grind. They've been working hard and their hard work is finally paying off.

"To see it go in the record books as a victory is what really matters for them."

The Mustangs (5-10, 1-8) prevailed despite playing short-handed. Brianna Thomas, the team's leading scorer, did not participate in the game. And Audrey Mulumba, who led Mount Mercy with 16 points Saturday, did not play in the final 6 minutes, 17 seconds due to a leg ailment.