ABOVE: Martin County West's Emily Anderson looks for an outlet pass as the Alden-Conger/Glenville Emmons double team applies pressure Monday night in the Section 2A first round.

TRIMONT – The Martin County West Mavericks defense was a major factor in taking home a Section 2A Girls Basketball Tournament victory over Alden-Conger/Glenville Emmons 54-30 Monday night in Trimont.

Despite a tight game early in the season where the Mavericks hung on to win 46-42, the team was well prepared for the Knights the second time around.

“We just wanted to put more ball pressure on them tonight,” said MCW head coach Cliff Anderson. “They got some shooters that, if you don’t get out on them, they can make them. So we thought to get out on their shooters and then let Emily Anderson guard Matts [Macy Mattson] and their best player and see what happens. But that was the name of the game. We just got to get our offense going a little better here.”

Leading the Mavericks was Emily Schettler with 13 points, while Courtney Anderson had 9 points. Emily Anderson had 9 points, while Avery Sanders had 8 points. Maddie Carlson had 6 points, while Ivy Olson had 4 points.

As the offense hit a lull, the whole team began to pick up the slack and hold the Knights at bay on the way to victory.

“We got off to a good start with Avery and Courtney hitting some good shots for us,” said Anderson. “And then our offense started sputtering a little bit and Emily Schettler in the second half picked it up for us to kind of lead us there in the second half and get just enough to win.”

Another factor in the game was home-court advantage, support that the Mavericks have had all season according to Anderson. MCW concluded the regular season with an overall record of 21-6 and a perfect record of 12-0 in conference play.

“That’s what you work for,” said Anderson “To get a home playoff game. So that always helps. So now we’ll have a tough game against Springfield, but we’ll be ready.”

The Mavericks’ offense got off to a quick start with Courtney Anderson and Sanders combining for 10 points before the Knights were able to get on the board. The Mavericks were up 11-2 when Mattson hit a 3-pointer pulling the Knights within 6 points, 11-5. As the halfway point approached, MCW continued to pull ahead 15-5, but the two teams were consistent in disrupting the passing lanes and generating turnovers that slowed the scoring drastically before a long 2-pointer from Sanders put the Mavericks up 17-8. AC/GE’s Alyvia Newman drained two 3-pointers to help catch the Mavericks but ended the half down 22-16.

It took almost three minutes to open the scoring in the second when Emily Anderson drove through the paint, sinking a layup to extend the Mavericks’ lead to 24-19. The Mavericks found a way through the Knights’ constant ball pressure and jumped out to a 35-21 lead with 10 minutes left in the game. Foul trouble was a problem for the Knights as they converged on the ball handler, keeping the ball in the Mavericks’ hands. It was a shot from Ivy Olson that concluded the scoring for the night as the Mavericks held the Knights to 14 points in the second half to secure the victory.

The Mavericks head to St. Peter on Thursday to take on Springfield in a 7:45 p.m. game.