Defensive breakdowns hamper Cardinal girls

PELLA — All phases of the game are important. Newton’s Cardinal girls found that out Friday night against Pella’s Lady Dutch.

“Defensively, we didn’t guard the ball or the post area very well in the first half. We dug ourselves a hole in the first half,” Newton head coach Brandon Sharp said following the Cardinals’ 56-47 loss.

“In the second half, we defended much better and played with a sense of urgency.”

The Cardinals found themselves down 15-6 after one quarter in the Little Hawkeye Conference contest. They almost doubled their offensive output in the second quarter — 11 points. Unfortunately, the Lady Dutch tossed in 14 to lead 29-17 at the break.

Newton outscored Pella in the second half, 30-27, but it wasn’t enough to catch the Lady Dutch. The Cardinals connected on 17-of-48 shots from the field in the game for 35 percent. They struggled at the free-throw line, 11-of-23.

At the halfway mark of Little Hawkeye Conference play, the Cardinals are 3-4. Newton (3-10) travels to Boone Tuesday in non-conference play

Hannah Rhoads paced the Cardinals with 14 points and six rebounds. Michaela Jacobsen fired in 11 points and grabbed six rebounds. Jacobsen also had three assists and two steals.

Sydney Jenkins added 10 points and dished out three assists. Shelby Gray was credited with two steals.

Pella was led by Jessica Holterhaus with 14 points and Mackenzie Gustafson with 13 points.

Newton6-11-15-15—47

Pella15-14-17-10—56

Newton — Jenkins 4-2-3-10, Stock 1-0-4-2, Hutchinson 0-1-4-1, Rhoads 4/1-3-3-14, Gray 2-1-1-5, Jacobsen 2/1-4-3-11, Reynolds 1-0-1-2, Kalkhoff 1-0-4-2. TOTALS: 15/2-11-23-47.

Pella — Roslien 2-0-0-4, Finney 0-0-1-0, Sunderman 1/1-0-1-5, Buchhelt 0-0-4-0, Gustafson 5-3-3-13, Vander Molen 3-3-3-9, Bradley 1-0-1-2, Holterhaus 3/1-5-3-14, Borgerding 1-2-2-4, Terpstra 2-1-2-5. TOTALS: 18/2-14-20-56.