>> FAREWAY HAS BEEN PROUD TO BE AN ACTIVE PART OF THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE.

LEARN MORE AT FAREWAY.

COM.

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>> WE HAVE HAD ALL THE SEASONS THIS WEEK.

WE STARTED IN LIKE THE 60s, THEN WE HAD A SNOWSTORM, THEN WE HAD SOME MELTING AND RAIN.

WE JUST HAD A GREAT WEEK OF BASKETBALL HERE AT WELLS FARGO ARENA IN DOWNTOWN DES MOINES WHERE WE ARE GETTING READY FOR OUR SECOND MATCHUP OF OUR GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP NIGHT OF COVERAGE HERE FROM WELLS FARGO ARENA.

HELLO, EVERYBODY, I AM PAUL YEAGER, GLAD TO HAVE YOU ALL AROUND US AGAIN TONIGHT AS WE BROADCAST TO ALL 99 COUNTIES.

SO HAPPY THAT YOU'RE HERE AND I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT THIS IS JUST NIGHT ONE.

NIGHT TWO IS COMING UP TOMORROW WHEN WE WILL DO THREE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES, BUT FIRST, WE ARE GOING TO GO DOWN COURTSIDE WHERE WE HAVE BRAD WELLS AND ELLIE ROUGH RIDGE AS THEY GET YOU READY FOR ONE VERSUS TWO.

>> JUST ONE SEASON HERE INSIDE WELLS FARGO ARENA.

CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON, AND IT IS THE GOLDEN EAGLES, THEIR FIRST APPEARANCE IN A TITLE GAME, AND THE MOUNT VERNON MUSTANGS SEEKING THEIR FIRST TITLE SINCE 2010, ALONGSIDE ELLIE ROUGH RIDGE, HALL OF FAME ARE NOW .

I AM BRAD WELLS.

ELLE, YOU HAVE GOT ONE VERSUS TWO.

THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN RANKED THIS HIGH -- [ INAUDIBLE ] >> CLAIRE INSIDE THE POST FOR WAHLERT, AND ALL THE OTHER SIDE, YOU HAVE GOT CHLOE FROM MOUNT VERNON.

>> LET'S LEARN A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THESE TEAMS.

WE TAKE A LOOK , THEIR 11th TRIP OVERALL TO THE STATE TOURNAMENT AND THIRD CONSECUTIVE GRADE YOU MENTIONED CLAIRE LUKEN, SCHOOL'S CAREER SCORING LEADER, AND KING, ALSO LEADERS ON THIS TEAM.

A COUPLE OF JUNIORS THAT ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTFUL HERE TODAY FOR MOUNT VERNON, THE SEVENTH TRIP TO STATE OVERALL, THEIR SECOND STRAIGHT.

THEY HAVE FOUR PLAYERS IN DOUBLE FIGURES AS SIDNEY HUBER LEADS THE WAY.

A DIVISION I RECRUIT, WE WILL HEAD TO EVANSVILLE, AND CHLOE MEESTER, A DIVISION I RECRUIT, WILL PLAY VOLLEYBALL AT LOUISVILLE.

CURRENT LEADER IN BLOCKS IN BASKETBALL, LEADS THE TEAM IN REBOUNDS, HAS HAD SOME MONSTER PERFORMANCES ON THE GLASS HERE TODAY.

AND WE SEND IT ACROSS THE COURT NOW, JOE HAMMEN WITH INTRODUCTIONS.

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>> AND NOW, PLEASE WELCOME THE DUBUQUE WAHLERT CATHOLIC GOLDEN EAGLES .

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>> AND NOW, LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE MOUNT VERNON MUSTANGS!

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>> Announcer: FANS, IT IS NOW TIME TO INTRODUCE THE PLAYERS IN TONIGHT'S CHAMPIONSHIP STARTUP.

FIRST, FOR THE DUBUQUE WAHLERT CATHOLIC GOLDEN EAGLES.

NUMBER TWO, LUCY.

NUMBER 10 , KAYLA.

NUMBER 11, MYLA.

NUMBER 23, CELIA.

NUMBER 33, ELLA KENNEDY.

AND NUMBER 44, CAMERON TYSON.

THE ASSISTANT COACHES FOR DUBUQUE WAHLERT CATHOLIC RT J KANG, MATT BAI, BOB DOLE, AND GARY SCHUSTER.

NOW LET'S MEET THE STARTERS FOR THE MOUNT VERNON MUSTANGS.

NUMBER 3, OLIVIA.

NUMBER 4, QUINN.

NUMBER 5, AARON JACKSON.

NUMBER 14, LUCY WISH MEYER.

NUMBER 21, SOPHIA MEESTER.

NUMBER 24, RILEY RASMUSSEN .

NUMBER 25, ELLA WILSON.

THE ASSISTANT COACHES FOR MOUNT VERNON ARE JACOB , SUSAN ORVIS, AND JASON.

AND NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ARE YOU READY FOR TONIGHT'S STARTING LINEUPS?

FOR WALLER TO CATHOLIC AT GUARD, A 5'5" JUNIOR, PLAYER KING.

AND FOR MOUNT VERNON AT GUARD, A 5'5" FRESHMAN, NUMBER 10, SAVANNAH WRIGHT.

FOR WALLER CATHOLIC, A 5'10" SENIOR, NUMBER THREE, OLIVIA DONOVAN.

AND FOR MOUNT VERNON AT GUARD, A 5'5" JUNIOR, NUMBER 11, TAYLOR.

A 5'5" SOPHOMORE, CAROLYN FRIEDE.

AND FROM MOUNT VERNON AT CENTER, 6'3" SENIOR, NUMBER 20, CHLOE MEESTER.

FOR WALLER CATHOLIC AT GUARD, A 5'6" [ INAUDIBLE ].

AND FOR MOUNT VERNON AT GUARD, A 5'8" JUNIOR, NUMBER 22, COURTNEY.

FOR WALLER CATHOLIC, A FOUR FOOT 11 SENIOR, CLAIRE LUEKEN.

AND FOR MOUNT VERNON AT GUARD, A SIX FOOT SENIOR, SYDNEY HUBER.

THE HEAD COACH FOR WAHLERT CATHOLIC IS CHRIS SPICKLER AND THE HEAD COACH FOR MOUNT VERNON IS NATE SANDERSON.

THE FOUR OFFICIALS TONIGHT ARE BREANNE BYERLY, JEFF FORREST, AND MARK.

DEFENSE OFFICIAL IS ROB.

WELCOME, WAHLERT CATHOLIC AND MOUNT VERNON.

THE IOWA HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS ATHLETIC UNION.

>> AND WE GET READY FOR THIS CLASS 3A MATCHUP BY FIRING UP OUR KEYS TO THE GAME.

ELLE, YOU HAVE SEEN THESE TEAMS DOWN HERE, LET'S START WITH A GOLDEN EAGLES, WHAT DO THEY NEED TO DO TO TAKE HOME ESTATE TITLE?

>> Elle: DEFENSIVELY, THE NEED TO LIMIT POST TOUCHES BY CHLOE MEESTER.

SHE AVERAGES ABOUT 15 POINTS A GAME.

IF THEY CAN LIMIT THOSE POST TOUCHES, AND ALSO PACK THE PAINT, THEY WILL BE IN A GOOD SITUATION.

AND OFFENSIVELY, THEY NEED HELP IN THE SUPPORTING CAST.

AND THEN ON MOUNT VERNON'S SIDE OFFENSIVELY, THEY HAVE GOT TO FOCUS ON 50 , AND OFFENSIVELY, THEY HAVE GOT TO HAVE REALLY GOOD BALL MOVEMENT.

>> UNDERWAY, MOUNT VERNON WINS THE TIP AND HAS THE FIRST POSSESSION , AS TAYLOR FRANK , ONE OF THE TWINS FOR THE MOUNT VERNON MUSTANGS.

COURTNEY FRANK, NUMBER 22.

WAHLERT CATHOLIC WITH THE OPENING POSSESSION.

RUTH, TOP OF THE KEY AS IT KNOCKED AWAY, AND FOUL CALLED ON COURTNEY FRANK.

>> MUSTANGS COMING OUT WITH A LOT OF DEFENSIVE PRESSURE RIGHT THERE.

>> ELLE, YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME BEFORE, HOW NERVE-RACKING ARE THE FIRST COUPLE OF MINUTES?

>> Elle: AGAIN, AS A COACH, I TELL PLAYERS THIS, TOO.

THE FIRST COUPLE OF MINUTES IS JUST SETTLING IN PRETTY GET THE NERVES OUT [ INAUDIBLE ] SHE HAS GOT TO BE SMART MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE THEY NEED HER IN THIS GAME.

>> OLIVIA DONOVAN WITH A BASKET, A SENIOR, A THREE-YEAR STARTER, WANTS TO PLAY COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL.

AN EXCELLENT REBOUNDER, SHE COULD BE ONE OF THE SUPPORTING CAST MEMBERS YOU TALK ABOUT, TO COME UP WITH SOME POINT REDUCTION.

AS COURTNEY FRANK MRS. STRONG.

NOW DONOVAN THROWS IT AHEAD FOR LUEKEN, HIT THE THREE, RATTLES AROUND AND OUT.

AND FRANK WITH THE REBOUND.

>> AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT SHE WILL DO, NO HESITATION.

STOP AND POP FROM THREE POINT MOUNT VERNON ISN'T GOING TO GUARD HER, SHE IS GOING TO TAKE WHAT THE DEFENSE IS GIVING HER.

>> CLAIRE LUEKEN COMES INTO THIS TOURNAMENT WITH THE MOST MADE THREES ON THE TEAM THIS YEAR.

MOTHER STOPPED OFFENSIVELY.

FOR WAHLERT CATHOLIC.

FROM THE CORNER, IN AND OUT FOR CAROLYN FRIEDE.

THE SOPHOMORE AT SEVEN POINTS, NINE REBOUNDS AGAINST WILLIAMSBURG AND A SEMIFINAL WIN.

ALSO HAD EIGHT POINTS IN THE OPENER AGAINST SPIRIT LAKE.

THERE IS SIDNEY HUBER, DIVISION I RECRUIT GOING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF EVANSVILLE, TURNAROUND, KNOCK IT IN.

>> SHE WAS PATIENT RIGHT THERE ON OFFENSE, DROVE HARD WITH HER LEFT HAND, TOUGH FINISH RIGHT THERE BY THE EVANSVILLE COMET.

>> SYDNEY HUBER PLAYED TWO YEARS AT CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER, THIS IS HER SECOND SEASON WITH MOUNT VERNON.

ALSO ON THE 3A VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT TEAM AS A SETTER.

A BASKET FROM FREED PUTS THEM BACK IN FRONT.

>> SHE JUST LETS THE GAME COME TO HER, SHE DOESN'T FORCE ANYTHING, AND I WOULD SAY SHE IS REALLY QUIET FOR THEM, BUT IN REALLY BIG WAVES, STEPPING UP RIGHT THERE, MAKING BACK TO BACK PLAYS.

>> AND THE THREE POINT IS ANSWERED BY SYDNEY HUBER, THE SENIOR, FIRING THE FIRST COUPLE OF SHOTS FOR THE MUSTANGS.

>> MUSTANGS RIGHT HERE JUST MATCHED UP, MAN TO MAN.

ALL OF THE ATTENTION RIGHT NOW ON NUMBER 50.

>> AND THE TAKE AWAY BY SAVANNAH WRIGHT, THIS IS A FRESHMAN THAT IS SO FUN TO WATCH, GOOD DEFENSIVE PRESSURE THERE TO KNOCK THAT PASS AWAY.

SOME VETERANS ON BOTH TEAMS, WITH BOTH TEAMS HAVING A FRESHMAN.

MOUNT VERNON'S SAVANNAH WRIGHT, A STARTER FOR THIS YEAR'S TEAM.

THERE IS A THREE TOP OF THE KEY FROM TAUBER.

ALONG REBOUND OUT TO CLAIRE KING.

>> Elle: YOU SEE THIS MATCHUP RIGHT HERE WITH CLAIRE LUEKEN AND SYDNEY HUBER GUARDING HER.

THEIR OPPONENTS RIGHT NOW TONIGHT, BUT THEY ARE ACTUALLY AAU TEAMMATES AND THEY GO BACK YEARS.

REALLY GOOD FRIENDS.

AND PART OF THE REASON WHY HUBER IS GUARDING LUEKEN IS BECAUSE SHE KNOWS HOW TO PLAY HER SO WELL, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE STRATEGIES MUSTANGS, AND WITH TONIGHT.

>> A COACH IN THE OFF-SEASON AS WELL.

SYDNEY HUBER'S MOM, STACY.

