DES MOINES — A fast start, strong production from the bench and a stellar shooting night from the floor propelled Newton’s boys basketball team to a 33-point win over Knoxville on Saturday afternoon.
The Cardinals led 42-17 at halftime and made more than half of their shots from the floor during a 68-35 non-conference win over the Panthers at Wells Fargo Arena.
Newton led 20-10 after one and outscored Knoxville 22-7 in the second and 18-11 in the third.
Adam Mattes and Brody Bauer both scored in double-figures, but the Cardinals (10-7) also got 30 points from their bench.
Cole Plowman led the reserves with 12 points, three rebounds and three steals.
Mattes had a team-best 13 points and added three rebounds, two assists and two steals and Bauer registered 11 points, two rebounds and two assists.
Jake Ingle finished with five points, seven assists and three steals and Treycen Garton chipped in five points, four rebounds and two assists.
Off the bench, Caleb Mattes tallied nine points and four boards, Tade Vanderlaan collected seven points and three rebounds and Drew Thompson and Kacey Sommars each grabbed two boards.
Newton shot 52 percent from the floor, 5-of-14 from 3-point range and 9-of-12 from the free-throw line.
Knoxville fell to 5-12 on the season.
Pella Christian 45, Newton 25
PELLA — A tough shooting night and 16 turnovers plagued the Cardinals in a Little Hawkeye Conference loss to Pella Christian on Friday night.
Newton was held to single digits in all four quarters during a 45-25 road loss. The Cardinals fell to 6-6 in conference play.
Kael Swarts led the Cardinals with six points and two rebounds off the bench, while Vanderlaan added three points and two boards.
Adam Mattes scored four points and dished out two assists and Bauer had three points and two boards.
The Cardinals shot 28 percent from the floor, 2-of-11 from 3-point range and 5-of-6 from the line.
The Eagles (14-5 overall, 8-4 in league play) got 11 points from Levi Schelhaas and six rebounds from Eric Mulder. Pella Christian shot 56 percent from the floor and out-rebounded Newton 23-17.