March 18, 2024

Newton knocks No. 10 Dowling out of 4A playoffs

WEST DES MOINES — Junior Grayson Graham came off the Newton High bench to hit a 3-pointer with 6:45 left in Friday night's Class 4A Substate 7 semifinal. The shot pulled the Cardinals to within one point of 10th-ranked Dowling Catholic, 35-34.

Garrett Sturtz, another junior, had back-to-back baskets to put the Cardinals in front for good. Senior Connor Gholson delivered two 3-pointers to push Newton's lead to 44-37. Newton sealed one of the biggest wins in NHS history from the free-throw line.

The Cardinals pushed past the Dowling Maroons, 58-54, on Dowling's basketball court Friday night. They will play for the Substate 7 championship and a berth in the 4A state basketball tournament.

Newton (18-5) plays Johnston, which shocked Ames 45-43 Friday, on Tuesday. The game is at 7 p.m. at Waukee High School.

Sturtz recorded a double-double in leading the Cardinals to victory. He fired in 30 points, which included going 14-of-17 at the free-throw line. He had 10 rebounds along with three steals, two assists and blocking five shots. Sturtz also took three charging fouls by Maroon players.

Gholson hit for 17 points. The Cardinals cashed in on 21-of-27 free throw attempts against Dowling, going 14-of-18 in the fourth quarter.

Newton trailed 12-8 at the end of the first quarter and was down 22-14 at halftime. The Cardinals outscored the Maroons, 15-13, in the third period, but were behind 35-29 heading into the fourth quarter.

Sturtz, Graham and Gholson powered the Cardinals on a 17-2 run to gain the lead. Dowling did not score a field goal in the fourth quarter until Sam Ingoli got to the basket with less than three minutes remaining.

Newton used its delay game on offense and Dowling had to foul the Cardinals to extend the game. Dowling's Joey Kern hit a 3-pointer with 18 seconds left to make it 54-51, but Sturtz downed two free throws.

A trey by Luke Yacinich came with five seconds on the clock to get the Maroons to within two points, 56-54. Sturtz delivered the final blow, sinking both foul shots for the winning margin.

Ingoli finished with 19 points for Dowling. Kern had 16 points. The Maroons were 7-of-8 from the free-throw line.