Fourth-ranked DCG too much for Newton girls

The Dallas Center-Grimes girls’ basketball team is ranked fourth in Class 4A and only one Mustang averages in double-figures.

As a team, DCG shoots 35 percent from the floor and averages less than 12 turnovers per game.

Newton was going to have an uphill battle during its Little Hawkeye Conference matchup on Monday, but head coach Eric Vander Velden thought his squad’s intensity improved from its last game and there were positives to take from a 61-24 home loss.

“Our best thing tonight was us driving the ball to the hoop. We need to do that more. But it was better tonight,” Vander Velden said.

The Cardinals got off to a slow start and struggled in the third quarter. The biggest issues were turnovers and rebounding.

Newton turned the ball over 25 times and lost the rebounding battle, 45-25.

“We have to take pride in boxing out. We just didn’t rebound well enough in the first half,” Vander Velden said. “When the ball goes up, find a body. We were staring a lot. It got better in the second half.”

Newton (2-10 overall, 1-6 in conference play) trailed 18-4 after one and four different Mustangs hit a 3-pointer in the quarter. Eight have made at least one trey this season.

The Cardinals played better in the second. Both teams scored nine points. Jaz Cooper drained a 3-pointer and Emma Rogers, Marissa Cunningham and Sophia Reynolds all scored buckets inside.

Rogers led the Cardinals with six points, three rebounds and two blocks. It was her best offensive game of the year, according to Vander Velden.

“This was probably her best game driving to the hoop,” Vander Velden said. “We are trying to get the girls to do that more. We want to get fouled, too. She played well tonight.”

The Cardinals were only down to the fourth-ranked team in the state 27-13 at halftime and the continuous mercy-rule clock did not kick on until the final two minutes of the game. Those are both positives for the Cardinals, too.

The third quarter was not particularly positive though. DCG (10-3, 5-1) won the period 20-4 despite Rogers scoring the first basket of the frame. The only other points came from Rori Nehring on a drive to the hoop.

Rogers added a layup in the fourth, Audrey Rausch made a pair of free throws, Kya Butler hit 1-of-2 from the line and Alex Garvis connected on a short jumper late in the game.

“On the white board before the game, I put intensity, effort and play hard,” Vander Velden said. “Our intensity was a lot better tonight than it was against Nevada. No matter who we play, we always have to bring intensity and effort every single game.”

Reynolds and Cunningham both scored four points for Newton, while Cooper had three points and three boards. Reynolds added three rebounds and Cunningham grabbed two boards.

Rausch finished with two rebounds, two assists and four steals and Nehring tallied three rebounds, two assists and three blocks. Butler dished out two assists and Kealey Manning pulled down a trio of rebounds.

The Cardinals shot 30 percent from the floor, made 1-of-8 from 3-point range and connected on 3-of-8 from the line.

DCG shot 35.6 percent from the floor, buried 8-of-31 from long range and canned 11-of-20 at the line.

“They’re a good team. They’re ranked and have five or six players who can shoot from outside,” Vander Velden said. “They hit eight 3s. They’re ranked fourth for a reason.”

Notes: Ella Lampe led DCG with 11 points, 12 rebounds and five steals. The Mustangs’ roster also features reserve Josie Lampe. The sisters are first cousins to Newton’s Nate and Macy Lampe. … DCG’s assistant coach is former Newton head girls basketball coach Judy Nissly. … This game was originally slated for last Friday but was moved to Monday because of the snowstorm.