YOU WOULD KNOW HER, IN GIRLS BASKETBALL AS STACY FRIAS, WENT ON TO A PHENOMENAL CAREER AT IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY, BECAME A LEGEND UNDERNEATH THE DIRECTION OF BILL FAMILY.

VIOLATION, TURNS IT OVER.

THERE YOU SEE MOUNT VERNON HEAD COACH NATE SANDERSON IN HIS FOURTH YEAR AT MOUNT VERNON, 23rd SEASON.

AT THE HELM.

MOUNT VERNON WITH A BASKETBALL, AND SYDNEY HUBER, THE EARLY SPARK OFFENSIVELY, AND AT LEAST SEVEN POINTS RIGHT AWAY.

SHE COMES IN TO THIS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, WAS CLOSING IN ON A MILESTONE, AND SHE HAS GOT 10 RIGHT NOW.

>> Elle: SHE IS HOT RIGHT NOW.

IF YOU ARE WAHLERT, YOU HAVE GOT TO LOCATE HER, ESPECIALLY EARLY ON.

>> SYDNEY HUBER CAME INTO THIS GAME JUST SHY OF 1000 CAREER POINTS, SHE HAD 996, AND IN THE FIRST QUARTER, BLOWS PAST HER 1000 CAREER POINTS.

THERE IS A REBOUND INSIDE BY CHLOE MEESTER, BUT A JUMP BALL, GOOD FIGHT BY FREED UNDERNEATH.

>> Elle: YAKIMA COACH SANDERSON TALKED IT WAS A LITTLE BIT BEFORE THE GAME, SAYING OKAY, HERE IS A FUN FACT FOR YOU ABOUT SYDNEY HUBER, SHE WAS FOUR POINTS AWAY FROM GETTING THE 1K, AND WHAT A MILESTONE SHE JUST ACCOMPLISHED RIGHT HERE, CONGRATULATIONS TO HER.

>> TO DO IT IN A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, THAT IS SPECIAL.

>> Elle: ABSOLUTELY, AND YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD BE EVEN BETTER?

IF SHE WON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER >> DONOVAN FIRING THE THREE, WAHLERT WITH THE ANSWER.

>> Elle: AGAIN, EARLY ON, YOU HAVE OTHER WAHLERT PLAYERS STEPPING UP BIG, ESPECIALLY WHEN ALL THE ATTENTION IS ON CLAIRE LUEKEN ON THE OFFENSIVE SIDE.

OLIVIA DONOVAN COMING UP.

>> IT IS THE TAKE AWAY AND A TRAVEL ON LUEKEN.

AS A SENIOR, ASSIGNED TO PLAY BASKETBALL AT MARYVILLE UNIVERSITY DOWN IN ST. LOUIS.

TAKE A LOOK AT SYDNEY HUBER HERE, SO EARLY WORK FOR THE MUSTANG SENIOR.

>> YEAH, SHE CAN GO DOWNHILL, SHE CAN POP IT RIGHT THERE.

SHE CAN DO IT ALL, AND THAT IS WHY SHE IS GOING TO PLAY AT THE DIVISION I LEVEL.

>> OUT OF BOUNDS, IT WILL STAY WITH MOUNT VERNON.

2:17 TO PLAY IN THE FIRST QUARTER.

DUBUQUE WAHLERT HEAD COACH CHRIS SPIEGEL, HER 40th CAREER SEASON OF COACHING BASKETBALL.

AND THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT SYDNEY HUBER, HER TIE TO BILL FAMILY.

COACH HAS A TIE TO BILL FAMILY AS WELL, TAYLOR FRANK WITH TWO POINTS.

A FOUR POINT LEAD, THERE IS A TIP PASS, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR MORE.

SAVANNAH WRIGHT, THE DEFLECTION.

KICKS IT OUT TO COURTNEY FRANK.

AND HERE IS HUBER BACK TO THE RIGHT HAND.

SYDNEY HUBER ROLLING OFFENSIVELY.

SHE IS A PERFECT FIVE FOR FIVE.

>> AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT IF YOU ARE A MUSTANG FAN RIGHT NOW BUT IF SHE IS HOT EARLY ON, THAT IS REALLY GOOD TIME, BUT AGAIN, I SAID THIS IN THE PREGAME SHOW, IT COULD BE ANYONE TONIGHT FOR MOUNT VERNON, BUT THEY ARE SO DEEP AND HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT WEAPONS.

>> AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A FOUL UNDERNEATH.

THIS WILL GO ON CLAIRE LUEKEN .

FOR LUEKEN, THAT WILL BE HER FIRST PERSONAL.

AS CHLOE MEESTER CHECKS OUT.

THEY HAVE A 30 SECOND TIME-OUT ON THE FLOOR.

CATCH OUR BREATH HERE, A FAST START IN THIS 3A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME .

AS WE TALKED ABOUT, BILL FENLEY REFERENCES --AS WE TAKE A LOOK AT DUBUQUE WAHLERT HERE, KRIS SPIEGLER, A REALLY INTERESTING BACKGROUND FOR HER , AS SHE WAS A PLAYER , SHE ENDED UP PLAYING AT WILLIAM PENN AND WON AN DIVISION II NATIONAL TITLE, AND SHE SAID MY COACH , THE LATE BOB SPENCER, WAS FANTASTIC.

SHE SAID YOU WILL NEVER GUESS WHO THE GA, THE GRADUATE ASSISTANT, ON WILLIAM PENN TEAM WAS, IT WAS BILL FENLEY.

SO, BILL FENLEY HELPED COACH COACH SPEAKER IN HER COLLEGE DAYS.

ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT CONNECTIONS.

SOMETIMES, ELLE, A COACH THAT IS AN ASSISTANT OR A GRADUATE ASSISTANT OR MAYBE EVEN A PLAYER THAT YOU PLAY AGAINST, YOU SEE THEM 20 YEARS, 30 YEARS, 40 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, AND THEY CAN STILL LEAVE AN IMPACT ON YOU.

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

IT IS SO FUN TO CREATE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND ALL THOSE CONNECTIONS.

SO SPECIAL WHAT THE GAME OF BASKETBALL CAN BRING TO YOUR LIFE.

I HAVE MET SOME OF THE MOST AMAZING PEOPLE, HAVE THE BEST OF FRIENDS, AND I'M STILL IN CONTACT WITH A LOT OF MY COACHES, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY IT IS BIGGER THAN BASKETBALL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

A REBOUND UNDERNEATH FOR CLAIRE LUEKEN .

FIVE POINTS FOR DONOVAN EARLY ON, THREE FOR FREED, TWO FOR TAUBER .

0-2.

AND KING BACKS IT OUT .

SIX ON THE SHOT CLOCK.

FIRING IT UP IS TAUBER, OFFENSIVE REBOUND IS KING, JUST THREE SECONDS LEFT, THOUGH, AND NOW LUEKEN OVER TO KING, DID SHE GET IT OFF IN TIME?

IT DOES NOT MATTER.

14-10 IS OUR SCORE AT THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER.

MOUNT VERNON, NUMBER AND DUBUQUE WAHLERT, NUMBER TWO.

HOW DID WE GET HERE TO THIS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME?

LET'S BRING IN OUR VERY OWN PAUL YEAGER, WHO HAS OUR JOURNEY TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

PAUL?

>> Paul: HOW ABOUT I TELL YOU HOW THEY GOT HERE, THANK YOU, BRAD, THAT IS THE GREAT DEBT UP.

DUBUQUE WAHLERT, THEY PLAYED WILLIAMSBURG, THE RAIDERS, AND IT WAS CLAIRE LUEKEN, AND THAT WAS CLAIRE LUEKEN, THAT WAS CLAIRE LUEKEN.

SHE IS THE THREE-POINTER, SHE HAS A REBOUND, PUTBACK LAY-UP, A SHORT RANGE JUMPER, HERE SHE IS ATTACKING THE GROUP.

A LOT OF CLAIRE LUEKEN.

JUST CONTINUED TO POUR IT ON.

THE SECOND HALF, THERE IS A NICE STEAL OFF THE DEFENSE A PLAY, AND HERE SHE IS OUT ON THE RUN OUT.

GOOD FAKE.

AND WAHLERT ROLLS 52-34.

MOUNT VERNON, WELL, THEY WERE DOING BATTLE AGAINST ELC.

HERE IT IS TAYLOR FRANCK ON THE PUTBACK, SHE GETS THE REBOUND ON THIS THREE.

THEN IT IS FRANCK UP.

SYDNEY HUBER, LEFT-HAND FINISH.

THEN IT IS COURTNEY FRANCK AGAIN, CATCHES THE BOARD, PUTS IT RIGHT BACK UP, RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME, THEN IT IS COAST TO COAST.

COURTNEY FRANCK ALL OVER THE PLACE.

MOUNT VERNON WINS 35-34 OVER ELC.

THAT IS HOW WE MADE IT TO THIS FINAL GAME.

LET'S GO BACK DOWN TO BRAD.

>> Brad: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PAUL.

AND NOW IT IS ALL ON THE LINE, THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP UP FOR GRABS.

DUBUQUE WAHLERT, THIRD CONSECUTIVE STATE TOURNAMENT , AND THEIR QUARTERFINAL WIN -- JUST THEIR SECOND WIN AT STATE EVER.

A 2004 VICTORY , THE ONLY ONE HERE IN DES MOINES.

>> Elle: YOU DON'T NEED TO REMIND YOU ABOUT THE QUARTERFINAL GAME, I WAS THERE, I WITNESSED IT.

>> AS AN ASSISTANT COACH, YOU THOUGHT THAT THIS FREED WAS GOOD.

HE THOUGHT IF YOU COULD GET PAST DUBUQUE WAHLERT, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET TO THAT CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, AND YOU THOUGHT DUBUQUE WAHLERT WOULD HAVE A GREAT CHANCE, TOO.

>> Elle: I THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE A REALLY GOOD GAME PLAN.

FOR THOSE OF YOU LISTENING, WHAT ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT?

I AM AN ASSISTANT COACH AT SPIRIT LAKE.

ENDED UP PLAYING DUBUQUE WAHLERT FIRST YEAR HERE, ENDED UP BEING TOO CLOSE, BUT DIDN'T COME OUT ON TOP.

NOW WE ARE HERE.

IT'S FUNNY, THE GIRLS THE OTHER NIGHT WERE LIKE, DIDN'T WE PLAY AGAINST YOU ON MONDAY?

YEAH.

>> CLAIRE LUEKEN SCORED , BIG FIRST AND THIRD QUARTERS.

AND THERE IS TWO MORE FROM TAYLOR FRANCK.

>> TAYLOR FRANCK HAS GOTTEN TO THE BASKET A FEW TIMES EARLY ON IN THIS GAME, JUST GOT A REALLY QUICK FIRST STEP, MOVED TO THE BASKET, UNABLE TO CONVERT ON THOSE FIRST COUPLE, BUT THAT WAS A PRETTY MOVE RIGHT THERE AND A GOOD FINISH.

>> SIX POINT LEAD FOR MOUNT VERNON.

HERE COMES KING.

THE JUMPER IS GOOD.

DUBUQUE WAHLERT GETTING SOME PRODUCTION OUTSIDE OF LUEKEN AND LUEKEN STILL SCORELESS YEAR A MINUTE AND A HALF INTO THE SECOND QUARTER.

>> Elle: THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT, CLAIRE IS COMING UP BIG IN BIG MOMENTS.

>> Brad: COURTNEY FRANCK AFTER TAYLOR FRANCK, AND NOW HUBER FILES THE THREE.

FOR HUBER, THAT IS HER FIRST MINUTES OF THE GAME, OUR LEADING SCORER WITH 12 POINTS IN THE 3A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

THE THREE FROM THE RIGHT SIDE FOR FREED.

TWO SCRAPPY TEENS ON THE FLOOR HERE.

EVERY LOOSE BALL, EVERY REBOUND, ELLE, YOU'VE GOT TO EARN IT, DON'T YOU?

>> THIS IS IT.

>> THAT IS TWO FELLOWS NOW ON CLAIRE LUEKEN, THE SENIOR.

WHICH SPIEGLER IS GOING TO TRUST HER SENIOR.

YOU'VE GOT TWO, YOU'VE GOT TO BE SMART.

NOW CHLOE MEESTER COMES INTO THE GAME, THE SENIOR, AND NOW LUEKEN HAS GOT TO BE CAREFUL WHILE SHE IS GUARDING MEESTER.

>> IF I AM MOUNT VERNON, IF YOU'RE SMART, I WOULD BE GETTING IT INSIDE AND PUTTING LUEKEN IN THOSE TOUGH SITUATIONS, BECAUSE SHE HAS GOT TO BE CAREFUL TO NOT COMMIT HER THIRD FOUL RIGHT HERE.

