Metro Sports Report

McKinney shines for Mount Mercy

Dennis McKinney popped in seven 3-pointers and scored 26 points  Saturday as Mount Mercy defeated Evangel, 85-77, in the Heart of  America Conference opener at the Hennessey Recreation Center.

McKinney went 7-for-11 from distance and also grabbed nine rebounds in  his stellar performance. Bailey Basala tossed in four 3-pointers for  the Mustangs and finished with 16 points.

RoyShawn Webb contributed 12 points, six rebounds and six assists as  Mount Mercy raised its overall record to 4-1. Streeter McIlravey  finished with 10 points. Davion Watson had eight points and seven  rebounds.

The Mustangs led by 19 points with 13:45 remaining and held on for the  eight-point victory.

Mount Mercy women fall to Evangel

The Mount Mercy women's basketball team put up a good fight in the  first half Saturday, but the second half belonged entirely to Evangel.

Evangel blistered the Mustangs by 24 points in the second half for a  77-56 victory in the Heart of America Conference opener at the  Hennessey Recreation Center.

Mount Mercy led 31-28 at halftime, but the visitors owned the second  half 49-25.

Brianna Thomas scored 13 points for Mount Mercy (1-3, 0-1). Kyleigh  Milan added 10 points. Sofia Popp collected five assists and Taseandra  Parker grabbed seven rebounds.

Brianna Vogts scored 22 points for Evangel (2-2, 1-0).

Healthy Rath sparks No.1 Eagles

Addison Rath was a little tired, but very happy.

She had just played five straight minutes at full speed for the Kirkwood Eagles Friday night before taking a well-deserved breather, having scored eight quick points to help spark the top-ranked Eagles after they got off to a slow start.

Kirkwood proceeded to whip McHenry County, 69-39, in the opening round of the Kirkwood Classic at Johnson Hall.

Rath had major knee surgery last December after playing only two games for Kirkwood and faced a grueling road to recovery.

"It's probably the most physically and mentally challenging thing I've ever had to go through," she remarked.

The Eagles were clinging to 15-12 lead when Rath went to work. She scored three straight baskets in three minutes to make it 21-12, then made a layup two minutes later before taking a rest, having gone 4-for-4 in a little more than five minutes.

Thedford leads No. 9 Eagles by Marshalltown

MARSHALLTOWN - Devonte Thedford enjoyed a big game Wednesday night as  the ninth-ranked Kirkwood Eagles topped Marshalltown, 79-71, in a  non-conference game in Marshalltown.

Thedford finished with 19 points, six rebounds as six assists as the  Eagles raised their record to 4-2.

DJ Purnell continued his string of productive games for Kirkwood with  17 points and seven rebounds, hitting 7 of 11 shots from the field.  Luke Appel, who prepped at Marshalltown High School, returned home  with 15 points and seven rebounds. Seybian Sims had nine points and  eight rebounds.

Jaqwell Wilson poured in 25 points for Marshalltown (1-5).