Mustangs Punch Above Their Weight at Northwest Shootout

North Nodaway looked to be in rebuilding mode when they lost five seniors to graduation last year. But they look to reload this year as all their new players were able to step in and fill roles. The week before last, in Stanberry, they secured two quality wins over Albany and North Harrison and shut down two of the better scorers in the area in Emma Craig and Gabby Newman. Their only loss was against last year’s state runner-up Stanberry.

At Northwest Missouri State Thursday, they knocked off West Platte, a bigger school which, nonetheless, only won one game and fell on hard times last year. They ran into a Class 3 powerhouse in Savannah and lost, and were pitted against Nebraska City in their next game. The Pioneers were a Class B (second largest) school, but came off a rough 5-17 year last year. In their third game, North Nodaway was able to take control of the game early and pull away for a 54-30 win.

The Mustangs came off last year with only one returning starter, in Kandace Damgar and one active sub in Saylor Brown. But it was Jadon Dobbins, little-used last year, who gave the Mustangs a spark early, hitting back to back threes in the early going to put North Nodaway in front 6-0. Kandace Damgar skipped one to Jacquelyn Cline, only a freshman, and she connected from the left wing. That made it 12-0.

Nebraska City tried to get back in the game with their size and the shooting of #43, getting the deficit down to nine at one point at 14-5, but Saylor Brown carried the team on her shoulders the rest of the quarter, and the Mustangs led 16-5 after one.

Cline hit a 3-pointer to start the second period and MacKenzie Titus, another freshman who will be counted on to stop other post players, grabbed a putback to make it 21-6. The Pioneers cut it back to 14 twice, but Kandace Damgar stole the ball and got it ahead to Saylor Brown for a 3-point play with 1:36 left to put the Mustangs in front 26-9 at the half. North Nodaway was able to force Nebraska City out of their offense all afternoon and get tips and steal; they swiped the ball 20 times while surrendering the ball only 11 times.

#43 threatened to take over for Nebraska City after North Nodaway had gotten the lead to 30-9 at one point on Jacquelyn Cline’s cut inside and a pass from Saylor Brown early in the second. She hit a three and added a steal to make it 32-18 with 2:43 left in the period. But every time the Pioneers tried to get back in the game in the second half, Jacquelyn Cline would get to the rim and break the run. Jadon Dobbins hit Cline twice for scores to end the third quarter to make it 36-18 as the Mustangs restored order.

Karissa Oberhauser hit a 3-pointer to start the fourth quarter and consecutive drives from Jacquelyn Cline made it 43-23 with 6:44 left, but then #43 got a triple and followed up with a steal to make it 15 again with 5:32 left in the game. But then Cline hit MacKenzie Titus inside and Kandace Damgar hit Jacquelyn Cline for three to make it 20 again at 48-28 as the Mustangs ended the game on an 11-2 run.

Jacquelyn Cline had 20 points to lead the Mustangs. Jadon Dobbins had 14, Saylor Brown 9, MacKenzie Titus and Kandace Damgar 4 each, and Karissa Oberhauser 3.

Jacquelyn Cline, Karissa Oberhauser, and MacKenzie Titus each had 6 boards. Saylor Brown and Jadon Dobbins had 3, while Kelsi Barcus had 2.

Kandace Damgar, normally a scoring threat from outside last year, turned around and dished out dimes this year, getting seven assists to fuel the Mustangs, who moved the ball well regardless of whether it was man or zone.. Jacquelyn Cline had 6, Jadon Dobbins 4, Saylor Brown and MacKenzie Titus 2, and Karissa Oberhauser had 1.

Kandace Damgar had 9 tips for North Nodaway. Saylor Brown had 6, Karissa Oberhauser and Jadon Dobbins 4 each, and Kelsi Barcus and Jacquelyn Cline had 1.

Jacquelyn Cline had 6 steals. Jadon Dobbins had 5, Saylor Brown 4, Kelsi Barcus 3, and Kandace Damgar 2.

The Mustangs play again Friday when they will play at the Platte Valley Shootout.