>> THE FILE IS UNDERNEATH, BUT IT GOES ON LUCY LUEKEN, THE SOPHOMORE, WITH HER OLDER SISTER OUT THERE ON THE DEFENSE.

GOES INSIDE.

HERE IS MEESTER, LITTLE CONTACT THERE, NO WHISTLE.

MEESTER MISSED THE SHOT.

HER FIRST ATTEMPT OF THE GAME.

AND NOW LUEKEN .

ATTACKS.

KICKS OUT.

HERE COMES FREED, GETS CALLED FOR THE TRAVELING VIOLATION.

>> Elle: I THOUGHT THAT RIGHT THERE, WAHLERT DID A GOOD JOB, THEY WERE PAST HAPPY AROUND THE PERIMETER, THEY WERE TRYING TO FIND OPEN LOOKS ENDED UP WITH A TURNOVER RIGHT THERE, BUT I LIKE THAT OFFENSIVE POSSESSION RIGHT THERE, EVEN THOUGH IT ENDED UP WITH A TURNOVER.

>> Brad: FOR DUBUQUE WAHLERT, THEY HAVE A MOTTO, THEY SAY ISSUE, AND IT MEANS SH YOU.

STAY FOCUSED IN A GAME, BUT ALSO OVER THE COURSE OF A SEASON.

>> Elle: YEAH, THEY PICK A MOTTO EVERY YEAR, AND SHU IS THEIR MOTTO THIS YEAR.

WHENEVER THEY'RE GOING THROUGH ADVERSE TIMES ARE STRUGGLING AGAIN, THEY REMIND THEMSELVES, SHU.

AND SOMETIMES THEY EVEN WRITE IT ON THEIR BODY.

SPEAKING OF BODY ART, MOUNT VERNON DOES THE SAME THING WITH BODY ART.

>> Brad: GOOD LITTLE MENTAL REMINDERS, BOTH OF THESE COACHES REALLY GET LOCKED IN TO HELP THESE ATHLETES BE AS CONFIDENT AND AS CALM IN THEIR PLAY AS THEY CAN BE.

>> Elle: SOMETIMES YOU NEED THOSE REMINDERS, AND IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY ON CAMERA, THE MUSTANGS HAVE WRITTEN MESSAGES OR SYMBOLS WRITTEN IN PEN , WHETHER IT IS ON THEIR WRISTS , ON THEIR UPPER THIGH, KNEES -- >> Brad: NOT AWARE OF ANY PERMANENT TATTOOS ON THE MOUNT VERNON TEAM, BUT THERE IS A BASKET BY COURTNEY FRANCK.

FRANCK STAYING AGGRESSIVE.

AND HERE IS A QUICK SHOT FROM LUCY LUEKEN.

NOW FRANCK WITH ANOTHER REBOUND.

WAHLERT NOW TURNING UP THE PRESSURE HERE.

AND A TIME-OUT TAKEN BY MOUNT VERNON , COACH NATE SANDERSON, THE CLOCK WAS GETTING CLOSE TO THE 10-SECOND VIOLATION, AND RIGHT NOW, LET'S GO TO DUBUQUE WAHLERT AND LISTEN IN.

HEAD COACH KRIS SPIEGLER .

>> WHEN WE RUN CHAIN RIGHT HERE, WE ARE GOING TO GO HERE.

[ INAUDIBLE ] OKAY?

KEEP BATTLING.

LOOK, THEY'RE GOING TO THE BACK DOOR.

WE WILL GET SOME HELP ON THAT, RIGHT?

HERE WE GO.

ONE, TWO, THREE, EAGLES.

>> KRIS SPIEGLER EARNING HER 200th WIN AT WALLER.

FOLLOWING THE TRAINING PROCESS, ENJOY MUSIC FROM THE TEXAS TENORS, FESTIVAL 2025 IS TAKING PLACE NOW UNTIL MARCH 16th.

AND SPEAKING OF SERVICE DOGS, COACH SPIEGLER IN HER SPARE TIME, SHE IS RETIRED NOW, PLAYS A LOT OF PICKLEBALL, BUT WHEN SHE IS NOT ON THE PICKLEBALL COURT, SHE HAS A THERAPY DOG, MABEL, THAT SHE TAKES TO COUPLE SCHOOLS IN DUBUQUE, AND SHE SAYS IT IS ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING THINGS THAT I HAVE EVER DONE, AND -- HIGH SCHOOL BIOLOGY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, 34 YEARS AT HEMPSTEAD, A FEW YEARS AT WAHLERT, SHE SAYS TAKING THIS THERAPY DOG AROUND, JUST MELT YOUR HEART.

THE KIDS JUST ABSOLUTELY LOVE MABEL.

>> Elle: AND I LOVE THAT BEING AN EDUCATOR, I TEACH SIXTH GRADE UP IN SPIRIT LAKE.

GOOD TAKE RIGHT THERE.

JUST HAVING A JOB, A SYMBOL OF COMFORT AND HAPPINESS RIGHT THERE FOR THOSE KIDS, IT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE, AND FOR HER TO DO THAT, GO OUT OF HER WAY, THAT A SPECIAL RIGHT THERE.

>> Brad: AND I KNOW IT GETS PRETTY COMPETITIVE ON THE PICKLEBALL COURTS, TOO.

I WAS TALKING TO SOME SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, THEY WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH COACH SPIEGLER.

THEY DIDN'T SAY THEY WERE SCARED TO PLAY HER, BUT THEY WOULDN'T COMMIT TO PLAYING HER.

HERE IS A THREE, IN AND OUT FOR HUBER.

AND A REBOUND CLEARED UNDERNEATH.

BY LUEKEN.

NOW, KING INTO THE LAND.

MEESTER AT 6'3", SO INTIMIDATING DOWN IN THE LAND , GOES UP AND GRABS THE REBOUND AND A FOUL IS GOING TO GO ON LUCY LUEKEN .

AND LOOK AT THAT.

CHLOE MEESTER IS GOING TO PLAY VOLLEYBALL AT LOUISVILLE, SHE IS A CAPTAIN ON THIS BASKETBALL TEAM.

HE WAS CAPTAIN OF THE ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM, SHE WAS THE IOWA GATORADE AND IOWA GIRLS VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR.

BY THE WAY, MOUNT VERNON 2024 STATE CHAMPS.

IS THAT A BLOCK OR IS THAT A KILL IF YOU ARE IN VOLLEYBALL?

>> Elle: WELL, WE ARE PLAYING BASKETBALL RIGHT NOW, SO I THINK YOU'VE GOT TO SAY IT IS A BLOCK.

>> Brad: GOES DOWN AS A BLOCK, ABSOLUTELY.

SO --MOM AND DAD IN THE STANDS AS WELL.

AND A DAD THAT YOU WOULD KNOW FOR SURE, BRAD MEESTER, HE IS A HALL OF FAME FOOTBALL PLAYER, PLAYED IN THE NFL FOR 14 SEASONS WITH THE JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS.

IT ALL STARTED AT [ INAUDIBLE ] UNDERNEATH LEGENDARY HEAD COACH ED THOMAS .

HERE IS LUEKEN UNDERNEATH.

MEESTER GRABS THE REBOUND AS LUEKEN STILL LOOKING FOR HER FIRST POINTS.

0-6 NOW, AND THERE YOU SEE BRAD AND JAMIE MEESTER, AND DOWN HERE, ELLE, WE PROMOTE THE IOWA GIRLS.

SHE WENT TO STAY IN VOLLEYBALL AND BASKETBALL AS A SENIOR.

SO, DON'T BE THINKING THAT CHLOE GETS ALL THIS TALENT FROM BRAD WHO PLAYED IN THE NFL FOR FOUR SEASONS.

BUT THEY ABSOLUTELY ARE HAVING A BLAST .

BOTH SAY IT IS WAY MORE NERVOUS AS A PARENT THAN WHEN THEY WERE AN ATHLETE THEMSELVES.

>> Elle: OH, I WOULD THINK SO, AND I WOULD THINK IF YOU ARE A PARENT FOR ANY OF THESE GIRLS OUT HERE, YOU'RE THINKING THE SAME THING, BECAUSE YOU JUST WANT THEM TO SUCCEED, YOU WANT THE BEST FOR THEM.

LUEKEN'S PARENTS ARE PRETTY HAPPY WITH THAT RIGHT THERE.

>> Brad: MOM DAWN PLAYED AT WAHLERT, THEN GO COLLEGE, CLAIRE LUEKEN WITH HER FIRST BASKET, WILL IT BE A WEIGHT LIFTER FOR THE SENIOR?

FINAL MINUTE OF THIS FIRST HALF.

QUARTER NUMBER TWO WINDING DOWN.

DEFENSIVE PRESSURE FROM THE FRESHMAN, SAVANNAH RIGHT.

STEPSISTER TO THE FRANCK SISTERS, TAYLOR AND COURTNEY.

AND THIS IS A FOUL THAT IS GOING TO GO ON SAVANNAH RIGHT.

>> WE TALKED SO MUCH ABOUT CHLOE MEESTER, THE FRANCK SISTERS, SYDNEY HUBER, BUT SAVANNAH RIGHT HAS REALLY COME INTO HER OWN THIS YEAR AS A FRESHMAN.

IN THE QUARTER FINAL GAME, SHE HAD 23 POINTS FOR HER WELLS FARGO DEBUT.

PRETTY IMPRESSIVE AS A FRESHMAN.

>> Brad: ARE YOU NERVOUS FOR THE STATE TOURNAMENT?

NO.

23 POINTS?

HOLY MOLY.

ALL RIGHT, SHOT CLOCK IS OFF HERE, FINAL SECONDS OF THE SECOND ORDER.

AND THE FRESHMAN BACKS IT OUT.

>> SIX, FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE.

XI LOVE THE STUDENT SECTION, TRYING TO THROW THE PLAYERS OFF WITH THE PREMATURE COUNTDOWN OF THE CLOCK.

HERE GOES SAVANNAH WRIGHT OVER TO FRANCK, FRANCK AT THE DOOR AND GETS IT TO GO.

AND MOUNT VERNON WILL TAKE A SEVEN POINT LEAD INTO THE HALF TIME BREAK.

12 POINTS FROM SYDNEY HUBER .

SIX FROM TAYLOR FRANCK, AND ONE RIGHT BEFORE THE WIND AT THE END OF THE SECOND QUARTER.

MOUNT VERNON, ELLE, IS LOOKING STRONG, ISN'T SHE?

>> Elle: VERY STRONG.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS SEVERAL TIMES, THEY'VE GOT ALL KINDS OF WEAPONS.

IT COULD BE ANYBODY'S NIGHT, IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT THE DEFENSE IS GIVING YOU.

CLAIRE IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT RIGHT HERE.

>> Brad: PAUL YEAGER IS GOING TO BE SPEAKING WITH MOUNT VERNON HEAD COACH HERE IN JUST A MOMENT.

PAUL?

>> Paul: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BRAD WELLS AND ELLE RUFFRIDGE.

MOUNT VERNON WEEDS AT THE BREAK, AND WE ARE JUST GETTING STARTED HERE ON OUR HALFTIME, AT ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO IS HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH COACHES.

NATE SANDERSON, WE HAVE TALKED TO YOU BEFORE THE FINAL GAME, DIFFERENT COLORS, RIGHT NOW, PRETTY GOOD RESULT FOR YOU.

HOW DOES IT LIFT YOUR TEAM WHEN YOU HAVE A BUCKET LIKE THAT RIGHT AS THE HORN SOUNDS QUESTION >> GREAT EXECUTION IN THE LAST POSSESSION, WE LOVE HAVING SAVVE, AND SHE DID A NICE JOB.

COURTNEY BEING ABLE TO SPLIT THE DEFENSE, GREAT MOMENTUM GOING INTO THE HALF.

>> I HAVE HUBERT WRITTEN DOWN ON MY CAR 20 TIMES.

>> SHE DOES A LOT FOR US, SHE IS BLOCKING LUEKEN AT THE DEFENSIVE END, THAT IS THE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTION WE NEEDED FROM HER TONIGHT WITH THEIR OLD FRIENDS.

C HAS DONE A GREAT JOB, AND OBVIOUSLY BEEN ABLE TO CONVERT AT THE OFFENSIVE END, SHE HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING.

>> Paul: IT HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING.

LASTLY, BEFORE YOU GO, THIS IS A GOOD ATHLETIC SQUAD.

HOW DO YOU CONTINUE TO KEEP THEM FOCUSED FOR THE FINAL TWO ORDERS?

>> IT WILL TAKE A LOT TO GET THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, I THOUGHT THE DEFENSE HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD.

IT COMES DOWN TO THOSE LOOSE BALLS.

