Daily Freeman-Journal photo by Troy Banning Leah Neverman shoots for St. Edmond against Webster City in the Jefferson Gym on Friday night. For more photos, please visit CU.freemanjournal.net

WEBSTER CITY — The Webster City girls rode the hot shooting of Taylor McKinney here Friday night back inside the venerable Jefferson Gym.

McKinney, a senior playing for the first and only time in the historic venue, scored 31 points to lead the Lynx to a 49-39 victory over St. Edmond.

After hitting her first five field goals of the game, McKinney remained strong throughout. She had 15 points in the first quarter and 24 in the opening half, hitting 8 of 10 shots, including five 3-pointers.

“I thought we did a nice job of defending (McKinney), she just hit some tough shots,” SEHS head coach Steve Neuberger said. “We didn’t give her a ton of open looks, but she definitely showed why she is one of the top scorers in the conference.”

Webster City (3-3 overall, 1-1 in North Central Conference) snapped a two-game losing streak with the win and improved to 3-0 in home games.

The Gaels made a run at it in the third, closing the quarter on an 8-2 run to cut the deficit to 40-36. Leah Neverman scored 16 points, with Cambrie McBride adding 13 and Gracie Harvey seven.

“Both Leah and Cambrie had another good game,” Neuberger said. “We’re getting there. We still aren’t play as well as we want, but we are improving.

“We did a nice job of defending and it was big to hold them to under 50 points.”

St. Edmond returns home on Tuesday to face Algona, with Webster City heading to Clear Lake that night.

WEBSTER CITY 49, ST. EDMOND 39

St. Edmond — Leah Neverman 16, Cambrie McBride 13, Gracie Harvey 7, Kelli Kersten 2, Emma Neverman 1.

Webster City — Taylor McKinney 31, Grace Hoversten 10, Leah Kasch 2, Morgan Gallentine 2, Jenna Miller 2, Adalie Schwandt 2.