Tough shooting night plagues Newton girls in loss to Nevada

Newton’s girls basketball team just couldn’t get its offense going during a non-conference home game against Nevada on Thursday.

The Cardinals shot just 16 percent from the floor and made 2-of-21 from long range during a 38-25 loss to the Cubs.

Nevada led by two at halftime but outscored the Cardinals 18-7 in the second half to pull away.

Newton scored just two points in the first 13 minutes of the second half. The Cardinals were 2-of-21 from the floor in the final two quarters.

“We were not aggressive enough on offense and had no intensity tonight,” Newton girls basketball coach Eric Vander Velden said. “No one will feel sorry for us. We have to go hard in practice and in games.”

Rori Nehring led the Cardinals (2-9) with nine points, 10 rebounds, six steals and three blocks.

Sophia Reynolds had six points, seven rebounds and four steals before fouling out. Emma Rogers also fouled out after scoring four points and grabbing five boards.

Audrey Rausch chipped in six points, four rebounds and two assists and Kya Butler dished out two assists before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with an injury.

Newton was 7-of-9 from the free-throw line and committed 17 turnovers.

Nevada (8-5) also struggled in the third quarter, scoring two points in the first seven minutes. The Cubs outscored Newton 6-2 in the third and 12-5 in the fourth.

Note: Newton’s Little Hawkeye Conference game against Class 4A No. 4 Dallas Center-Grimes scheduled for 6:15 p.m. on Friday was postponed due to the winter snowstorm. The game will now be played at 6:15 p.m. on Monday in Newton.