Taking care of business

Playing last year on New Hampton’s ninth-grade team, Hope McDonald made a big transition this year, skipping the junior varsity squad altogether and going right to playing varsity. And as a starter, from game one.
“Those first games I was a little nervous,” said the sophomore, “especially that first Waukon game. But the older girls took care of me, they’re fun to play with.”
After a Lauren Frerichs 3-point shot against Decorah Friday put the first points on the board, McDonald took a rebound and put it back for a basket, then on an assist from Paige Wisner scored again. When Wisner and Maddi Moorman both knocked down a bucket and Alexa Wemark hit a 3-pointer, New Hampton held a 14-1 lead. 
Kaylee Eggerichs also hit from downtown with two seconds left in the first quarter, giving the NH girl a 19-6 lead they would expand into a 52-24 win.
Despite playing against a team with only one win on the season — the Vikings beat winless Charles City — coach Chad Pemble didn’t have any “slack days” in practice.
“We don’t take anyone lightly,” he said after the win. “That’s a bad habit to get into."
The rest of the story may be found in the Jan. 29 Tribune.