March 19, 2024

Defense stokes Cardinal girls’ fire on court

Attack The Day

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Defense can fuel offense on the basketball court.

Newton High’s Cardinal girls are excited about playing defense in the 2015-16 basketball season. Even the team’s mantra reflects defense and the whole attitude of the Newton girls this season — #AttackTheDay

“We’ve been focusing on upping the intensity of our defense, being more aggressive,” Sydney Jenkins said.

“We have a new defense where we’re up on our player. We call it in their bubble,” Hannah Rhoads said.

“We went to a team camp this summer, and it brought us together. We learned to make sure every day is your best day,” Alex Hutchinson said. “We build off what we did yesterday to have a better day today.”

Jenkins, Rhoads, Hutchinson and Jessica Reynolds are senior returning starters for the Cardinals. The four talked up the newly infused defensive attitude of the Cardinals after a week of practice. They are joined by fellow seniors Taylor Moon and Victoria Jordan as leaders on the team this season.

“We’ve changed up a few things defensively and offensively,” Reynolds said. “All of us seniors are getting in there to be good leaders. I’m excited about the season. Practices have gone well and I believe we will do well as a team.”

The Cardinals returned to the hardwoods a week ago in the 2015 Newton Cardinal Classic Holiday Basketball Tournament, which was shortened because of winter weather. Newton won its opener, but the final round will be played later this season. They have two games under their belts.

Head coach Brandon Sharp is in his fifth year at Newton. He is confident the Cardinals will improve on last year’s 5-17 overall mark. The Cardinals were 4-8, tied for fifth place, in Little Hawkeye Conference action.

“The girls are excited about the defensive style we want to play this season. They got a taste of what we wanted this summer at the team camp in Missouri. We were 9-0 there. Competition was not at the level we’ll face all season, but it was a confidence booster for our girls,” Sharp said.

Including the four starters, Newton returns 11 letter winners from last year. The Cardinals have five of their top six scorers back on the court.

Rhoads and Jenkins, who were the Cardinals’ top two scorers last season, received LHC honorable mention honors.

Rhoads, a 5-foot-8-inch guard, led the Cardinals in scoring with 178 points, which was 18th in the Little Hawkeye Conference. She was the team’s top 3-point shooter, 23-of-98, at 23.5 percent.

Overall, Rhoads went 62-of-200 for 31 percent from the field and sank 31-of-63 free throw attempts for 49 percent.

Rhoads was Newton’s third-leading rebounder with 108, placing her 16th in the conference. She also had 23 assists and 28 steals for the Cardinals.

Jenkins is the Cardinals’ 5-foot-6-inch point guard. She finished 20th in scoring among conference players and second on the team with 168 points. Jenkins dished out 31 assists and had 22 steals.

Jenkins shot 32 percent, 56-of-176, from the field and went 15-of-52 from beyond the 3-point arc. She connected on 41-of-69 free throw attempts for 59 percent. She had 72 rebounds.

Junior guard Ryanne Rausch is the third-leading scorer back for Newton with 110 points. She shot 35 percent, 44-of-127, from the field, and went 18-of-40, 45 percent, from the free-throw line. Rausch claimed 76 rebounds, made 24 steals and handed out 24 assists.

“Our guards make us go. We haven’t changed in five years. We just don’t have the inside players to dominate inside,” Sharp said. “We’re guard heavy and we use it to our advantage.

“We have two interior post players this season in Jessica Reynolds and junior Ellie Horn. They bring experience to the inside for us and have shown they’ve improved from where they left off last year.”

Reynolds fired in 91 points a year ago. The 5-foot-8 -inch senior was second in rebounds with 120 — 63 of those rebounds were off the defensive glass. She shot 39 percent, 21-of-54, from the free throw line.

Horn is a 6-foot-2-inch junior, who saw limited varsity action last year. She had 26 points, 36 rebounds and five blocked shots.

“We’re excited about having a stronger inside presence this season. Jessica and Ellie are face-up post players, meaning they are better facing the basket offensively,” Sharp said. “We have three players we call our hybrids, who can play inside and outside.”

The hybrids are Rhoads, Hutchinson, who is 5-foot-7-inch, and 5-foot-11-inch junior Megan Pressgrove. Hutchinson and Rhoads were co-leaders in steals with 28 apiece. Hutchinson was second in assists a year ago with 44.

Hutchinson scored 90 points, and shot 33 percent, 31-of-93, from the field. She was 25-of-53 from the line for 47 percent. Hutchinson grabbed 103 rebounds.

“Megan worked herself back last year seeing limited varsity after a year off because of an injury. She’ll help us take advantage of mis-matches at that position. All three can go in post up or go to the basket and they have the range to shoot the ball from the outside,” Sharp said.

Moon, Jordan and juniors Courtney Jacobsen and Taylor Shipley provide depth at guard for Newton. Moon had 16 assists and six steals off the bench a year ago. All four have the range to shoot the 3-point shot.

“Our outside shooting should be better than a year ago with this group.” Sharp said. “We went with #AttackTheDay because we are striving to get better every day. We don’t have any bad days.”

“We’re giving our best effort in practices and that is what we’re working toward in games,” Rhoads said. “It’s fun to have as many seniors as we do. We’ve played together since fourth grade.”

Hutchinson said the team camp brought the team together and the players are continuing to be a team as the season begins.

“As seniors we’re embracing our leadership roles. It’s nice to have so many (seniors) to help lead the team,” Hutchinson said.

Sharp said the Cardinals have a tough schedule again this season. Newton looks to improve its record in Little Hawkeye Conference play.

“The conference is very competitive and balanced. There are a couple new coaching faces at Norwalk and Dallas Center-Grimes,” Sharp said. “Pella, DCG, Grinnell, Newton and Norwalk will be battling for the top spots. All five bring back key players into the season.

“We must be ready to play every game. This group of players will play with a little chip on their shoulders, which is not a bad way to play.”

Working with Sharp in guiding the Cardinal girls’ basketball program are assistant coaches Kimberly Powers, Erick Zehr, Eric VanderVelden and Michaela Wood and leadership coach Carrie Garrett. Zehr and Powers coach the junior varsity coach while VanderVelden and Wood coach the freshman squad.

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