The fourth-ranked MMCRU girls advanced to the regional final with a win over Akron-Westfield last night by a 59-49 final score.
The offenses came out on fire in the first half. MMCRU and Akron-Westfield scored a combined 70 points in the first half all while shooting 50% from the field. Akron-Westfield Head Coach Kent Johnson says that, during the big runs, his team was running their offense as designed and having success.
The star of the show throughout the game for MMCRU was Kora Alesch. The junior scored 15 points in the first half and 24 points for the game. Most of the attention goes towards the three seniors that have scored 1,000 points in their careers. MMCRU Head Coach Gillian Letsche knows what she has with Alesch, and it was on display for everyone last night.
Alesch says that she was feeling confident coming out to start the game. She also says that she needed to pick up her teammates who struggled out of the gate.
The first half ended with MMCRU leading 40-30. The Westerners then came out in the third quarter and outscored MMCRU 12-6 to trail by four heading into the fourth. Coach Letsche says that it was a matter of time before the Westerners really hit their stride.
Coach Johnson says that the fight his team displayed in the third quarter is something he’s seen all season. That fight was driven by his four seniors on the floor.
The Westerners ultimately came out on the short end of the stick as their season ends with a record of 17-7. Akron-Westfield graduates four seniors off this team including Natalie Nielsen, Chloee Colt, Nevaeh Beyer, and Taryn Wilken.
MMCRU advances on to the regional final with a 22-1 record overall. The Westerners are now matched up with ninth-ranked Storm Lake St. Mary’s. Coach Letsche says that MMCRU’s defense will be tested on Wednesday night.
Alesch spoke for her teammates saying that the Royals will work on some wrinkles they’ve added offensively. Ultimately though, there’s one location on everyone’s mind. That is Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
Akron-Westfield was led offensively by Chloee Colt and Natalie Nielsen who scored 16 points apiece. MMCRU got 24 points from Kora Alesch, and Emily Dreckman tacked on 14 as the other Royal in double figures. The Royals will play Storm Lake St. Mary’s at Cherokee on Wednesday at 7:00 PM.
KLEM Radio will provide live coverage of the Royals against the Panthers on Wednesday night.