WAHLERT IS SO GOOD AT KEEPING OFFENSIVE REBOUND OPPORTUNITIES ALIVE.

IF WE CAN FINISH THOSE POSSESSIONS, I LIKE WHERE WE ARE AT HERE, PAUL.

>> Paul: THANKS VERY MUCH, COACH, APPRECIATE THE TIME AS ALWAYS.

THAT IS NATE SANDERSON, HEAD COACH FOR THE MOUNT VERNON MUSTANGS, THEY DO LEAD AT THE BREAK.

WE ARE GOING TO GO BACK DOWN TO THE FLOOR.

PART OF THE FUND, WE HAVE FOUR DIFFERENT AWARDS TO BE GIVEN AWAY.

SOME OF THEM PRETTY SPECIAL.

HERE'S JASON.

>> Announcer: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE IOWA HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS ATHLETIC UNION FIRST LADY AWARD IS THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS AWARD THE IGHSAU BESTOWS UPON AN INDIVIDUAL.

IT IS GIVEN TO A DAUGHTER OF IOWA, RECOGNIZING THE MILLIONS OF GIRLS OF THE COMMONWEALTH WHO HAVE CARRIED ON THE TRADITION OF SPORT AND IMPORTANT CAREERS, AND FOR SINGULARLY ILLUSTRIOUS AND MOST MEMORABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

THE 16th RECIPIENT OF THE IGHSAU FIRST LADY AWARD IS HEIDI REED.

ACCOMPANYING HEIDI TONIGHT IS THE 2025 SCHOLARSHIP T, McKENZIE RILEY.

HEIDI IS COMPLETING HER 41st YEAR AS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE IOWA GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC UNION.

SHE BEGAN HER SERVICE WITH THE IGHSAU AS THE ORGANIZATION'S RECEPTIONIST AND IS NOW THE PROGRAM AND ART DIRECTOR.

HEIDI IS ALSO A PERMANENT CHAIR OF THE ALL-IMPORTANT IGHSAU FUND COMMITTEE.

HEIDI'S WORK AND IDEAS ARE EVIDENT AT ALL OF THE IGHSAU TOURNAMENTS, FROM THE PINK CHAIR, THE TICKET PUNCHED SIGNS, TO ALL OF THE PAINT THAT IS DISPLAYED AT CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS, HEIDI'S IMAGINATION AND TALENT HAVE BROUGHT MANY IDEAS TO LIFE, AND SHE HAS PLAYED A LARGE ROLE IN SHOWCASING AND CELEBRATING THE IOWA GIRL.

HEIDI IS AN IOWA GIRL THROUGH AND THROUGH, A NATIVE OF DANBURY, SHE WAS AN ATHLETE , SHE WENT ON TO PLAY SOFTBALL AND BASKETBALL AT IOWA CENTRAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND LATER SOFTBALL AT NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE.

SHE RESIDES WITH HER HUSBAND RON, THEY HAVE THREE DAUGHTERS, NIKKI, MALLORY, AND McKENZIE.

FIVE GRANDDAUGHTERS AND TWO GRANDSONS.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE RECIPIENT OF THE FIRST LADY AWARD, THE IGHSAU'S OWN HEIDI REED.

PRESENTING HEIDI WITH HER AWARD IS IGHSAU EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AARON.

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>> Announcer: THE IOWA GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL'S ATHLETIC UNION HONORS THE IOWA COACH WHO HAS DEMONSTRATED A NOTABLE CAREER WHILE MAKING CONTRIBUTIONS TO HER SCHOOL, COMMUNITY, AND THE COACHING POSSESSION.

PRESENTING THE GOLDEN LACK OF DISTINCTION AWARD IS AARON BURR LIKE, ALONG WITH BASKETBALL ADMINISTRATOR GARY ROSS.

THE 2025 RECIPIENT OF THE BASKETBALL GOLDEN PLAQUE AWARD IS BRIAN WHEATLEY OF NORTHGLENN.

BRIAN HAS BEEN COACHING THE NORTH LINN BASKETBALL TEAM SINCE 2003, AFTER INHERITING A TEAM THAT DID NOT WIN A GAME, HE HAS COMPILED A RECORD OF 421 WINS WITH JUST 90 LOSSES.

HE HAS TAKEN NORTH LINN TO NINE STATE TOURNAMENTS, WINNING TWO STATE TITLES, ONE RUNNER-UP FINISH, AND FOUR TRIPS TO THE SEMIFINALS.

HIS NORTH LINN TEAMS HAVE WON 20 OR MORE GAMES FOR 15 CONSECUTIVE SEASONS, AND THEY CAPTURED THE CONFERENCE TITLE THE LAST 13 YEARS.

BRIAN HAS BEEN NAMED IOWA BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION COACH OF THE YEAR FOUR TIMES AND HE IS A THREE-TIME COACH OF THE YEAR PICK BY THE IOWA GIRLS COACHES ASSOCIATION WHERE HE IS A MEMBER OF THE ORGANIZATION'S BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME.

HE HAS ALSO SERVED ON THE IGHSAU BASKETBALL ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND IS ACTIVE IN THE ALL DISTRICT AND ALL-STATE SELECTION PROCESS.

HE IS THE ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR AND COACHES MIDDLE SCHOOL BASEBALL AND .

BRIAN AND HIS WIFE MELISSA HAVE FOUR CHILDREN, THEN, MEGAN, BRADEN, AND RENDON.

THE 2025 RECIPIENT OF THE BASKETBALL GOLDEN PLAQUE OF DISTINCTION FROM NORTH LINN HIGH SCHOOL, BRIAN WHEATLEY .

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>> Announcer: THE JACK NORTH AWARD IS PRESENTED TO A DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN OF STATEWIDE REPUTATION AND OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENT.

THE AWARD IS NAMED AFTER THE FORMER IGHSAU INFORMATION DIRECTOR.

PRESENTING TODAY'S AWARD IS IGHSAU EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AARON GARLICK.

JOHN OVERTON IS THIS YEAR'S RECIPIENT OF THE AWARD.

JOHN WAS AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AT THE IGHSAU FOR YEARS.

HE SERVED THE IGHSAU IN MANY CAPACITIES THROUGHOUT HIS TENURE BUT HE WAS THE VENUE AND AWARDS COORDINATOR FOR MANY YEARS AND WAS A SPORT ADMINISTRATOR FOR TRACK AND FIELD, ALONG WITH CROSS COUNTRY.

HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF [ INAUDIBLE ], ADMINISTRATING THE SPORT FOR NINE YEARS, UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT IN 2017.

JOHN AND HIS WIFE SUSAN HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS, AMY AND JENNY, ALONG WITH THREE GRANDDAUGHTERS, AUDRINA, ANISTON, AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE RECIPIENT OF THE JACK NORTH AWARD, JOHN OVERTON.

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>> Announcer: THE U. N. COOLEY SCHOLARSHIP IS PRESENTED TO A SENIOR WHO PRESENTS DISCIPLINE, CHARACTER, AND CITIZENS TRAITS THAT PERSONIFY THE LIFE AND EXPECTATIONS OF DR. EWEN COOLEY, THE LONGTIME OF THE IGHSAU.

THE WINNER RECEIVES A $50,000 SCHOLARSHIP OVER FOUR YEARS AS SHE ATTENDS THE IOWA COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY OF HER CHOICE.

PRESENTING THE AWARD TODAY IS AARON GARLICK, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE IGHSAU.

THE 2025 RECIPIENT OF THE LEE SCHOLARSHIP IS McKENZIE RILEY OF DECORAH.

McKENZIE RANKS FIRST IN HER CLASS WITH A 4.

0 GRADE POINT AVERAGE.

SHE IS AN AP SCHOLAR AND IS INVOLVED IN SPEECH, CHOIR, NATIONAL HONORS SOCIETY, STUDENT LEADERSHIP, AND YOUR BOOK.

McKENZIE HAS BEEN A STANDOUT PERFORMER IN CROSS-COUNTRY AND TRACK AND FIELD, FOUR BY 400 AND SPRINT MEDLEY RELAY TEAMS THAT QUALIFY FOR THE STATE TRACK AND FIELD MEET WHILE SHE WAS ALSO AN INDIVIDUAL QUALIFIER IN THE 400 METERS.

IN ADDITION TO AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITIES, McKENZIE IS ALSO INVOLVED WITH MANY DIFFERENT SERVICE PROJECTS.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE WELCOME THE 2025 RECIPIENT OF THE EWEN COOLEY SCHOLARSHIP, McKENZIE RILEY.

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>> AND NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE WELCOME THE CLEANEST SHOW IN TOWN.

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>> JOIN ME, PAUL YEAGER ON MARCH 31st AT NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA, WHERE I WILL LEAD A LIVE PODCAST DISCUSSION WITH ANALYST ROSS BALDWIN.

WE HAVE BEEN A TRUSTED SOURCE OF AGRICULTURAL NEWS AND ANALYSIS FOR FIVE DECADES.

JOIN US AS WE LOOK BACK ON 15 CREDIBLE SEASONS AND LOOK FORWARD TO MANY MORE.

RESERVE YOUR SEAT AT MARKET TO MARKET.

WORK.

> >> IN THIS CLASS 3A, MOUNT VERNON LEADS DUBUQUE WAHLERT 22-15.

WE REALLY JUST WANT TO MAKE THE MOUNT VERNON VOLLEYBALL TEAM RUN A LOT.

NOW THEY'RE TALKING WITH US ON HALFTIME, AND BY THE WAY, YOU ARE CHEERING FOR YOUR TEAM AS WELL.

[ INAUDIBLE ] COACH MAGGIE IS NEAR US.

COACH, WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME THAT YOU ARE NOT COACHING?

ARE YOU A LITTLE LESS NERVOUS?

>> HEY, IT IS A LOT OF FUN AND EASY TO BE IN A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME AND JUST CHEER ON OUR TEAM AND OUR COACHING STAFF.

IT IS A WONDERFUL CHANCE TO JUST RELAX AND ENCOURAGE THE MUSTANGS TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

>> SYDNEY, HE WALKED OUT THERE TODAY, WHAT WAS IT LIKE WHEN THEY ANNOUNCED YOU AGAIN A STATE CHAMPION?

>> IT WAS JUST SUPER FUN, THERE IS NOTHING LIKE GETTING THAT FIRST STATE CHAMPIONSHIP THE FIRST TIME, BUT WALKING OUT AND RELIVING THOSE MEMORIES IS GREAT BUT >> ARE YOU CHEERING RIGHT NOW, ARE YOU NERVOUS FOR YOUR FRIENDS?

>> IT IS A LOT MORE RELAXED NOW THAT I AM NOT OUT THERE ON THE COURT, I'M JUST HAVING A TON OF FUN.

>> ALL RIGHT, WELL, PAGE, WALKING ON THE COURT, WHAT IS THE COMPARISON BETWEEN A STATE VOLLEYBALL FINAL AND THE BASKETBALL FINAL?

>> I WOULD SAY --I FEEL LIKE DURING THE STATE VOLLEYBALL, WE HAD THE FLAMES, WE HAD SO MUCH GOING ON, AND HERE, IT WAS A LITTLE MORE LAID-BACK, SO I COULD DEAL LIKE THAT WOULD BE --IT WOULD MAKE YOU MORE RELAXED BEFORE YOUR GAME.

>> OKAY, SO YOU HAVE FRIENDS ON THE TEAM WERE PLAYERS WITH YOU ON THAT VOLLEYBALL TEAM.

YOU HAVE ONE PINK SHIRT, THEY HAVE ONE PINK.

ARE THEY GOING TO HAND IT OVER YOUR HEAD IF THEY CAN HOLD ON AND WIN AND HAVE TWO?

>> I THINK THEY MIGHT, I THINK THEY MIGHT JUST KIND OF TEASE ME ABOUT IT, BUT THERE'S NOT MUCH I CAN DO ABOUT IT.

>> THAT'S THE WAY IT GOES.

SYDNEY, I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP PLAYING VOLLEYBALL NEXT LEVEL, YOU'RE GOING TO ARKANSAS.

>> I AM, YES BUT >> BIG-TIME ENVIRONMENT, THIS IS LIKE BIG TIME VOLLEYBALL HERE, ISN'T IT?

>> I MEAN, I JUST LOVE ALL THE COMPETITION, I LOVE PLAYING IN THOSE BIG ENVIRONMENTS, IT MAKES IT SO MUCH MORE EXCITING FOR ME.

>> HERE IS A LOOK AT THE HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, WHAT YOU REMEMBER FROM THAT NIGHT THERE, SYDNEY?

>> HONESTLY, MORE THAN ANYTHING, I JUST REMEMBER HOW MUCH FUN WE WERE HAVING ON THE COURT.

