March 18, 2024

Defense fuels Newton boys’ victory over Bobcats

MARSHALLTOWN — Teams have off nights shooting the basketball. Good teams always play solid defense.

Newton High’s Cardinals had a sub-par offensive outing Thursday night against host Marshalltown. Their defense was still solid to fuel the Cardinals’ 64-34 win.

“This was a great team win,” Newton head coach Bill Liley said. “We depended on our defense tonight in a grind-out affair at the Roundhouse. We didn’t shoot at a high percentage in this game, but our defense is something which has been getting better each game.”

The Cardinals shot 42.5 percent, 23-of-54, from the field while holding the Bobcats to 20 percent, 11-of-54, from the field.

In Newton’s four wins this season, it has won the battle on the boards. The Cardinals pulled down 30 rebounds to the Bobcats’ 24.

Newton opened a 16-10 lead by the end of the first quarter, then struggled at the offensive end. It scored nine points in the second period, but restricted Marshalltown to eight points. Newton led 25-18 at halftime.

The Cardinals began to pull away from the Bobcats with a 13-6 run in the third quarter. They went on a 26-10 tear in the final eight minutes to win by 30 points.

Garrett Sturtz triggered in 28 points, going 7-of-7 at the free-throw line. Connor Gholson fired in 18 points, hitting four 3-pointers. Sturtz pulled down eight rebounds, handed out five assist and had three blocked shots.

Gholson and Morgan Maher each controlled six rebounds. Trey Vanderlaan had five rebounds and three assists. Maher took three charging fouls during the game.

Newton cashed in 12-of-13 free throw attempts. The Cardinals had 14 assists.

Luke Appel and Blake Linsemeyer each scored 10 points for the Bobcats. Marshalltown (0-3) went 10-of-15 from the free-throw line.

“We’re excited to be 4-0. We’re putting out a very consistent effort defensively and it’s helping us win basketball games,” Liley said. “We’re going to work to extend it to tomorrow (Friday) night.”

Newton (4-0) takes a 1-0 Little Hawkeye Conference mark into Friday’s conference game against Class 3A 10th-ranked Dallas Center-Grimes. The Cardinals play at 7:30 p.m. against the Mustangs in Grimes.

Newton’s junior varsity lost to Marshalltown 47-31 after trailing 25-17 at halftime. Quintrail Coley had 10 points and six rebounds for Newton and Grant Garvis had six rebounds.

In the freshman game, Marshalltown beat Newton, 60-44. Constance Grigsby scored 16 points and William Cheng had 11 points.

Newton 16-9-13-26—64

Marshalltown 10-8-6-10—34

Newton (FG/3-pt): Sturtz 9/1-7-1-28, Graham 0-1-2-1, Gulling 0-0-3-0, Gholson 3/4-0-0-18, Vanderlaan 0-0-2-0, Ventling 2-2-3-6, Maher 3/1-0-3-9, Bartels 0-2-0-2. TOTALS: 17/6-12-14-64.

Marshalltown (FG/3-pt): Beaty 0/1-0-2-3, Melde 0-2-0-2, Smith 1-0-1-2, Slifer 0-0-1-0, McWilliams 0-0-1-0, Linsemeyer 4-2-1-10, Tullis 0-3-0-3, Haynes 0-1-4-1, Appel 4-2-5-10, Brintnall 0/1-0-1-3. TOTALS: 9/2-10-16-34.

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