The Mount Vernon Mustangs took on the Fort Madison Bloodhounds at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Feb 8. This hard-fought basketball game came down to the wire where the Mustangs were able to pull away for the win 61-50. Mount Vernon had the superior record of 14-4 compared to Fort Madison’s 9-7 record coming into Saturday’s game. 

It was Mount Vernon’s dominant duo Joe Briesemeister who had 16 points six rebounds and three assistsand Kellen Haverback with 22 points, three assists, and three steals that led the way to victory.

Mount Vernon started the game off hot, jumping out to a 21-8 lead. Sophomore shooting guard Seth Rushford took charge, demonstrating his impressive shooting ability by going three for three from the 3-point line and finishing with 11 of the 21 points in the first quarter. 

“I was feeling pretty good after I hit that first one it gave me confidence,” Rushford said. Mount Vernon continued suffocating Fort Madison with their defense bringing the lead all the way to 18 before Fort Madison senior Julian Dear was able to bring it within 10 before half. 

Fort Madison awoke in the third quarter. Senior Jackson Guzman proved to be an issue for the Mustangs as he brought the lead down to 2 with 1:30 left in the third. Mount Vernon ended the third quarter on two quick baskets to keep the lead 48-42. 

The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth battle until Junior Kellen Haverback made back-to-back phenomenal plays to seal the Mustang’s win. Haverback made a contested three late in the shot clock and got a steal for a fast break layup. 

“The fourth quarter is where you see what the team is made out of. Everyone is great when they aren’t tired but it’s about what you do when that exhaustion hits. I think leaning on my teammates during this time and them really making plays made me play the way I did,” Haverback said.

The Mustangs have three games remaining in regular season play against CCA on Feb 11, Grinnell on Feb. 14, and Washington on Feb. 18.