VINTON -- There were a couple of big storylines to follow Saturday afternoon at Garrison Fieldhouse. And the good part was that both stories had a happy ending for the ladies in white.

The 13th-rated Vinton-Shellsburg Vikettes shook off an icy start to their night to roll past Mount Vernon, 64-39 in the first round of the Class 3A Regional basketball tournament in a late matinee. Leading the way for the Vikettes was senior Lucy Howes-Vonstein who dropped 17 points on the night, but it was her first five points of the night that generated the most interest.

H-V came into the game with career total of 997 points and was looking to cross the threshold into the 1,000-point club. After a first period lay up to make it 999, Lucy had three shots that seemed to rim in and out, but would not fall. And for the most part, no one else with "Vikettes" across the front of their jerseys coule either. Riding some early hot shooting, Mount Vernon rolled out to an early 14-5 lead, and was up 14-7 after one period.

Well, enough of that crap...

The Vikettes smothering defense began to shut the Mustangs down at the beginning of the quarter while the V-S offense went on a quick 11-3 run to take an 18-17 lead. They came the shot. With just under five minutes to go in the half, Howes-Vonstein took a pass from Abby Davis at the left wing, just outside the three-point line and fired-off one of the smooth, well-practiced jumpers of hers. This time there was no doubt as the ball splashed through the net for numbers 1,000 through 1,002.

The Fieldhouse exploded, the student section held up the "1000" cards, everyone was on their feet, the pressure was off and the rout was on. Lucy would end the half with 13 points and the Vikettes pulled away to a 35-26 lead.

The lead would grow to 47-33 after three quarters and from there the Black & Gold coasted into Wedensday night's Regional semifinal with the 64-39 win. The second-seeded Vikettes (18-4) will face sixth-seeded Williamsburg (11-11), a 54-50 upset winner over number-three seeded West Marshall in a game at State Center. On the other side of the bracket, top-seeded Clear Lake (16-1) got past Hampton-Dumont, 46-32, while Iowa Falls-Alden stopped South Tama, 56-23. The Lions and Cadets will square-off in the other semifinal Wednesday at Clear Lake.

Kayla Griffith added 12 points for the Vikettes, while Davis popped for nine, Ashlie Meyer seven, Sophia Kreutner, Alyssa Griffth and Brylee Bruce five each and freshmen Julia Johnson and Peyton Clemenson two apiece.

With her 17 points Saturday, Lucy H-V became just the seventh Vikette in the five-player era (since 1986 locally) to reach the 1,000-point mark (see numbers below), with 1,014 (so far) and at least one more game remaining.

Gametime Wednesday is set for 7:00 PM...what say we Fill The Fieldhouse?


VIKETTE 1,000-POINT CLUB

1. Monica Huelman (1992-1996), 1,806

2. Trisha Floyd (1985-1988), 1,230

3. Angel Robertson (1987-1991), 1,215

4. Maci Griffith (2012-2016), 1,074

5. Allison Emerich (2008-2011), 1,045

6. Andrea Robertson (1992-1996), 1,030

7. Lucy Howes-Vonstein (2017-2021), 1,014...and counting

Saturday's photos

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