March 29, 2024

Mustangs sweep North Polk

ALLEMAN — Prairie City-Monroe freshman Regan Freland has been a big piece to the Mustang girls’ puzzle this season.

Averaging a team-best 12.7 points per game, Freland had the best game of her career Tuesday night, and the effort propelled the Mustangs to the runner-up position in the Heart of Iowa Conference.

Freland poured in a career-high 28 points, and PCM built up a big first-half lead during a 56-41 win over North Polk.

“Regan has been on the verge of something like this for a while now,” PCM coach Jeff Lindsay said. “She finally broke out. She’s confident in her shot. When she has it going at all three levels, she’s a tough guard for anyone.”

Class 3A No. 12 PCM ends the regular season at 17-4 overall. The victory capped the conference season at 14-2, with the only two losses coming to Class 4A No. 2 Nevada.

“The overall poise of the team tonight was great,” Lindsay said. “We took care of the ball. Finishing second in the league all by ourselves is a great accomplishment for the girls.”

The Mustangs led 31-18 at halftime after making 11-of-12 from the free-throw line. Freland had 16 of her 28 in the first half.

Senior Kayla Jennings scored eight of her 12 points in the first two quarters. Jennings also grabbed five rebounds.

PCM’s lead grew to 16 midway through the third quarter, but North Polk cut the deficit to nine heading into the fourth period. The Comets (15-6 overall, 12-4 in the HOIC) got as close as seven in the fourth, but Freland’s 3-pointer put the visitors up eight. PCM pulled away from the line down the stretch.

“They made adjustments, and we had a tough time figuring that out,” Lindsay said. “We built a nice lead in the first half and that helped us use some clock.”

Freland was 11-of-14 from the foul line in the win and finished with three assists and five steals. The Mustangs as a team made 18-of-24.

Senior Katie Vande Wall scored eight points, grabbed 11 rebounds and had three steeals. Senior Kaylee Townsend added five points and five boards.

PCM opens Class 3A Region 8 play against Albia at 7 p.m. Saturday in Monroe.

BOYS

PCM 66, North Polk 56

Four Mustangs scored in double figures and a big third quarter helped PCM pull away from North Polk Tuesday night. The 66-56 win ended a six-game losing skid for the Mustangs

Junior Jackson Thomas scored 15 points. Sophomore Andrew Van Ryswyk added 14 for the Mustangs, who outscored the Comets 23-11 in the third after being tied at 29-all at halftime.

The two teams were tied at 38-all with 4:12 left in the third before a big finish to the quarter allowed the Mustangs to take control.

The Mustangs scored 14 straight points to go up 50-38. The closest the Comets got the rest of the way was six after Anthony Capaldo hit a 3-pointer with 1:11 to play. Capaldo led all scorers with 18 points.

PCM (10-10 overall, 9-6 in the HOIC) got 10 points each from freshman Derek Brown and junior Elijah Sperfslage.

North Polk came into the game winners of three of its last four games but the loss dropped the Comets to 6-13 overall and 5-10 in conference play.

The Mustangs end the regular season against Greene County at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Monroe.