April 26, 2024

Cardinal girls push 10th-ranked Pella in LHC loss

By Jocelyn Sheets

Newton junior point guard Sydney Jenkins goes hard up the court against Pella in an earlier game in Newton this season. On Tuesday, Jenkins scored 16 points and helped the Cardinals push the ranked Lady Dutch to the brink, losing 59-51. (Jocelyn Sheets)

PELLA — There’s no backing down in Newton High’s Cardinal girls basketball. A three-game win streak has the Cardinals playing with confidence even when they face a ranked opponent.

So it was Tuesday as Newton challenged Class 4A 10th-ranked Pella on the Lady Dutch home court. There was no runaway win for Pella, but the Lady Dutch did post a 59-51 victory over the Cardinals.

“It was a hard-fought loss for us,” said Brandon Sharp, Newton head coach.

“We had to overcome the loss of Alex Hutchinson, who turned her ankle in the first quarter. We had great minutes from everyone who came off the bench tonight.”

The Lady Dutch jumped out to a 9-2 lead but it was just a three-point lead by the end of the quarter, 13-10. Newton continued to play aggressively at both ends of the court.

Junior point guard Sydney Jenkins hit her first third 3-pointer of the first half with 25 seconds before halftime. Pella went into the break up 33-28.

Newton got two free throws from junior Hannah Rhoads to close the gap to one, 35-34, with about five minutes left in the third quarter. The Cardinals had several opportunities to take the lead but weren’t able to convert.

The Cardinals kept it close with a basket by junior Victoria Jordan. A putback by senior Michaela Jacobsen tied the game at 38-38.

Pella countered with a follow shot from Morgan Terpstra. Newton followed suit with a putback by Jessica Reynolds. Mackenzie Gustafson’s 3-pointer broke the tie giving Pella a 43-40 lead with one quarter to play.

The Lady Dutch took advantage of several Newton turnovers and stretched out their lead in the fourth quarter. Newton kept coming, but couldn’t catch up.

Jenkins paced the Cardinals with 16 points. Newton dropped to 4-7 in LHC play and 5-15 overall.

Pella (17-2, 11-0) clinched the LHC title with the win. Katie Vander Molen scored 19 points followed by Gustafson with 13 and Jessica Holterhaus with 12.

Newton goes to Norwalk (5-15, 3-8) Friday to conclude the regular season.

Newton’s junior varsity beat Pella 37-23. Jessie Smith led the Cardinals with nine points.

Newton  10-18-12-11—51

Pella  13-20-10-16—59

Newton (FG/3-pt): Rausch 4-0-4-8, Jenkins 2/4-0-1-16, Leonard 0/1-0-0-3, Jordan 0-0-1-2, Reynolds 3-1-3-7, Shipley 0-0-1-0, C. Jacobsen 0-0-1-0, M. Jacobsen 1/2-0-3-8, Pressgrove 0-2-1-2, Rhoads 0-5-3-5. TOTALS:: 11/7-8-18-51,

Pella (FG/3-pt): Buchheit 2/1-2-1-9, Bradley 1-0-2-2, Gustafson 2/1-6-2-13, Vander Molen 4/3-2-5-19, Holterhaus 4/1-1-4-12, Borgerding 1-0-1-2, Terpstra 1-0-1-2. TOTALS: 15/6-11-16-59.

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