AFTER EVERY POINT, WE WERE ALL SMILING, LAUGHING, CHEERING EACH OTHER ON, IT WAS AMAZING.

>> YOU ARE LAUGHING DURING A GAME, WHAT IS THAT ABOUT?

>> WE ARE CRACKING JOKES OUT THERE WHILE WE ARE PLAYING, IT HELPS CALM THE NERVES WHILE WE ARE OUT THERE AND IT ALWAYS BRINGS EVERYONE ELSE, WHEN EVERYONE IS SMILING AND LAUGHING BUT >> ALL RIGHT, COACH, WASTING THE TROPHY THERE.

HOW DID THE TROPHY GET HOME TO MOUNT VERNON THAT NIGHT?

>> THE TROPHY ACTUALLY RODE RIGHT IN THE FRONT BUS SEAT AREA WITH US, SO, IT WAS UNDER CLOSE WATCH BY OUR COACHING STAFF ON THE WAY HOME.

>> AND WAS THERE A FUN COMMUNITY CELEBRATION WHEN YOU CAME BACK DID THEY CALL OUT THE FIRE TRUCK AND ALL THAT?

>> THEY DO, WE GET BROUGHT IN BY THE FIRE TRUCKS, THAT WE HAVE A NICE RECEPTION AT THE HIGH SCHOOL WHERE WE ARE CELEBRATED BY OUR COMMUNITY.

>> OKAY, SO THE KIDS CAN HEAR US, BUT AS ADULTS HERE, LET'S BE HONEST, DO THEY REALIZE HOW COOL THIS IS RIGHT NOW THAT THEY HAVE BEEN TREATED THE WAY THEY HAVE OBVIOUS CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES QUESTION >> >> [ INAUDIBLE ] THEY ARE JUST THE BEST UNION IN THE NATION AND I THINK OUR KIDS WILL APPRECIATE EVEN MORE AS THEY GET OLDER.

IT IS REALLY AN INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATION THAT WE ARE LUCKY TO BE HONORED BY THE >> I APPRECIATE YOU COMING UP HERE AND ENJOYING, YOU STILL GOT A COUPLE MINUTES BEFORE THE SECOND HALF BEGINS.

THAT IS MAGGIE, PAGE, AND SYDNEY, CONGRATULATIONS ON A GREAT SEASON AT YOUR NEXT STEP.

ENJOY THE SECOND HALF.

>> WE WILL CRITICAL, MUSTANGS.

>> THERE YOU GO, NO BIAS HERE.

WHAT IT SAYS MATT FORTIN ON IT, THEY CAN CHEER FOR WHOEVER THEY WANT.

HIGHLIGHTS NOW, GUYS?

OH, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK, THEN SHOW YOU HIGHLIGHTS.

THEY'RE DANCING ON THE STAGE, CELEBRATING UP HERE.

22-15.

WE WILL TALK WITH THE COACH IN A MINUTE.

YOU WERE WATCHING THE IOWA GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL STATE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP HERE ON IOWA PBS.

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>> HALFTIME FROM DOWNTOWN DES MOINES AS WE ARE LIVE TONIGHT AND ALL 99 COUNTIES ACROSS THE GREAT STATE OF IOWA.

ON WELLS FARGO ARENA IN THE BOTANICAL CENTER AROUND THE FRONT, BEAUTIFUL NIGHT HERE IN OUR CAPITAL CITY.

WE HAVE HAD ONE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SECOND ONE, A CLASS 3A CHAMPIONSHIP.

COACH, CLAIRE LUEKEN, THREE POINTS, HOW DO YOU GET HER GOING?

>> WE HAVE GOT TO GET HER FREE FIRST OF ALL.

SHE HAS HAD SOME GOOD SHOTS, AND SHE HAS HAD SOME SHOTS THAT JUST HAVEN'T FALLEN.

A COUPLE OF OUR KIDS ARE IN THE SAME SITUATION.

THE ONE THING WE TOLD THE KIDS FOR SURE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE REBOUNDING WELL AND WE DID NOT REBOUND THEM, BUT RIGHT NOW, WE JUST GOT TO BE ABLE TO FINISH SOME SHOTS AND ATTACK.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE GOT TO STOP THEIR DRIVE, WHICH WE KNEW THAT WAS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE, BUT WE ARE READY, WE WILL BE FINE.

>> EVERYBODY SEEMS TO BE GOOD.

YOU STILL GOT THAT EYE OF A CHAMPION IN THEIR EYES QUESTION >> ABSOLUTELY, WE HAVE GOT A WILL HAVE LEFT EAR.

>> I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME SO MUCH.

MY THANKS, GREAT CONVERSATIONS WITH HER LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR, AND NOW WE ARE GOING TO SEE WHAT HER TEAM HAS DONE HERE IN THE FIRST HALF WITH OUR HIGHLIGHTS.

AND EARLY ON, IT WAS FOR WAHLERT, OLIVIA DONOVAN AS SHE COLLECTS AND LAUNCHES THE THREE.

AND THEN HERE, IT IS GOING TO BE CAROLINE FREED, OH, THAT'S DONOVAN AGAIN, SORRY.

DONOVAN AGAIN WITH THE BUCKET.

NOW HERE IS FREED.

THREE SHOTS ARE FALLING, THOSE CAN BE CONTAGIOUS FOR MOUNT VERNON.

IT HAS BEEN SYDNEY HUBER, SHE HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING IN THIS FIRST HALF, HITTING FROM DEEP.

GOOD DRIBBLE DRIVE HERE, AND JUST A GOOD MOVE THAT WE SEE, LIKE THE OLD SIX PLAYER DAYS.

AND AGAIN, TURN AROUND AND SHOOT THE THREE, 12 POINTS FOR SYDNEY HUBER, THE SENIOR.

LET'S GO BACK DOWN COURTSIDE WITH BRAD WELLS AND ELLE RUFFRIDGE, HAVE NUMBER TWO, TAKE IT AWAY, YOU TWO.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PAUL, HERE IS A LOOK AT THE NUMBERS.

I WILL CALCULATE IT FOR YOU.

MOUNT VERNON SHOOTING 43%.

WAHLERT, 24% FROM THE FLOOR.

AND THE REBOUND BATTLE BEING WON BY WAHLERT RIGHT NOW.

MORE TURNOVERS THAN POINTS IN THE PAINT.

HEAVILY FAVORING THESE MOUNT VERNON MUSTANG.

AS HERE AT THE BREAK, IT IS COURTNEY FRANCK WITH FIVE REBOUNDS .

EXCUSE ME, WAHLERT WITH THAT REBOUNDING ADVANTAGE, SEVEN FOR OLIVIA DONOVAN.

DONOVAN, A SENIOR, THREE-YEAR STARTER , HAD THE WILLIAMSBURG COACH, UP TO HER WHEN WE WERE TALKING WITH ALL THE ATHLETES IN THE MEDIA ROOM AFTERWARD, AND SHE SAID I LOVE YOUR REBOUNDING, IT'S FANTASTIC, YOU JUMP SO HIGH, AND ARE JUST SO ATHLETIC.

AROUND THE GATE, A JUMPER FROM CLAIRE KING, AND KING GETS THE OFFENSIVE REBOUND, DONOVAN WAS RIGHT THERE.

>> Elle: LIKE COACH SAID, THERE IS A LOT OF BASKETBALL LEFT TO PLAY, AND IF YOU ARE WAHLERT, YOU'RE IN A GOOD POSITION RIGHT NOW.

YOU'VE JUST GOT TO CHIP AWAY .

>> Brad: A3 ON THE WAY FROM LUEKEN .

AND NOW A FELLOW CALLED ON FREED, TRYING TO RIP THE BALL AWAY.

MOUNT VERNON WITH A SEVEN POINT LEAD.

HEAD COACH NATE SANDERSON IN YOUR NUMBER FOUR AT MOUNT VERNON, BUT HIS 23rd SEASON AS THE HEAD COACH.

HE HAS BEEN HERE BEFORE IN THIS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, WON A CLASS 1A STATE TITLE IN 2016 AND 2017 WHEN HE WAS THE HEAD COACH AT SPRINGVILLE.

HE WAS RUNNER-UP THE YEAR PRIOR AS WELL.

TALKS TO THE KIDS ABOUT THE STATE EXPERIENCE, SO THAT THEY KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT AND WHAT IS COMING.

>> Elle: YEAH, I REALLY ENJOY TALKING TO HIM AFTER THE SEMIFINAL GAME YESTERDAY, JUST HIS MIND-SET, HIS COACHING HY.

THE GIRLS REALLY LOVE HIM AS A COACH, AND HE JUST SEEMS LIKE A REALLY GREAT GUY WHO WANTS THE BEST FOR HIS KIDS.

MOUNT VERNON CAME READY TO PLAY TODAY, MAKING THEIR COACH PROUD.

>> THEY CERTAINLY HAD A FANTASTIC FIRST HALF.

KICK OUT TO THE CORNER FOR SAVANNAH RIGHT, ALSO FOR MOUNT VERNON ON THAT STAFF IS SUSAN ORVIS, AND SUSAN ORVIS, SHE HAD BEEN HERE AT THE STATE TOURNAMENT, SHE WAS THE HEAD COACH AT MUSCATINE AND WAS HERE AT THE STATE TOURNAMENT IN I SAID ALL RIGHT, WHAT IS DIFFERENT BETWEEN 2013 AND NOW?

SHE SAID, OKAY, IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SPECTACLE, EVEN BACK IN MY HIGH SCHOOL DAYS, I WOULD WATCH THE GIRLS STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT.

THERE IS JUST SUCH A BUZZ RIGHT NOW, ELLE, EVERYTHING SEEMS ELEVATED, AND THE GIRLS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB MATCHING THAT ELEVATED EXCITEMENT WITH THE EXPERIENCE THEY CREATE FOR THE KIDS.

>> Elle: AND WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE THE 5A GAME BETWEEN DOWLING AND JOHNSTON.

EVERY YEAR, IT SEEMS LIKE THE GIRLS UNION, THEY ADD ONE MORE THING TO MAKE THE TOURNAMENT OR THE ATMOSPHERE JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER, AND YOU SAW THAT IF YOU WERE HERE, THEY DID A PREGAME HYPE VIDEO.

THAT GAVE ME CHILLS.

>> Brad: THAT WAS BRAND-NEW THIS YEAR, AN AWESOME ADDITION .

NO OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE AN INTRO VIDEO, RIGHT?

TO GET YOU STARTED FOR THE GAME.

ALSO, ONE LAST NOTE, TOO, ON SUSAN ORVIS, THE ASSISTANT FOR MOUNT VERNON , GREW UP IN STANWOOD, PLAYED FOR LINCOLN COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL.

THERE YOU SEE HER RIGHT THERE, SHE PLAYED SIX ON SIX, BUT WENT ON AND PLAYED COLLEGE BALL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA FOR C VIVIAN STRINGER.

PLAYED FOR COACH VIVIAN FOR A COUPLE YEARS, THEN ANGIE LEE FOR TWO YEARS AFTER THAT.

JENNY KNOLL, MARY BURDELL.

ALSO, GOING FROM SIX ON SIX, KNOWING THAT WHEN SHE GOT TO COLLEGE, IT WAS GOING TO BE A FIVE PLAYER COURT, SHE WENT OUT FOR TRACK THAT SENIOR SEASON.

BUT SHE KNEW SHE NEEDED TO GET SOME CONDITIONING IN.

>> Elle: I THINK A LOT OF PLAYERS BACK IN THE DAY I HAD TO MAKE THAT TRANSITION FROM SIX ON SIX TO FIVE ON FIVE POINT >> Brad: THERE IS CHLOE MEESTER WITH HER FIRST POINT OF THE GAME, AND IT GIVES MOUNT VERNON THEIR LARGEST LEAD IN THE CONTEST, NOW AT 11.

AND A TIME-OUT TAKEN BY DUBUQUE WAHLERT AS MOUNT VERNON HAS A ROLLING.

AND THE GOLDEN EAGLES HEAD COACH, KRIS SPIEGLER, IS GOING TO NEED TO CONTINUE TO SETTLE THE TROOPS HERE IN THE THIRD QUARTER.

>> I THINK WE ARE GOING TO GET OPEN, JUST BE A LITTLE PATIENT.

I KNOW WE ARE TRYING TO GET SOME SHOTS THAT ARE GOOD, [ INAUDIBLE ] NOT THERE, WE RUN IT AGAIN, OKAY?

BREAK DOWN THEIR DEFENSE.

WE ARE GOOD.

GET THIS REBOUND.

[ INAUDIBLE ] >> THE LET'S GO, WE'VE GOT THIS, WE ARE GOOD, WE ARE GOOD.

