April 23, 2024

Newton girls lose LHC finale

By Jocelyn Sheets

Hitting the floor for a loose basketball is Newton senior Michaela Jacobsen along with two Norwalk players in an earlier game this season. Norwalk defeated the visiting Cardinals, 48-37, Friday. (Jocelyn Sheets)

NORWALK — Looking for momentum going into the postseason, Newton High’s Cardinal girls walked onto the Norwalk basketball court ready to win their regular-season finale Friday.

The Cardinals and Warriors went into the Little Hawkeye Conference contest with the same overall records, 5-15. Newton was a game ahead in the conference standings, but they finished with the same 4-8 mark in LHC play.

Norwalk gained the edge early with an 11-6 run in the first quarter. It was a six-point game, 22-16, at halftime. The Warriors extended their lead in the third quarter, 32-21, on their way to a 48-37 victory.

Newton (5-16) was coming off a three-game winning streak last week and a strong showing against Pella Tuesday in a LHC loss. The Cardinals turned their focus to Grinnell. Newton split conference games with Grinnell, beating the Tigers on the road.

Newton travels to Grinnell Wednesday for a 7 p.m. tipoff in the first round of Class 4A Region 6 tournament play. The winner faces 15th-ranked Dallas Center-Grimes at 7 p.m. Saturday at Grimes.

In the other side of the Region 6 bracket, Boone plays Webster City on Wednesday and the winner takes on fourth-ranked Ballard on Saturday at Huxley. The Class 4A Region 6 championship game is Feb. 24 at Alleman.

Against Norwalk, the Cardinals came out cold in the second half, scoring just five points in the third quarter. Norwalk added 10 points in that span then both teams scored 16 points in the fourth quarter.

Ryanne Rausch connected for two 3-pointers in the game as she scored 11 points for the Cardinals. Hannah Rhoads had one trey and went 6-of-10 at the free-throw line in scoring 11 points.

Michaela Jacobsen pulled down 16 rebounds and scoered nine points. Jacobsen, Alex Hutchinson, Victoria Jordan and Sydney Jenkins each had two assists.

The Cardinals shot 20 percent, 10-of-50, from the field. Newton was 13-of-22 from line.

Norwalk got 12 points from Shae Campbell, who hit three 3-pointers. Tori VanVelzen scored 11 points. The Warriors were 15-of-23 at the line.

Newton  6-10-5-16—37

Norwalk  11-11-10-16—48

Newton (FG/3-pt): Rausch 2/2-1-4-11, Jenkins 1-3-3-5, Moon 0-0-1-0, Jordan 0-0-2-0, Hutchsinon 0-1-1-1, Reynolds 0-0-1-0, Jacobsen 2/1-2-2-9, Pressgrove 0-0-3-0, Rhoads 1/1-6-0-11. TOTALS: 6/4-13-17-37.

Norwalk (FG/3-pt): Campbell 1/3-1-1-12, Grove 1-2-2-4, Hughes 1/2-1-4-9, Owens 2-2-5-6, Poppens 0-0-3-0, VanVelzen 3-5-5-11, Nelson 1-4-0-6. TOTALS: 9/5-15-20-48.

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