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TRAER — Baxter’s girls’ basketball team used a big third quarter to pull away from North Tama during a 38-21 road win on Tuesday night during Iowa Star Conference play.
The Bolts led 8-4 after one quarter and pushed the advantage to 18-10 at halftime.
Baxter has lost second-half leads in a handful of its losses this season, but the Bolts used a 13-4 surplus in the third quarter to stay in front the rest of the way. Both teams scored seven points in the fourth.
Sophomore McKenzie Eslinger scored 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Bolts (1-6 overall, 1-3 in conference play).
Sophomore Sophie Meyer had seven points and three rebounds, senior Kaylin Van Ryswyk tallied five points and eight boards and junior Caitlyn Bruntz scored six points and collected three steals.
Junior Holly Jessen filled up the stat sheet, too, finishing with five points, six rebounds and six steals.
North Tama dropped to 1-6 overall and 0-3 in conference play.
BOYS
North Tama 66, Baxter 43
North Tama broke open a tight first half with a big second 16 minutes as the Redhawks pulled away from a one-point halftime lead to defeat Baxter 66-43 during Iowa Star Conference play on Tuesday night.
Baxter trailed 29-28 after two quarters but was outscored 18-8 in the third and 19-7 in the fourth. The loss dropped the Bolts to 2-3 overall and 2-2 in conference play.
Senior Will Clapper led the Bolts with 13 points but no other Baxter player reached double-figures.
Sophomore Kael Johnston scored six points and senior Brendyn Padget tallied five points.
The Bolts made 19-of-49 from the field, were 1-of-13 from 3-point range and hit 4-of-9 from the free-throw line.
North Tama improved to 6-1 overall and stays on top of the Iowa Star Conference South Division at 3-0.
Baxter’s boys play Class 1A No. 2 Montezuma at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday in Montezuma. The girls and boys host a non-conference varsity doubleheader against Morman Trail on Monday night in Baxter. The girls tip off at 6 p.m. with the boys to follow around 7:30 p.m.