ONE, TWO, THREE, EAGLES.

>> WELL, COACH SPIEGLER, SHE HAS BEEN AROUND THE GAME FOR A LONG TIME.

40 YEARS AS A COACH, AND I ASKED HER TO GO ALL THE WAY BACK, ELLE.

I ASKED HER ABOUT HER PLAYING DAYS, SHE WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL IN NORTHEAST IOWA, PLAYED SIX ON SIX FOR BOB SAMSON.

SHE SAID WE NEVER MADE IT TO STATE, BUT THE YEAR AFTER MY SENIOR YEAR, THEY WENT TO STATE AND PLAYED AT WILLIAM PENN, AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, FOR BOB SPENCER.

AND THE GRADUATE ASSISTANT BILL FENLEY, AND WON A DIVISION II AIA W NATIONAL TITLE.

[ INAUDIBLE ] >> Elle: IN THAT TIME-OUT, COACH WANTS HER GIRLS TO RUN FLEX, AND THAT IS A LOT OF THEIR MOTION OFFENSE, RUNNING FLEX, AND THEY CAN GET INTO FLEX IN A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

THEY COME UP FOR HIGH POST, THEY CAN LOOK FOR CLAIRE LUEKEN RUNNING THE SHOW RIGHT THERE, THEY CAN CRAWL TO THE HOOP, THEY'RE JUST ALWAYS SCREENING SOMEBODY, AND THAT'S WHAT COACH SANDERSON SAID ON MOUNT VERNON, THEY ALWAYS HAVE TO BE COMMUNICATING WITH EACH OTHER, BECAUSE IN A SET PLANS FOR WAHLERT, THERE IS ALWAYS SCREENING THE SCREENER ACTION.

>> Brad: AND ELLE, SOMETIMES IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING, EATING A COUPLE SHOTS, GETTING TO THE FREE THROW LINE, CAN SOMETIMES JUST HELP GET YOU IN A RHYTHM.

>> Elle: AND I HAD A FEW COACHES BACK IN THE DAY TELL ME IF YOUR SHOTS AREN'T FALLING, OBVIOUSLY KEEP SHOOTING IF YOU HAVE GOOD LOOKS, BUT SOMETIMES ALL IT TAKES IS ONE I TALKED TO THE BASKET, GETTING YOURSELF TO THE FREE THROW LINE, SEEING THE BALL GO IN, AND THEN THE REST WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF.

SO, IF YOU'RE A SHOOTER, GET TO THE FREE THROW LINE.

>> Brad: CLAIRE LUEKEN MADE A THREE-POINTER, NOW FIVE POINTS AFTER THE FREE THROWS, AND THAT IS THE DOUBLE DRIBBLE ON TAYLOR FRANCK.

WE HAD A BLAST TALKING TO THE FRANCK TWINS, TAYLOR AND COURTNEY.

TAYLOR WAS DEFINITELY THE MORTALITY OF THE TWINS, WOULD YOU SAY?

>> Elle: WELL, SHE IS OLDER BY A MINUTE, SO SHE HAS GOT TO TAKE CONTROL, SHE HAS NO CONTROL OVER HER YOUNGER SISTER.

AND YEAH, HER YOUNGER SISTER DIDN'T REALLY LIKE THAT.

SHE SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, CAN YOU STOP TALKING AND LET ME HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK?

>> Brad: EVEN WHEN I ASKED TAYLOR QUESTION , SHE WOULD JUMP IN BEFORE COURTNEY WOULD EVEN GET A CHANCE.

A DRIVE-BY KING.

KING WAS A JOY TO TALK WITH AS WELL.

COACH SPIEGLER PUSHES AS HARD.

A CROSS-COUNTRY AND TENNIS ATHLETE AS WELL AS A MEMBER OF THIS BASKETBALL TEAM.

THERE IS HUBER, GETTING GOING IN THE THIRD QUARTER.

>> Elle: GOING BACK TO CLAIRE KING, I HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO HER ONE ON ONE.

CLAIRE KING IS VERY HUMBLE, HAPPY FOR HER TEAMMATES.

>> Brad: I WOULD SAY SOFT-SPOKEN, BUT LIKE CONFIDENT.

>> Elle: ABSOLUTELY.

>> Brad: HUBER'S FREE THROW IS GOOD.

AND IT IS AN 11 POINT LEAD FOR THE MUSTANGS OF MOUNT VERNON.

THE NUMBER ONE SEED HERE IN THIS 3A FIELD.

DUBUQUE WAHLERT CATHOLIC.

THE NUMBER TWO SEED.

TRYING TO CLAW THEIR WAY BACK INTO THIS ONE.

OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS HELP.

LUEKEN .

THAT FREE THROW MAY HAVE SPARKED, THERE IS A THREE FOR CLAIRE LUEKEN A TWO YEAR CAPTAIN ON THIS YEAR'S TEAM, AND A TIME-OUT TAKEN BY COACH SPIEGLER.

>> Elle: AND AGAIN, WHO GOT THE REBOUND?

OLIVIA DONOVAN.

AFTER HER TEAMMATE, CLAIRE LUEKEN, TEAMMATES MAKING BIG PLAYS RIGHT THERE.

>> Brad: LUEKEN HAS BEEN SUCH A MONSTER DOWN HERE, ELLE.

IN THE QUARTERFINAL ROUND AGAINST YOUR SPIRIT LAKE SQUAD, 26 POINTS .

IN THE SEMIFINAL WIN OVER WILLIAMSBURG, SHE HAD 27 POINTS.

SHE HAD 17 POINTS AT HALFTIME.

FINISHED WITH EIGHT REBOUNDS AS WELL.

SHE HAS A WAHLERT SCORING RECORD FOR CAREER POINTS.

AND WHEN SHE BROKE THE SCORING RECORD, TOO, SHE SCORED 19 POINTS.

THE PREVIOUS CAREER SCORING LEADER.

JENNY AND, CLASS OF 1988.

SENT A TEXT MESSAGE TO CLAIRE, PRETTY COOL , THE PASTOR CONNECTING WITH THE PRESENT.

>> Elle: YEAH, AND WE COULD TALK ABOUT CLAIRE'S BASKETBALL GAME, HOW GREAT OF A BASKETBALL PLAYER SHE IS, BUT I THINK PEOPLE OFTEN FORGET HOW GREAT OF A PERSON SHE IS, TOO.

AND BRAD, WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THESE ATHLETES ALL WEEKEND, SHE IS JUST A VERY HUMBLE LEADER FOR THIS WAHLERT CREW, AND HER TEAMMATES ABSOLUTELY LOVE HER.

SHE'S VERY HUMBLE AND, YOU KNOW, SHE COULDN'T DO ALL OF THESE GREAT THINGS WITHOUT THE GREATNESS OF HER TEAMMATES, AND THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT ATHLETES, ALWAYS GIVING SHOUT OUTS TO THEIR TEAMMATES.

>> Brad: AND WE CAN'T DO BROADCASTS LIKE THIS WITHOUT ALL OF OUR WONDERFUL VIEWERS.

IF YOU ARE JOINING OUR COVERAGE VIA YOUTUBE, TELL US WHERE YOU ARE WATCHING FROM THE COMMENTS, AND THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN.

CHLOE MEESTER, TWO MORE POINTS.

AND FOR MEESTER.

FIVE POINTS, FOUR REBOUNDS.

LUEKEN GETS FOULED .

SO, LUEKEN GOES TO THE FREE THROW LINE.

CLAIRE LUEKEN WAS TALKING ABOUT HER MOM, HER MOM DON PLATES, AT WAHLERT AS WELL, WENT ON TO PLAY A CO-COLLEGE, AND SAID SHE IS JUST MY BIGGEST FAN, SUCH A HUGE SUPPORT SYSTEM, AND SO MUCH GOES INTO THE FAMILIES.

ELLE, AS A COACH NOW, YOU'RE SEEING THE OTHER SIDE OF IT.

YOU FELT IT AS A PLAYER, THE SUPPORT FROM THESE PARENTS, BUT THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, RIGHT?

IT REALLY HELPS MAKE THESE TEAMS SPECIAL.

>> Elle: OH, FOR SURE.

ME AS A COACH, BEING THE COMPETITOR THAT I AM, AND ALSO KNOWING THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT, WE WANT IT JUST AS BAD AS THE ATHLETES THEMSELVES WANTED.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE TEAM AND WE WANT NOTHING BUT SUCCESS FOR THEM.

SO AGAIN, WHEN YOU HAVE A MOM OR A DAD OR ANYBODY SPECIAL TO YOU, IT IS GOING TO MEAN SO MUCH WHEN YOU DO SUCCEED.

THAT IS CLAIRE'S MOM, DON, FOR HER.

>> TAYLOR FRANCK COMING UP SHORT ON THE SHOT NOW.

DONOVAN MISSES, REBOUND BY MEESTER.

AND -- WE HAVE A STOPPAGE.

THIS IS COACHES WARNING.

>> Elle: IT IS A BENCH WARNING.

>> Brad: COACH KRIS SPIEGLER TAKES A SEAT NOW.

TWO SCRAPPY TEAMS, PHYSICAL GAME.

COACH SPIEGLER, THAT IS WHAT SHE IS LIKE ON THE PICKLEBALL COURT, THAT'S WHY NOBODY WANTS TO MESS WITH COACH.

RETIRED TEACHER, STILL COACHING DUBUQUE WAHLERT BASKETBALL.

MEESTER'S SHOT OFF THE MARKET, REBOUND UNDERNEATH FOR WRIGHT.

AND NOW ON THE DRIVE.

NICE WRAPAROUND FOR SYDNEY HUBER.

>> Elle: SYDNEY HUBER SAW THAT THAT BASELINE WAS WIDE OPEN, THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE LANE TO HELP, AND SHE HAD IT EASY.

HER FIRST LAY-UP THERE FOR AN EASY TWO.

AGAIN, WE DIDN'T REALLY TALK ABOUT THIS AT HALFTIME, BUT ONE OF THE STATISTICS THAT I CIRCLED WAS MOUNT VERNON'S POINTS IN THE PAINT.

THEY ARE DOMINATING IN THE PAINT.

>> Brad: A BIG 16-FOUR ADVANTAGE IN THAT FIRST HALF , AND THE TREND SEEMINGLY CONTINUING HERE IN THIS THIRD QUARTER.

42 SECONDS TO PLAY IN QUARTER NUMBER 3 OF OUR 3A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

JOHNSTON, THE ONE SEED, WON THE 5A MATCHUP.

THERE IS A BLOCK BY COURTNEY FRANCK AND MEESTER WITH THE REBOUNDS.

26-6 NOW POINTS IN THE PAINT.

AND GETTING INTO THE PAINT IS WRIGHT, DONOVAN TRIPPING HER UP.

I THINK WE WILL HAVE FREE THROWS HERE.

SO, SAVANNAH RIGHT , GOES TO THE FREE THROW LINE, COACH NATE SANDERSON TOLD US WE KNOW SHE WOULD MAKE GOOD, WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT SHE WOULD BE THIS GOOD THIS EARLY.

23 POINT GAME IN THE QUARTERFINALS.

>> Elle: I HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION WITH SAVANNAH, AND WHEN IT COMES TO SPORTS, ESPECIALLY THE GAME OF BASKETBALL, SHE LIKES TO HAVE THE MIND-SET OF A GOLDFISH.

A GOLDFISH , THEY FORGET WHAT HAPPENS 10 SECONDS AFTERWARDS, SO IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE, FLUSH IT, MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PLAY, MAKE AN IMPACT.

>> TED LARSEN REFERENCE RIGHT THERE.

BE A GOLDFISH.

FINAL FIVE SECONDS OF THE THIRD QUARTER, OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS AND THE PUTBACK.

OLIVIA DONOVAN, THE SENIOR.

IT IS TWO BIG ONES RIGHT BEFORE THE MORNING.

SO, 36-26 UP ON THE SCOREBOARD HERE IN WELLS FARGO ARENA.

WITH JUST EIGHT MINUTES TO PLAY.

AND THE ROAD TO STATE, A LITTLE HISTORY AND INSPIRATION, BACKSTAGE HERE AT WELLS FARGO ARENA, THE WALL OF PLAYERS NAMES, POSTING MESSAGES, SEEING SO MANY PEOPLE CHECK OUT THE SCHOOL STICKERS ON THE FLOOR.

AND ELLE, I LIKE THIS, THE PAINT LIGHTS, THAT IS A NICE, NEW ADDITION.

GETS THE PLAYERS FIRED UP FOR THE STATE TOURNAMENT BASKETBALL.

SHE IS ELLE RUFFRIDGE, I AM BRAD WELLS.

