Newton teams lose on Senior Night

Following Friday night’s basketball action, only two regular-season games remained to be played by area teams. Newton’s boys have two non-conference contests next week. The Newton girls, Pella Christian boys and girls plus the boys’ teams from Lynnville-Sully, Prairie City-Monroe and Collins-Maxwell/Baxter wrapped their seasons up Friday night and set their sights on the postseason.

Pella spoils NHS Senior Night

NEWTON — Newton’s Cardinals played their final regular-season doubleheader at home Friday night. It was Senior Night.

Pella’s Lady Dutch and Little Dutch swept the Little Hawkeye Conference pair of games.   The Cardinal girls lost 59-46 to the team they face in the opening round of Class 4A playoffs next week. The Cardinal boys had trouble getting things in gear while the Little Dutch revved things up for an 86-60 win over Newton.

An 11-2 run in a three-minute span of the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth propelled Pella’s girls into the lead for good. Newton led 25-23 at halftime then trailed 37-33 going into the fourth quarter.

“We saw a better effort tonight than on Tuesday and that’s what we were looking for from our players,” Newton girls’ head coach Brandon Sharp said. “Pella came out with more energy in the second half.”

Lizzie Stock played her final home game as a Newton Cardinal. Stock is the lone senior on the NHS girls’ team. She scored six points, had two rebounds and two assists. Michaela Jacobsen led Newton with 12 points followed by Shelby Gray with 10 points.

Pella’s Lady Dutch got 20 points from Mackenzie Gustafson and 11 points from Katie VanderMolen.

The two LHC foes play at Pella Wednesday in substate action. The Cardinals are 5-16 overall and the Pella is 15-6.

NEWTON'S BOYS weren't able to knock down their typical shots, including the long-range ones, while Pella was hitting almost everything it threw up Friday night.

The Little Dutch pushed out to a 25-14 lead by the end of the first quarter and never looked back. They led the Cardinals 40-29 at halftime.

“No, we couldn’t find a flow offensively tonight,” Newton boys’ head coach Nick Wilkins said. “It was just one of those nights when we weren’t hitting shots, plus Pella was hitting. We couldn’t make enough stops — giving up 86 points is not going to win you many games.”

Newton (9-10) was paced by senior Chandler Sturtz with 21 points. Also recognized on Senior Night were Daquan Allen, Nick Goltfelty and Ryan Thompson. The four senior boys have one more regular-season game at home — Monday against Winterset — and host an opening-round Class 4A substate game.

Tyler Wood fired in 14 points and Nick Easley added 12 for the Cardinals.

Pella was led by Isaac Naaktgeboren with 31 points and Jordan Pingel with 24 points.

PCM defeats CMB

BAXTER — Finishing up the regular season and Heart of Iowa Conference play, Prairie City-Monroe’s Mustangs got past their hosts, the Collins-Maxwell/Baxter Raiders Friday night. The Mustangs staved off a fourth-quarter challenge by the Raiders for a 71-59 win.

PCM’s Logan Gilman had a game-high 20 points. Dillon Bruxvoort tossed in 18 points and Ryan Jennings had 13 points.

Bryce Kemp topped the CMB scoring list with 16 points. Austin Moorman added 11 points.

Lynnville-Sully’s boys win big

SULLY — Lynnville-Sully’s Hawks used a strong first half to down visiting English Valleys, 81-42. The Hawks led 37-17 at the break.

The Hawks shot 60 percent from the field. They finished at 17-4 overall and 16-4 in South Iowa Cedar League action.

T.J. Cunningham poured in 23 points for Lynnville-Sully. Darin Hofer scored 14 points, followed by Kyle Van Dyke with 12 and Sage Ehresman with 10 points.

Tanner Icenbice scored 15 points for English Valleys. Kellan Coppinger had 10 points.

Pella Christian teams lose

GRINNELL — Pella Christian’s teams lost their final Little Hawkeye Conference doubleheader Friday at Grinnell.

Grinnell’s girls decked the Eagles 55-33. The Grinnell boys held off the Eagle boys 61-56.