March 29, 2024

Pack it with red and black for Cardinal teams

The Pressbox

Little Hawkeye Conference basketball teams are at the halfway point of conference play.

Newton High’s Cardinal boys and girls open the second round of LHC competition Friday night at home. Pella Christian comes to Newton. In December, Newton’s girls won and the boys lost on the Eagles’ court.

The Cardinal teams have an opportunity to make waves in the LHC standings in this second half of contests. Newton plays four of its final conference doubleheaders at home. The Cardinals have back-to-back home games with Pella and Norwalk to wrap up conference play in February.

So, what do you say Cardinal faithful — how about packing the friendly confines of NHS gym with the red and black? Bring your energy to support the Cardinal girls and boys on their final run of the season through the Little Hawkeye Conference basketball competition.

Right now, Class 3A, top-ranked Pella sits atop the boys’ standings at 6-0 with Norwalk in second at 4-2. There’s a three-way tie for third with Newton, Dallas Center-Grimes and Grinnell with 3-3 conference marks and 8-4 overall records.

Pella Christian’s boys, who are ranked 12th in 2A, is 2-4 in conference play and 7-4 overall. The Cardinal boys are ready to avenge the loss to the Eagles in December.

In the girls’ standings of the LHC, there is a log-jam at the top. Three ranked teams — No. 8 Pella, No. 11 Grinnell and No. 13 Dallas Center-Grimes — have 5-1 conference records. Pella lost to DCG, DCG lost to Grinnell and Grinnell lost to Pella. Norwalk is fourth at 3-3.

Newton’s girls are 2-4 in the conference and 7-7 overall. They are looking for a kickstart to winning again. They have an opportunity Friday against Pella Christian, which is 1-5 in conference play. Oskaloosa is 0-6.

We’re on the final stretch of high school winter sports. Postseason action is coming up fast on the horizon.

Basketball is not my favorite sport. Now, wait a minute before you throw me under the bus. I grew up in a wrestling family so I come by it naturally. Basketball is a sport I can take or leave. I don’t watch much college, and really don’t care much for the NBA.

I do love Kansas State and follow all its teams. Just Wednesday night, the K-State men pushed No. 13 Baylor to two overtimes in Waco, Texas, before losing 79-72. The Wildcats are 11-7 overall and 1-5 in Big 12 play.

Six of Kansas State’s losses have been against Top 25 teams, four in the Big 12. The Wildcats, the nation’s youngest team with seven true freshmen, lost 10-point games to No. 2 North Carolina and No. 10 Texas A&M before league play. They previously lost conference games to No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 6 West Virginia and No. 19 Iowa State — and the WVU game was also in double overtime.

That’s hanging tough!

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