WE'VE GOT ONE LAST ORDER TO GO FOR DUBUQUE WAHLERT TO COME BACK AND TRY TO WIN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, HOW DO THEY CHIP AWAY AT THIS MOUNT VERNON LEAD?

>> Elle: IT IS ONLY A 10 POINT GAME, YOU'VE GOT EIGHT MINUTES LEFT TO GO.

IT IS TAKING IT ONE POSITION AT A TIME.

OLIVIA DONOVAN STEPPING UP AGAIN, SAID SHE NEEDED TO STEP UP.

SHE HAS GOT 10 BOARDS RIGHT NOW, SEVEN POINTS, THAT IS RAVAGE.

IF SHE KEEPS MAKING THOSE PLAYS ON THE OFFENSIVE SIDE, THE DEFENSIVE SIDE, THEY ARE IN A GOOD POSITION, BUT AGAIN, IT COMES DOWN TO EXECUTION, RIGHT?

>> Brad: ABSOLUTELY, AND DUBUQUE WAHLERT, THEY'RE USED TO PLAYING TOUGH TEAMS.

THEY PLAY VERY LOOSELY FOR A AND 5A SCHOOLS IN THE CONFERENCE AND IN THE AREA, THEY'RE READY FOR JUST ABOUT ANYTHING, AREN'T THEY?

>> Elle: YOU HAVE REALLY GOOD STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE, YOU SET YOUR TEAM UP FOR SUCCESS, BECAUSE YOU ARE BEING BATTLE TESTED ON A WEEKLY BASIS, AND AGAIN, COACHES LIKE TO DO THAT.

YOU COULD SAY THAT ABOUT MOUNT VERNON.

THE FIRST TWO LOSSES IN THE SEASON, THEY LOST TO XAVIER, THEY LOST TO ESTHER BELT LINCOLN CENTRAL, SO RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON, THERE BEING BATTLE TESTED TO PREPARE THEM FOR MOMENTS LIKE THIS.

>> Brad: ONLY TWO LOSSES OF THE SEASON, BY THE WAY.

THAT 24 GAME WINNING STREAK COULD GO TO 25 IF MOUNT VERNON CLAIMS THE STATE TITLE.

AND THERE ARE TWO POINTS TOWARDS THAT AS SAVANNAH WRIGHT, THE FRESHMAN STEPS UP TO START QUARTER NUMBER FOUR.

>> Elle: AND I HAVE REALLY SEEN SAVANNAH BE ABLE TO SCORE AT ALL THREE LEVELS, SHE CAN ATTACK THE BASKET, SHE CAN PULL WITH A JUMPER RIGHT THERE COMING OFF OF A SCREEN, OR JUST HIT THE THREE, BUT SHE IS ALSO REALLY GOOD FACILITATOR.

>> Brad: CLAIRE LUEKEN, SHE CAN HIT THAT THREE, BUT HERE IS SYDNEY HUBER.

TRAVEL BALL TEAMMATES, GOING ONE ON ONE IN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

THREE FROM THE CORNER, CLAIRE KING!

>> Elle: REALLY BIG SHOT RIGHT THERE BY CLAIRE KING.

>> Brad: HOW ABOUT SEVEN POINTS, SIX REBOUNDS FOR CLAIRE KING, WHO STANDS 5'5".

>> WE STOOD SIDE-BY-SIDE, WE ARE ABOUT THE SAME HEIGHT BUT DON'T LET THAT AFFECT YOUR GAME, YOU GO OUT AND PLAY HARD.

CLAIRE KNOCKED OUT A REALLY BIG SHOT, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, SHE IS NOT AFRAID TO GO AFTER THAT BALL.

>> Brad: YOU NEVER LET IT AFFECT YOUR GAME AT ALL.

YOU WON THE STATE TITLE AT THE POCAHONTAS INDIANS.

30 SECOND TIME-OUT TAKEN, LET'S LISTEN AND TO NATE SANDERSON IN THE MOUNT VERNON MODEL.

>> COMING BACK, CHLOE, GIVE HER A SECOND TO GET A LITTLE BIT HIGHER AND FIND LUEKEN.

YOU ARE GOING TO BE IN THE SPOT, LIFT HERE.

YOU ARE GOING TO GO DUMMY, DUMMY, AND THEN HARD CUT RIGHT HERE.

ONE, TWO, THROW IT IN FRONT OF HER.

A LAY-UP HERE.

ON DEFENSE, STAY IN FRONT.

[ INAUDIBLE ] STAY IN FRONT, REBOUND THE BALL, LET'S GO.

>> Brad: ALL RIGHT, THERE IS A LESSON IN THE MOUNT VERNON HUDDLE, AND ELLE, WHAT THE JOB NATE SANDERSON HAS DONE IN TURNING THIS PROGRAM AROUND.

IN 2020-2021, MOUNT VERNON WENT 1-20 POINT THE NEXT SEASON, COACH SANDERSON TOOK OVER.

THEY WANT 12-11.

IN YEAR TWO, THEY WANT 16-8.

YEAR THREE, 22-4 LAST YEAR.

MADE IT TO THE SEMIFINALS, AND NOW IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME HERE.

>> Elle: YEAH, IT IS REALLY REMARKABLE WHAT HE HAS DONE TO GET HIS GROUP OF GIRLS IN THIS POSITION RIGHT HERE.

A BIG EMPHASIS WHEN HE WAS HIRED WAS TO START A YOUTH PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, AND IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A PROGRAM THAT, YOU KNOW, CAN QUALIFY FOR THE STATE TOURNAMENT, IT STARTS WITH YOUR YOUTH AND HOW MUCH TIME YOU INVEST WITH YOUR YOUTH PROGRAM, YOU'RE GETTING VOLUNTEER COACHES, YOU'RE GETTING YOUR HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS INVOLVED, AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID HERE AT MOUNT VERNON.

LOOK AT THE TURNAROUND HE HAS MADE.

>> Brad: BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE AS WELL, WHEN YOU START TO GET USED TO INVOLVED.

THEN MAKING A RUN TO THE STATE TOURNAMENT AND THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME CERTAINLY HELPS BUILD THE ENERGY AND THE NT.

MOUNT VERNON LOOKING FOR THEIR FIRST STATE TITLE SINCE 2010.

IN 2011, THEY WERE STATE RUNNERS-UP.

FOR DUBUQUE WAHLERT, THEIR FIRST APPEARANCE EVER IN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

STILL NOT OUT OF IT, JUST DOWN NINE WITH 5:50 TO PLAY.

FRANCK TO WRIGHT.

OFF THE MARK THERE.

COURTNEY FRANCK SAVES IT, BUT WRITE TO RUTH TAUBER.

HERE COMES DONOVAN.

LUCY LUEKEN KICKS IT OUT.

LUCY LUEKEN FAR AS THE THREE.

AND IT'S GOOD.

LUCY LUEKEN IS FIRST BASKET OF THE GAME, A SOPHOMORE, LUEKEN.

JUST LIKE THAT, MAKES IT A SIX POINT GAME.

>> Elle: AND HOW COOL TO HAVE A GROUP OF SISTERS ON EACH SQUAD, BUT JUST TO PLAY WITH YOUR SISTER AND EXPERIENCE THE JOURNEY TOGETHER, THIS EXPERIENCE , >> Brad: TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

CLAIRE KING, THE TAKEOUT, THAT WAS WITH CHLOE MEESTER RUNNING STRAIGHT AT HER.

>> Elle: FEARLESS.

>> Brad: THE FREE THROW LINE.

SYDNEY HUBER .

HUBER HAVING A FANTASTIC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, 18 POINTS FOR HER.

SHE WILL PLAY DIVISION I BASKETBALL AT EVANSVILLE.

WAS THE 3A VOLLEYBALL ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM MEMBER.

THE VOLLEYBALL TEAMS CENTER, BY THE WAY.

DISTRIBUTING THE BASKETBALL AROUND IS ANOTHER THING THAT SHE DOES AS WELL.

ALMOST THREE ASSISTS PER GAME IS THE AVERAGE ON THE SEASON.

SEE LUEKEN JUST TELL THAT PIVOT FOOT.

>> Elle: YEAH, I THINK RIGHT THERE, THEY HAD TAUBER CUTTING , LOOKING FOR MAYBE A LOPSIDED PASS ON THE BACKSIDE.

SHE THOUGHT ABOUT PASSING IT, BUT THEN AT THE LAST SECOND, SAID I DON'T THINK I SHOULD THROW THAT.

>> Brad: WAHLERT BRINGING SOME FULL-COURT PRESSURE, EVEN ON MRS.

HERE, ELLE.

>> YEAH, MIXING IT UP, AND RUN DIFFERENT LOOKS AT MOUNT VERNON, IT IS NOT A BAD STRATEGY TO HAVE >> Brad: THAT IS GOING TO BE AN OVER AND BACK VIOLATION ON MOUNT VERNON.

DUBUQUE WAHLERT.

A STOP.

TAYLOR FRANCK BACK INTO THE GAME.

AARON JACKSON CHECKS OUT.

SHE WILL PLAY VOLLEYBALL AT MOUNT MERCY.

THAT VOLLEYBALL TEAM AS WELL.

15 DIGGS FOR ERIN JACKSON IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH.

SHE HEADS OUT.

HUBER THROWS IT AHEAD TO WRIGHT.

AND FRANCK GETS TIED UP AND RIPS IT AWAY FROM TAUBER, AND THEN FINDS HUBER FOR THE THREE.

>> Elle: RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME.

MOUNT VERNON ACTUALLY DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB BREAKING THAT PRESS, GOT INTO A LITTLE BIT OF TROUBLE RIGHT THERE IN THE HALF COURT, BUT WHO ELSE BUT LUEKEN WANT TO BE RIGHT THERE?

>> Brad: AND MEESTER IS AROUND THE RIM WILL NOT FALL.

CLAIRE LUEKEN INTO DOUBLE FIGURES, THOUGH, DOES HAVE 10 POINTS .

3:30 TO PLAY.

TAYLOR FRANCK MISSES THE LAY-UP.

HERE COMES RUTH TAUBER, PLANNING TO PLAY SOFTBALL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA.

WE HAVE GOT SOME ATHLETES ON THE FLOOR, ELLE.

>> Elle: WE DO, AND YOU CAN SEE IT WITH THEIR SKILL SETS.

WE TALK ABOUT THIS ALL THE TIME, BUT YOU HAVE THESE ATHLETES -- >> Brad: HOLY COW!

>> Elle: ATHLETES WHO PLAY AND MULTI-SPORTS, AND IT JUST PAYS OFF, NO MATTER WHAT SPORT YOU ARE IN, YOU KNOW?

LIKE YOU COULD BE A GOOD SOFTBALL PLAYER, BUT AGAIN, YOU'RE ON THE BASKETBALL COURT, MAKING AN IMPACT.

>> Brad: OLIVIA DONOVAN, A SENIOR, WANTS TO PLAY COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL.

YOU CAN TELL SHE HAS GOT SOME HOPS RIGHT THERE, PHENOMENAL REBOUNDER.

AS THERE ARE TWO MORE POINTS FOR SYDNEY HUBER.

FOR DUBUQUE WAHLERT, OLIVIA DONOVAN, NUMBER 3.

SO, DUBUQUE IS IN THE TRI-STATE AREA OF NORTHEAST IOWA, ILLINOIS, WISCONSIN, AND IOWA.

OLIVIA LIVES IN WISCONSIN.

HER SISTER, EMMA, WAS AT STAKE TWICE IN BASKETBALL, AND PLAYS BASKETBALL AND SOCCER AT UW EAU CLAIRE.

HER BROTHER PLAYS SOCCER AT EAU CLAIRE.

SHE IS LIKING WHAT SHE IS HEARING FROM UW WHITEWATER, BUT STILL YET TO DETERMINE WHAT HER FUTURE HOLDS OFFICIALLY.

OFFENSIVE REBOUND BASKET BY RUTH TAUBER.

THE SOFTBALL STAR FOR THIS GOLDEN EAGLES TEAM, AND A TIME-OUT TAKEN BY COACH KRIS SPIEGLER.

ELLE, SO MUCH GOING ON HERE AT WELLS FARGO ARENA, HERE IS A LOOK AT THE PLAYERS LOUNGE, THIS IS AT THE SOUTH END OF THE FLOOR.

THIS IS A PLACE TO CHILL, JUST HANG WITH YOUR FRIENDS.

AWAY FROM THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF THE COURT.

NO COACHES YELLING AT YOU OVER HERE.

IT IS A LOUNGE MAINSTAY HERE, THE QUEEN OF THE COURT, THE PINK THRONE, OF WHICH THE GIRLS ATHLETIC UNION HAS HELPED SET THE TONE FOR CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS.

