Mount Vernon boys basketball takes two of three in overtime-filled week

The Mount Vernon boys’ basketball team faced some major battles this week, as two of its three games went into overtime.

Mount Vernon started the week with an easy 77-47 victory over Newark Catholic in a Licking County League boys’ basketball game Jan. 7.

The Yellow Jackets were led by Trenton Wells, who scored 30 points on 5 of 6 shooting from 3-point land, and had three steals. Cody Dapprich added 11 points, five assists and three steals, while Justus Shaw had nine points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Trace Beck chipped in with nine points, eight rebounds, five assists and five steals.

Mount Vernon and Granville battled for more than the allotted time, needing two overtimes to decide a winner. After falling behind 11-0 to start the game, the Yellow Jackets scored the next 14 and set the tone for a thriller. In the end, Wells sank a three-pointer with 14 seconds left in double overtime to lift the Jackets to an 83-82 victory over the Blue Aces.

Wells finished the night with 33 points, four assists and three steals to lead MV. Shaw added 17 points and six rebounds, while Beck had 13 points, seven rebounds and four steals. Landon Dawson checked in with 11 points and six rebounds, and Dapprich had nine points, four rebounds and three assists.

The week finished up with another overtime battle, but this time the Jackets fell to Zanesville, 80-76.

Wells led MV with 19 points, five rebounds and three assists. Dawson added 18 points and seven rebounds, while Beck had 17 points and seven rebounds, and Shaw had 15 points, six rebounds and three assists.

Girls’ basketball

The Mount Vernon girls’ basketball team stung Newark Catholic, 64-37, on Jan. 6.

Isla Graham led the Jackets with 18 points. Cora Rickett added 13, while Gabby Beck had 10. Callie Swanson checked in with six points, Kendall Melton had five and Kate Marhefka, Lillian Worth and Sadie Taylor each had four.

Girls’ wrestling

Ashlynn Brokaw won another individual title in helping the Mount Vernon girls’ wrestling team to a 22nd-place finish in the Pioneer Classic at Olentangy Orange on Jan. 10.

Brokaw cruised to the title in the 110-pound weight class, winning all five of her matches. She won the first three via pin (1:10, 0:54 and 3:20), won a 7-2 decision and then beat Olentangy Liberty’s Malaya DiMasso 15-3 in the championship match.

Khadija Ndow won three matches in the 170-pound class after falling in her first match. She won all three by pin (1:31, 1:37 and 3:40) before falling in the consolation bracket.

Alivia Zimmerman (145 pounds) won two matches via pin (1:37 and 0:34), Luci Parker (100) had one pin (0:26), and Mahayley Laverick (130) also had one pin (3:00) in the tournament. Jessie Blas-Perez (105) and Evelyn Martinez (115) also participated for MV.