Sterling girls fall to star-studded Davenport North in Illinois vs. Iowa shootout

ROCK ISLAND — Playing in the finale of the IHMVCU Illinois vs. Iowa shootout on Saturday night, the Sterling girls basketball team was matched up against a Davenport North team which features two of the best seniors in the country in LSU recruit Divine Bourrage and Iowa recruit Journey Houston.

A sluggish start doomed the Golden Warriors in a 74-40 loss at Augustana College’s Carver Center, but Sterling still used it as a learning opportunity.

The Wildcats (7-3), ranked seventh in Iowa’s Class 5A, scored the first 18 points and never looked back as Bourrage was named MVP with 25 points and 11 rebounds. Houston added 19 points as North had 42 points in the paint and hit 7 of 15 3-pointers.

Joslynn James led Sterling (16-3), ranked eighth in the Class 3A Associated Press rankings, with 15 points. Sterling’s Illinois State signee Madison Austin had nine points on 4 of 4 shooting.

Sterling coach Taylor Jackson said it seemed like the team may have been a bit starstruck as it was not in rhythm to start the game. North reached the quarterfinals at state in Iowa last season.

“It’s just really hard when you get down by that much to be able to kind of come out of that,” she said. “They’re a really good basketball team with really talented players, and I just don’t think we reacted the way that I thought we could.”

Bourrage is the 12th-ranked player in the class of 2025 according to espnW while Houston is 85th.

Alaina Dreckmeier chipped in with 12 points as well for North.

Sterling was 3 of 23 from deep and hit just 5-of-12 free throws.

Jackson thought the team played timid to start.

“I thought we passed up a lot of open shots, a lot of shots that I would be confident in us taking and making,” she said. “Just collectively as a group we didn’t attack the basket the way I think we should have.”

Jackson thought the second chance opportunities also hurt their chances. They were out-rebounded 35-22. But there were still positives despite the one-sided defeat.

“This was an awesome chance for us to come and play at a college and to see college caliber players and play against them,” Jackson said. “I’m not sure we met the challenge tonight, but it’s a great opportunity for them and for just in general, girls basketball.

“We learned a lot tonight about things that we need to fix in the next month if we really want to make a postseason run.”

Before Bourrage and Houston really got rolling in the second half, four different Wildcats had at least four points in the first quarter outburst.

“We were just moving the ball like we haven’t been,” Bourrage said. “And our defensive effort worked really well.”

Although things did not go their way, Austin said it was a good challenge for the Warriors. Sterling has higher expectations this season after its best start in a number of years.

“It was a really nice opportunity since we’ve never been in this tournament,” Austin said. “It’s just nice to get really good competition and play these guys.”

Austin played club basketball with Bourrage so it made for a fun matchup. She said North’s transition offense stood out after the game.

“They just do a lot of good things on offense,” she said. “We just need to be a little more confident.”