Lady Cardinals pick up 20th win

PARK HILLS – Five 3-pointers from sophomore Kasia Kiejdrowska helped the Mineral Area women’s basketball team bounce back from a tough loss Tuesday evening.

The Lady Cardinals outran a Marshalltown squad that traveled approximately 400 miles from central Iowa, and developed a sizable second-half lead to secure a 59-51 victory.

Kiejdrowska was 5-of-9 from long range, and finished with a game-high 21 points as Mineral Area (20-3) notched its ninth consecutive home win.

M.J. Buschmann added 10 points for the Lady Cardinals, who played more than eight minutes before committing their first turnover while forcing 18 against the Tigers.

Marshalltown (12-9) brought seven players on the road trip, but never approached foul trouble in a contest that was mostly half-court oriented.

Ilsie Calles sank five triples and Jamerka Martin added four more as the Tigers were 9-of-28 from beyond the arc. They attempted 27 shots from 2-point range.

Mineral Area extended a 31-23 halftime lead with an immediate 10-0 run as Kiejdrowska knocked down two threes and added a basket off a Robneisha Lee steal.

Buschmann scored back-to-back field goals on a smooth spin move and baseline cut, and the margin reached its peak at 54-32 when Precious Harvey hit a 3-pointer.

Mineral Area rested many of its starters at that juncture with a Region 16 clash at Moberly upcoming on Saturday, and Marshalltown closed on a 19-5 run over the final 6:30.

Calles netted 17 points and Martin had 12 for the Tigers, whose lone lead occurred at 6-4. Jasmin Howe made five assists, but six points were nearly 12 below her season average.

The outcome clinched a season sweep over Marshalltown after the Lady Cardinals prevailed 70-54 in late November, and made them 8-2 against non-region Division I opponents.

Alayah Cooper-Johnson made a putback and reserve center Kaylee Biddell attacked through the post to give Mineral Area 13-6 lead, capping a 9-0 spurt.

Alantis Sutton countered with a pair of 3-pointers off the MAC bench after a second-chance basket by Sammie Sproul brought Marshalltown within 17-14.

Sproul had eight points along with a game-high eight rebounds.

Marshalltown 23 28 – 51

Mineral Area 31 28 – 59

Marshalltown – Ilsie Calles 17, Jemerka Martin 12, Sammie Sproul 8, JeAnn Hiraldo 6, Jasmin Howe 6, Courtney Williams-Perry 2. 3-point FG – Calles 5, Martin 4. (FT: 4-4)

Mineral Area – Kasia Kiejdrowska 21, M.J. Buschmann 10, Alantis Sutton 6, Precious Harvey 5, Kaylee Biddell 5, Alayah Cooper-Johnson 4, Robneisha Lee 4, Josie Long 2, Janekia Mason 2. 3-point FG – Kiejdrowska 5, Sutton 2, Harvey. (FT: 5-6)

Mineral Area sophomore Alayah Cooper-Johnson (5) spins past Marshalltown guard Ilsie Calles (1) to make a left-handed shot in the first half.

Mineral Area center Kaylee Biddell (13) deflects an entry pass away from Marshalltown forward JeAnn Hiraldo late in the second half.

MAC sophomore M.J. Buschmann (15) looks for teammate Kasia Kiejdrowska (1) after stopping her dribble during the first half.

Mineral Area freshman Alantis Sutton (2) eyes the basket for a 3-pointer during the first half against Marshalltown.