Newton girls score first LHC win, down Oskaloosa

Newton’s girls’ basketball team might be the unluckiest team in the state this season.

The Cardinals’ lineup has been short-handed most of the season due to injuries or COVID-19.

Sophomore Audrey Rausch is still out with an injury, but Newton’s lineup is otherwise as healthy as its been all season and results are starting to show on the court.

Against Oskaloosa on Monday, the Cardinals shot 52 percent from the floor and rallied from a first-quarter deficit to win the Little Hawkeye Conference game 61-43.

It was the first conference win of the season for Newton and it came on Senior Night.

“It was nice to win on Senior Night,” Newton girls’ basketball coach Eric Vander Velden said. “We had a lot of players score today. We only play six or seven kids so for most of them to score quite a few points each was really big for us.”

A pair of seniors were a big part of the victory, but junior Aurora Nehring also had the best game of her season to lift the Cardinals from outside.

Nehring finished 11 points, three rebounds, four assists and three steals. Seven of her 11 points came in the second quarter and her jumper and 3-pointer on back-to-back possessions gave the Cardinals’ their first lead since early in the first quarter.

“I have been working pretty hard on my shot in practice lately,” Nehring said. “As soon I made a shot a few games ago, it felt like I was getting my rhythm again.”

Oskaloosa (6-11 overall, 1-9 in conference play) came out red-hot from outside. The Indians made six 3-pointers in the game and four of them came in the first half.

That’s when Vander Velden and his coaching staff changed to a zone defense.

“We figured they would cool off when we got into our zone. They don’t really have an inside game so the zone worked for us,” Vander Velden said.

Oskaloosa led 13-4 early in the game. But the Cardinals scored the final five of the period to get to 13-9 after one.

Newton (3-13, 1-10) rallied with strong second and third quarters.

In the second, the seniors made their presence felt. Meg Callaghan started the frame with a bucket inside and then Victoria Reynolds buried a trey and connected on a layup.

Chassidy Henwood scored inside before Nehring’s five-point run. A free throw later by Henwood and another 3 by Reynolds put the Cardinals in front for good at 27-23.

Henwood finished with a game-high 19 points and added five rebounds, nine assists and four steals. The nine assists ties her own school record for most assists in a single game.

“I look to pass first because it doesn’t matter how many points we have individually,” Henwood said. “If everyone is contributing it will be beneficial for us.”

Newton led 32-28 at halftime and outscored the Indians 19-8 in the third. Henwood opened the frame with a 3 and Kealey Manning began a 14-0 run with a free throw.

Manning scored all eight of her points in the period. She also grabbed three rebounds. Nehring ended Newton’s scoring in the quarter with a jumper.

“We got the ball inside and started to drive to the basket more,” Vander Velden said. “And then (Nehring) hit some shots, and that’s huge for her because she’s been struggling from outside.”

Henwood knows Nehring’s outside shot is going to be one of the keys to the Cardinals’ success.

“It’s really important for us if she keeps making those outside shots,” Henwood said. “We haven’t hit many 3s this year so giving us that option out there will open things up for everyone else.”

It did open things up for Callaghan in the fourth. She had 13 points in the game and seven came in the final period. Callaghan had another double-double with 11 rebounds.

Leading 59-38, Vander Velden took out each senior one at a time. He even had Sophia Reynolds replace her older sister Victoria.

“I hope people knew what I was doing there,” Vander Velden said. “I wanted to take them out one by one. I am glad the officials understood what I was doing. I’m happy for the seniors.”

Notes: Henwood went over 200 career assists recently. She will finish second in school history in career assists, trailing only Casey McDermott. … Henwood, Callaghan, Victoria Reynolds and Jerrica McGuire all were recognized after the game for Senior Night. … Oskaloosa has lost five straight games and eight of its last nine. … The win snapped Newton’s five game losing skid. The Cardinals won the game despite making only 13-of-24 from the line and committing 18 turnovers.