NEW SHARON — The Colfax-Mingo girls basketball team was much better against North Mahaska the third time around Saturday than it was in the first two meetings. The Warhawks were still good enough to advance to Class 2A Region 6 quarterfinals.
North Mahaska defeated the Tigerhawks for the third time this season when it broke open a close game with a 16-4 third quarter. Colfax-Mingo trimmed into its deficit in the fourth but lost 58-49.
The first two meetings ended in 49-32 and 66-38 wins for North Mahaska (16-6).
Colfax-Mingo ended its season at 5-17, but if the final three games are any indication, the Tigerhawks’ future is promising. Colfax-Mingo blew out Iowa Valley on Feb. 2 and then lost to 16-4 Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont by a single point a few days later.
The effort Saturday continued to show that Colfax-Mingo may be trending in the right direction.
Dakota Hostetter (nine points and nine rebounds) and Amy Russell (five steals) both graduate, but sophomores Payton Rhone and Mackensie Brown and juniors McKeely Tjaden and Ries Wilson return next year for the Tigherhawks.
Rhone buried four 3-pointers and scored 13 points. Brown had 13 points, three steals and three rebounds. Tjaden scored 10 points, grabbed three boards and had three steals. Wilson collected seven rebounds.
North Mahaska led 10-9 after one quarter. The Warhawks went up by five at halftime before pulling away in the third.
Colfax-Mingo outscored its hosts 21-13 in the final quarter to cut the final margin to single digits.
North Mahaska plays at No. 7 Pella Christian at 7 p.m. Tuesday.