Turnovers plague Cardinal girls in loss

Turning the basketball over at least 20 times a game translates into less scoring opportunities. More than likely it also translates into losses.

Newton High’s Cardinal girls had another 20-turnover game Friday night, losing to visiting Norwalk. The Warriors defeated the Cardinals, 54-44, in Little Hawkeye Conference play. That left both teams at 2-10 overall and 2-4 in conference play.

Alex Hutchinson swiped the basketball and scored on a layup to put the Cardinal girls up 2-0. The Cardinals led 5-4 on a three-point play by Michaela Jacobsen midway through the first quarter. It was the last time Newton was in front.

“Our second-half execution in certain areas was positive, but we have to take better care of the basketball. Averaging 20 turnovers a game hampers your offensive output. Turnovers take away shots at the basket,” said Brandon Sharp, Cardinal head coach.

“We won the second half.”

Unfortunately, the Cardinals were down by 13 points at halftime. They gave up a 3-pointer by Shae Campbell of Norwalk to open the third quarter. The Cardinals were able to get within 10 points in the third quarter.

Jessica Reynolds scored on the inside off the press-break adjustment the Cardinals made for the second half. Norwalk’s Tori Van Velzen countered with a bucket to push her point total to 12 at the time.

Hannah Rhoads led the rally, scoring six points for the Cardinals. She and Campbell traded baskets, then Rhoads sank one of two free throws. Rhoads had a three-point play at the 2:56 mark to pull her team within 12, 38-26.

The Cardinal defense came up with a stop. Ryanne Rausch drove to the basket and kicked out a pass to Sydney Jenkins, who hit the jump shot. It was 38-28 with 2:21 remaining.

But all attention turned to Norwalk’s Van Velzen, who went down hard on her back following contact with Rausch under the basket. Van Velzen hit the back of her head on the floor. Action was delayed while medical attention was given to Van Velzen, who was carried off on a stretcher and taken to Skiff Medical Center.

“I feel for them (Norwalk) and I hope Tori is OK,” Sharp said following the game. “She’s a very good player. She had 12 points, a half a dozen block shots and probably 12 rebounds at that point. We just hope she is going to be alright.”

After the long delay, Norwalk went to work with a basket by Shelby Nelson, creating a turnover with its press and Campbell draining a 3-pointer. The Warriors led 43-28 going into the fourth quarter. The lead was 52-32 with 4:14 remaining in the game.

Newton made one more run, outscoring Norwalk 12-2, over the final four minutes. It just wasn’t enough.

“Hannah Rhoads took her game to another level tonight. We spend a lot of time passing and cutting that we’re not driving to the basket. Hannah drove hard to the basket tonight. We have to do that more,” Sharp said.

“We just have to keep chugging along and we’ve got the group of girls who will do that. We have to be stronger with the ball and make solid decisions.”

Rhoads finished with 18 points, scoring 11 in the second half. Rhoads also had six rebounds. Jacobsen had nine rebounds and three blocked shots. Rausch pulled down seven rebounds and dished out three assists.

Hutchinson made four steals and handed out two assists. Reynolds hd five rebounds and eight points.

Newton shot 35 percent, 13-of-37, from the field and hit 16-of-21 free throw attempts. Norwalk hit five 3-pointers in the game and went 3-of-9 from the free-throw line.

Miranda Hughes led the Warriors with 13 points. Campbell had 11 points.

In the junior varsity game, Newton trailed 19-13 at halftime and battled back to tie the game at 25-25 with five minutes to play. Norwalk had a nine-point run to secure the lead and won 36-31.

Jaci Twaddle led Newton with seven points and Taylor Moon added six points. Jessica Smith, Addy Blom and Anna Forsyth each had four points.

Newton hosts Boone Tuesday in non-conference action.

Norwalk  15-16-12-11—54

Newton  108-10-16—44

Newton (FG/3-pt): Rausch 0-3-2-3, Jenkins 2-1-1-5, Leonard 0-0-1-0, Moon 0-0-1-0, Hutchinson 1/1-2-3-7, Reynolds 3-2-2-8, Jacobson 1-1-2-3, Rhoads 4/1-7-0-18. TOTALS: 11/2-16-12-44.

Norwalk (FG/3-pt): Campbell 1/3-0-3-11, Grove 3-0-4-6, Hughes 3/2-1-2-13, Owens 2-0-4-4, Poppens 2-0-2-4, Van Valezen 6-0-2-12, Nelson 1-2-2-4. TOTALS: 18/5-3-19-54.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com