Area teams show out at IW

MT. PLEASANT - Eight high school girls' basketball teams had their final tune up before the regular season on Tuesday night at Iowa Wesleyan's annual jamboree. Three Union area teams, Mt. Pleasant, Columbus and W-MU were all in action.

The jamboree consisted of four games, but all games were just one half of basketball. The night began with a showdown between Keokuk and West Burlington, two of the best teams in Southeast Iowa last season. Keokuk came away victorious, leading 22-13 after the first quarter and 35-26 at the final buzzer.

Columbus was the first area team up. They faced of with Danville in a matchup of Southeast Iowa Super Conference teams. Danville won that game 27-9.

The Wildcats had three points from Jobie Lekwa and two from Victoria Howell in the first quarter. Columbus trailed by just four after one period, trailing 9-5.

Danville turned on the heat in the second half to run away with the game. Columbus did get a four-point second quarter performance from Taylor Howell, who ended up the team's leader in points.

Mt. Pleasant was next on the court as they faced Wapello. The Panthers dug themselves into a huge hole early and couldn't scrap back, falling 21-13.

Mt. Pleasant scored just three points in the first quarter, all three by Karsyn Lamm. At the midway break, Wapello held a dominant 17-3 advantage.

The Panthers showed some fight in the second quarter. Mt. Pleasant outscored Wapello 10-4 in the second quarter, led by a four-poing performance by Sydni Coleman. Coleman's four points on the night led the Panthers, followed by three each from Emma Rugg and Lamm. Elli Liechty scored two points and Emma Huckabone had one.

Winfield-Mt. Union ended the day with a showdown against Ft. Madison. The Wolves fell 27-12.

Much like Columbus and Mt. Pleasant, W-MU had a rocky start offensively, scoring just three points in the first period. Farrah Nelson had all three W-MU points in the first quarter and the Wolves trailed 11-3.

Nelson added two more points in the second half to give her five total. Kyndal Townsley and Jobey Malone each had three. Molly Miller scored one.

The jamboree comes just three days before the beginning of the regular season. Winfield-Mt. Union will host New London on the first day of action, on Friday, Nov. 22. Mt. Pleasant plays at Pella on Tuesday, Nov. 26, and Columbus will play on the 26th as well, traveling to play at Louisa-Muscatine.