DID I SEE YOU SITTING IN THAT CHAIR EARLIER?

>> NO.

>> Brad: MUST HAVE BEEN A ELLE RUFFRIDGE LOOK-ALIKE , THEN.

>> Elle: NO, I'M NOT THAT ROYAL.

>> Brad: ARE YOU SURE?

CONGRATULATIONS, BY THE WAY, TOMORROW, YOU WILL BE HONORED ON THE COURT AT HALFTIME, YOU WILL BE INDUCTED INTO THE IOWA GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU WHEN YOU GOT THAT CALL?

>> ACTUALLY, I GOT THE PHONE CALL IN THE MIDDLE OF A CLASS, AND I KNOW THIS PROBABLY ISN'T VERY PROFESSIONAL.

TO ANSWER YOUR PHONE.

BUT I WAS LIKE, OH, I SHOULD PROBABLY ANSWER THIS BID AND YOU KNOW MY SIXTH GRADERS, ANSWER, ANSWER.

SO, I ANSWERED IT AND I WAS LIKE, OH, I'M GETTING INDUCTED INTO A HALL OF FAME, THAT'S PRETTY COOL.

I DON'T THINK IT HAS QUITE HIT ME YET, THE EMOTIONS, IT PROBABLY WON'T HIT ME UNTIL TOMORROW WHEN MY FAMILY IS HERE AND I HAVE A TON OF TEAMMATES COMING AND SUPPORTING ME.

THE SPIRIT LAKE GIRLS ARE COMING HERE AS WELL.

SO, I JUST THINK THE SUPPORT WILL BE VERY OVERWHELMING FOR ME AND I HAD A BUNCH OF HIGH SCHOOL TEAMMATES REACH OUT.

I MEAN, I TOLD HIM, I COULDN'T BE IN THIS SITUATION WITHOUT YOU GIRLS, SO AGAIN, IT TAKES A VILLAGE.

>> Brad: THEY'RE GOING TO WAIVE THAT ONE.

CLAIRE LUEKEN GETS CALLED FOR THE OFFENSIVE FOUL .

WITH 1:26 TO PLAY HERE IN THE FOURTH, THAT IS NUMBER FOUR NOW ON LUEKEN .

MAYBE THE BIGGEST THING WITH JUST ONE: 26 LEFT, ELLE, IS WAHLERT LOSES THE POSSESSION.

>> Elle: THEY LOSE THE POSSESSION RIGHT THERE AND THAT IS BIG RIGHT THERE.

LOOKING UP AT THE FOULS, BOTH MOUNT VERNON AND WAHLERT HAVE FOULS TO GET, SO THEY GOT THEMSELVES IN A SITUATION, THEY COULD COMMIT A FOUL.

>> Brad: WHEN THEY COMMIT A FOUL OR DO YOU JUST GO SUPER AGGRESSIVE AND TRY TO STEAL THE BALL AWAY?

>> Elle: WELL, LOOKS LIKE WAHLERT RIGHT HERE IS LOOKING TO COMMIT THOSE FOULS AND PUT THE MUSTANGS ON THE FREE THROW LINE.

>> Brad: HAVE TO STOP THE CLOCK, ABSOLUTELY.

>> Elle: I DO FEEL LIKE THIS FOURTH QUARTER, THE PACE HAS JUST BEEN MUCH FASTER , AND ON THE DEFENSIVE SIDE, TEAMS HAVE BEEN MORE AGGRESSIVE, MAYBE TAKING MORE RISKS.

>> Brad: THERE IS HUBER GETTING HOUNDED AND DOUBLE TEAMED BY LUCY LUEKEN AND RUTH TAUBER, GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP FROM TAUBER .

THE SOFTBALL STAR HELPED THE GOLDEN EAGLES TO THE STATE TOURNAMENT .

AND A FOUL COMMITTED ON THE BASELINE, 1:12 TO PLAY.

SO, FREE THROW LINE GOES SAVANNAH WRIGHT .

MOUNT VERNON MUSTANGS HAVE WON 24 STRAIGHT GAMES .

CLAIRE LUEKEN BACK INTO THE GAME.

MYLA AND LUCY LUEKEN CHECK OUT .

>> YOU HAVE GOT TO GET A BASKET REALLY QUICK RIGHT HERE.

DONOVAN ATTACKING.

LOOKING FOR HELP.

TAUBER STEPPED BACK, THREE.

REBOUNDED UNDERNEATH BY MEESTER, AND TO THROW OUT TO WRIGHT.

NOW AHEAD TO TAYLOR FRANCK.

FRANCK GETS FOULED BY KING.

51 SECONDS LEFT, AN 11 POINT GAME.

>> Elle: I THOUGHT THAT WAS A REALLY SAVVY, SMART PLAYER THEREBY TAYLOR FRANCK.

SHE COULD HAVE DRIVEN HIM FOR A LAY-UP, BUT NO, SHE DECIDED I'M GOING TO USE SOME CLOCK RIGHT HERE, GOOD MANAGEMENT, JUST PULLING IT OUT, BECAUSE SHE KNEW SHE WAS GOING TO HAVE WAHLERT DEFENDERS COMING OUT HER .

>> Brad: ONE OF FOUR CAPTAINS ON THIS MOUNT VERNON BASKETBALL TEAM.

IT'S ONE OF TWO.

AND OUT OF BOUNDS, IT WILL BE WAHLERT BASKETBALL.

FINAL SECONDS OF THIS FOURTH QUARTER.

AND THE REBOUND BY COURTNEY FRANCK MAY DO IT.

THE MOUNT VERNON CROWD RISES TO THEIR FEET.

SYDNEY HUBER, THE BASKETBALL STAR THAT WILL GO TO EVANSVILLE TO PLAY DIVISION I HOOPS, 24 POINTS FOR HER.

CHLOE MEESTER, FIVE POINTS, SEVEN REBOUNDS.

HOW ABOUT COURTNEY FRANCK, SIX POINTS, 11 REBOUNDS FOR THE TWIN, THE YOUNGER TWIN.

>> Elle: THE YOUNGER TWIN.

SHE WAS ALL OVER, AND I WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH HER ON BALL DEFENSE, SHE WAS SCRAPPY, SHE WAS GOING AFTER THE 50-50 BALLS.

>> Brad: AND THEY WILL TAKE A SHOT CLOCK VIOLATION WITH FOUR SECONDS ON THE CLOCK.

DUBUQUE WAHLERT WILL INBOUND IT.

AND THE MOUNT VERNON MUSTANGS IN 2025 ARE YOUR 3A STATE CHAMPS.

?

ELLE, MOUNT VERNON REALLY FROM THE START, SYDNEY HUBER, THAT FANTASTIC START IN THE FIRST QUARTER, THEN THEY JUST PLAYED COMFORTABLE AND FAST, PLAYED THEIR GAME START TO FINISH.

>> Elle: THEY DID, AND IT STARTED AND WE STARTED IN THE FIRST QUARTER WITH SYDNEY HUBER.

IF YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THE STEPS, EVERY SINGLE PLAYER FOR MOUNT VERNON CONTRIBUTED.

>> Brad: ABSOLUTELY DID.

THEY WIN THEIR 25th STRAIGHT GAME AS THEIR LAST LOSS , DECEMBER 3rd TO CEDAR RAPIDS PRAIRIE.

WHO IS HERE AT THE STATE TOURNAMENT.

LET'S HEAR OUR TROPHY PRESENTATIONS, THEN POINT >> PRESIDENT OF THE IOWA FARM BUREAU AND GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS.

JOINING THEM ARE MEMBERS OF THE IGHSAU BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

FROM MOUNT VERNON, COURTNEY FRANCK .

>> [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> Announcer: FROM WILLIAMSBURG, CARLY RICH.

FROM ESTHER BILL LINCOLN CENTRAL, HALEY STOKES.

FROM MOUNT VERNON, SAVANNA WRIGHT .

>> [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> Announcer: FROM WAHLERT CATHOLIC, CLAIRE LUEKEN .

>> [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> Announcer: AND THE CAPTAIN OF THE 3A ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM , FROM MOUNT VERNON, SYDNEY HUBER.

>> [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> HERE IS A LOOK AT YOUR ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM FOR CLASS 3A IN 2025.

SYDNEY HUBER, THE CAPTAIN, 16 POINTS IN THE QUARTERFINALS, 11 POINTS IN THE SEMIS, 24 POINTS IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP EFFORT IN THE TITLE GAME .

>> [ APPLAUSE ] >> SIX INDIVIDUALS WITH FANTASTIC FUTURES AHEAD OF THEM.

>> ABSOLUTELY, LOOKING AT THOSE SIX INDIVIDUALS, GREAT STATE TOURNAMENT, A GREAT OVERALL BASKETBALL PLAYERS THAT HAVE A BIGGER AND BETTER FUTURE AHEAD OF THEM.

>> Announcer: THIS YEAR'S TOP PRODUCER OF THE 3A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME , FROM MOUNT VERNON, SYDNEY HUBER.

>> [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> Announcer: RECOGNIZE YOUR 2025 CLASS 3A RUNNER-UP, THE DUBUQUE WAHLERT GOLDEN EAGLES AND HEAD COACH KRIS SPIEGLER .

>> [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> Announcer: AND LET'S HEAR IT FOR YOUR 2025 3A CHAMPION, THE MOUNT VERNON MUSTANGS AND HEAD COACH NATE SANDERSON.

>> [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ?

>> Brad: SO, MOUNT VERNON, 2024 VOLLEYBALL STATE CHAMPS , HOW ABOUT THE 2025 3A BASKETBALL STATE CHAMPIONS?

CHLOE MEESTER PUTS THE STICKER ON THE BOARD.

IT IS OFFICIAL.

ELLE, BOTH THESE PROGRAMS, REALLY PHENOMENAL.

DUBUQUE WAHLERT AND THEIR FIRST STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN SCHOOL HISTORY.

MOUNT VERNON , AFTER LAST YEAR LOSING TO ELC AND THE SEMI FINALS, THEY BEAT ELC IN THE SEMIFINALS AND THEY CLOSED THE DEAL OUT WITH THE CHAMPIONSHIP WIN.

>> Elle: YEAH, WELL FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS TO DUBUQUE WAHLERT ON A FANTASTIC SEASON, BUT THEN AGAIN FOR MOUNT VERNON, WHAT AN ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT THIS IS.

AGAIN, WE TALKED ABOUT A COUPLE YEARS AGO, THEY WERE --WHAT WAS THE RECORD AGAIN?

>> Brad: 1-20, I BELIEVE.

>> Elle: AND NOW THEY ARE 2024 AND 2025 CHAMPIONS IN CLASS 3A.

THAT IS HARD TO DO, AND GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO THE COACHING STAFF, THE FAMILIES, THE PARENTS, THAT SACRIFICED SO MUCH FOR THEIR DAUGHTERS TO JUST BE A PART OF THIS MEMORABLE AND UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT.

>> Brad: I LOVE THAT, JUMP INTO THE STUDENT SECTION, LET'S DO OUR TEAM PHOTO IN THE STUDENT SECTION FOR MOUNT VERNON, THAT IS AWESOME RIGHT THERE.

FROM THE BOTTOM TO THE TOP FOR MOUNT VERNON, HOW ABOUT FROM THE BOTTOM -- FROM COURTSIDE HERE, LET'S GO UP TOP, PAUL YEAGER READY TO BREAK THIS DOWN.

>> Paul: HEY THERE, GREAT JOB AS ALWAYS, BRAD AND ELLE.

YES, THAT IS FANTASTIC, LET'S SEE IF THAT TROPHY FOR BASKETBALL RIDES IN THE FRONT SEAT OF THE BUS ON THE WAY HOME TO MOUNT VERNON.

CONGRATULATIONS, TWO CHAMPIONS DONE.

FIVE A AND 3A IN THE BOOKS.

WE HAVE JOHNSTON GOING BACK TO BACK.

MOUNT VERNON, YOUR WINTER TONIGHT AND TOMORROW, WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS THREE MORE TIMES.

4A, 2A, 1A, GAME COVERAGE BEGINS AT 1:00.

I WILL BE WITH ELLE AND BHARAT FOR THE PREGAME SHOW.

THEN WE ARE GOING TO DO SOME BASKETBALL.

FOR ALL OF US HERE IN THE COURT, IN THE TRUCK, BEHIND THE CAMERAS, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR WATCHING, WE WILL SEE YOU SATURDAY FOR THE FINAL THREE GAMES OF THE 2025 BASKETBALL SEASON.

?

>> FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, ENCOURAGES IOWANS TO TALK TO THEIR DOCTOR OR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER ABOUT VACCINES.

LEARN MORE AT HHS .

IOWA.

GOV, OR ASK YOUR HEALTHCARE