June 17, 2024

Baxter basketball splits with Meskwaki Settlement

By Newton Daily

Baxter senior Caitlyn Bruntz, right, scores two points in a game earlier this season. Bruntz scored a career-high and school-record 27 points in the Bolts' win over Meskwaki Settlement School on Monday night. (Troy Hyde)

MESKWAKI SETTLEMENT — Caitlyn Bruntz set a new scoring record, the Bolts had 18 steals and Baxter’s girls’ basketball team blew out Meskwaki Settlement School 65-43 on Monday night during Iowa Star Conference South Division play.

The doubleheader was made up after being postponed on Friday due to weather.

The Bolts’ win was the first victory over the Warriors (10-4 overall, 6-3 in conference play) since they joined the Iowa Star Conference three seasons ago.

Baxter (10-5, 6-2) trailed by four after one quarter but outscored the Warriors 18-4 in the second. The Bolts won the second half 35-23.

Bruntz buried five 3-pointers and scored a school-record 27 points. She also had seven steals and five assists.

McKenzie Eslinger added 11 points, 14 rebounds and four steals and Lilie Vansice tallied 15 points, six rebounds and three assists. Sophie Meyer finished with six points, four rebounds and three assists.

Holly Jessen chipped in four points and four rebounds and Sadie Meyer delivered three assists.

Baxter was 25-of-61 from the floor and hit 7-of-24 from 3-point range. The Bolts were 8-of-21 from the free-throw line.

The Bolts host Valley Lutheran in a girl-boy doubleheader at 6 p.m. on Tuesday in Baxter.

BOYS

Meskwaki Settlement 68,

Baxter 57

A quick start wasn’t enough for Baxter’s boys’ basketball team on Monday night. The Bolts led by nine after the first quarter but was outscored by five in the second and 13 in the third during a 68-57 loss in Iowa Star Conference South Division play.

Carter Nelsen finished with 18 points, six rebounds and two blocks and Cody Damman added a career-high 15 points and five boards to lead the Bolts (10-4, 6-2).

Rory Heer scored 11 points, grabbed three rebounds and had three steals. Kael Johnston chipped in five points and four assists.

Bolts’ leading scorer Cole Damman, who came into the game averaging 23.4 points per game, was held to eight on 2-of-9 shooting. He delivered four assists.

Victor Balderas led the Warriors (10-2, 8-1) with 23 points and Tiernan Wanatee had 17 points.