West Fork girls top Central Springs

SHEFFIELD – Makenzie Fessler was certain to have one of her best games.

The junior starting guard for West Fork was going up against her second cousin, Kaylea Fessler, a starter for Central Springs and she went all out, scoring eight points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals in the Warhawks’ 53-22 win over the Panthers.

“Her dad and my dad are cousins,” Makenzie Fessler said of the relation, “so we’re second cousins, yeah. All the time (a rivalry), my dad called me and told me to rub it in his (cousin’s) face once the game was over. It’s a thing. Yes, (I was) very (extra motivated).”

Ask West Fork head coach Rodney Huber and he said that may have played a factor.

“I guess, we played really well the first time we played Central Springs,” Huber said. “Maybe we match-up a little better, maybe the rivalry and stuff. We played really well (both times). This is one of the only games this year where I felt we were all clicking at the same time. It was much better all the way around.”

Fessler and the Warhawks kept Central Springs from getting a field goal until 35 seconds remained in the first quarter, going on to take a 15-6 lead after the first eight minutes and then held the Panthers to only a basket in the second quarter to take a commanding 34-8 halftime advantage.

Emily Caspers recorded a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds, finishing her night after hitting a pair of free throws with 5 minutes, 49 seconds left, yielding the way for bench to players to get valuable experience and playing time.

“We’re a little inconsistent, up-and-down, so I think the girls, you know, are doing a good job of playing certain teams in our conference and things are coming together and getting more consistent,” Huber said. “We have a good opportunity on Friday night against St. Ansgar to see if we can play with a top-tier team. We’ll have a couple of days of practice for that.”

West Fork improved to 8-9 overall, 8-4 in the Top of Iowa East Conference, good for sole possession of fourth place in the nine-team field.

West Fork 53, Central Springs 22

Central Springs (7-9, 6-6) –Liberti Ewen 1-2 1-2 3, Kayley Kelley 1-4 1-2 3, Kaylea Fessler 0-1 0-0 0, Aubrie Saysirisanh 1-5 1-2 3, Madisyn Kelley 1-3 1-2 3, Emme Dietrich 0-3 2-4 2, Alivea Harms 2-6 0-0 5, Kirsten Garnas 1-5 0-1 3, Abby Pate 0 0-0 0, Jenni Overy 0-0 0-0 0, Abigayle Angell 0 0-0 0. Totals 7-33 6-13 22.

West Fork (8-9, 8-4)– Mycah Weaver 0-2 0-0 0, Makenzie Fessler 4-9 0-0 8, Sydney Nuehring 1-1 0-0 2, Maddie Hubka 0-4 4-4 4, Rylie Akins 2-5 0-0 6, Ellie Weaver 1-2 1-2 3, Madisyn Bonner 0-2 0-0 0, Jen Ingham 1-1 0-0 2, Sadie Latham 0-2 0-0 0, Keelee Sheriff 1-1 0-0 2, Haley Grady 0-1 0-0 0, Emma Martinek 3-7 0-0 7, Kalli Trewin 0-0 0-0 0, Emily Caspers 8-13 3-6 19. Totals 21-50 8-13 53.

Cent. Sprgs6     2     5     9      -   22

W. Fork      15   19   11     8      -   53

Three-point goals – CS 2 (Harms 1-4, Garnas 1-4, K. Kelley 0-1, Fessler 0-1, Saysirisanh 0-1); WF 3-12 (Akins 2-5, Martinek 1-3, Hubka 0-1, Fessler 0-3). Rebounds– CS 32, 10 off., 22 def. (K. Kelley 5, Garnas 5, Dietrich 4, Angell 4, Harms 3, Team 3, Ewen 2, Fessler 2, M. Kelley 2, Pate 2); WF 27, 14 off., 13 def. (Caspers 10, Martinek 7, Fessler 4, Bonner 3, Akins 2, Hubka). Assists– CS 4 (K. Kelley, Saysirisanh, Dietrich, Angell); WF 11 (Hubka 4, Fessler 2, Akins, Bonner, Latham, Sheriff, Martinek). Steals– CS 7 (K. Kelley 2, Dietrich 2, Fessler, Saysirisanh, Harms); WF 15 (Fessler 2, Hubka 2, E. Weaver 2, Latham 2, Sheriff 2, Akins, Bonner, Ingham, Martinek, Caspers). Blocks– CS 2 (Harms, Angell); WF 3 (Caspers 3). Total fouls– CS 11, WF 13. Fouled out – None.