Underdog Lady Mt’neers upset Joplin Lady Eagles in basketball season opener

By: 
Skylan Akins

Senior, Harley Daniels guards the basket as sophomore, Cheyenne Bieber shoots and sinks a 3 pointer. (Photo by Angel Daniels)

Mt. Vernon opened their 2022-23 season Tuesday night in Joplin as the Lady Mt’neers upset the Lady Eagles, 52-40. The Lady Mt’neers hit nine threes as a team, six from sophomore Cheyenne Bieber alone.
Coming into the season the Lady Mt’neers were going to be one of the youngest teams in the area.
“For the first time out as a bunch of sophomores we handled situations well,” Mt. Vernon coach Grant Berendt said. “There was a few times when Joplin cut the lead to eight and some of the young teams I’ve coached in the past could have freaked out a bit and it becomes a ballgame. But we found ways to make big baskets and we were good at seeing the floor and being aggressive and knowing when to go and when to kick it out.”
Mt. Vernon gained control of the game quickly, as Bieber won the opening tip and promptly hit her first three of the game. Bieber and fellow sophomore Addie Hall dominated the offensive side of the ball for Mt. Vernon scoring all 15 first quarter points. Only a pair of threes from Joplin’s Bailey Ledford and Riley Kelly dropped for the Lady Eagles and Mt. Vernon led 15-6 after the opening quarter.
Much like all of coach Berendt’s teams, defense is the name of game. Ledford got two more threes to fall for Joplin, and Kelly got a pair of free throws late for all of the Lady Eagles second quarter points. Bieber nailed two more threes towards the end of the half and Mt. Vernon took a 29-14 lead.
The Lady Mt’neers were more versatile scoring the ball in the third quarter as sophomores Audrey Bittle and Teagyn Huver and the senior Harley Daniels all got on the board in the third quarter. Joplin started quick in the third with a pair of threes from Isabella Yust and Ledford got her fourth deep ball to go, cutting the lead to 31-22. However, Daniels’ bucket at the buzzer gave Mt. Vernon a 31-22 lead going into the final quarter of play.
Mt. Vernon dominated the early part of the final quarter, but several Lady Mt’neers turnovers opened the door for a potential comeback. The Lady Eagles were able to cut it to seven several times, but another Bieber three at the 3:48 mark pushed the lead back to 10 and Mt. Vernon ultimately prevailed 52-40.
“I saw a lot of toughness from the girls tonight,” Berendt said. “Before the game there was a lot of nervousness in the locker room with nine of our 10 players being underclassmen and only two has ever seen significant minutes. We knew we had a ton of question marks coming into this year and knew we had to play a certain way to be successful and we did tonight.”
“Its crazy!” Bieber said following the game. “We didn’t have very many girls come out and then going out and beating a Class 6 school feels good. We have been putting in a ton of work with shooting drills. Coach B has helped us so much and it was great to see all of the work pay off tonight.”

Scoring for Mt. Vernon
Cheyenne Bieber 24
Addie Hall 10
Isabel Cloud 8
Audrey Bittle 6
Teagyn Huver 2
Harley Daniels 2
 

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Lawrence County Record

312 S. Hickory St.
Mt. Vernon, MO, 65712
www.lawrencecountyrecord.com

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