Newton girls can’t overcome tough second half in loss to Norwalk

The first half of Newton’s home game against Norwalk went according to the game plan.

Unfortunately for the Cardinals, the Warriors’ pressure defense was too much to overcome.

The Newton girls basketball team trailed by only one at halftime but was outscored by 19 in the final two quarters during a 56-36 loss in Little Hawkeye Conference action.

“Their pressure really got to us in the second half,” Newton head girls basketball coach Eric Vander Velden said. “We were not strong with the ball and made a lot of lazy passes. We only had three field goals in the second half. We just have to play a 32-minute game.”

The game was tied at 10-all after one quarter and Norwalk outscored the Cardinals 15-14 in the second. A 19-7 advantage in the third was all the visitors needed to pull away for good.

Newton (3-6 overall, 1-5 in the conference) turned the ball over 23 times, made only 27 percent from the floor and missed 12 free throws in the loss.

“We went on a spurt where we scored one point in 4 minutes, 30 seconds and then couldn’t get stops at the start of the third quarter,” Vander Velden said. “We got some good looks in the first half. We did what we needed to do. We made only 6-of-17 from the line in the second half.”

Sophia Reynolds led the Cardinals with 10 points, eight rebounds, two assists, five steals and two blocks and Hailey Dickerson put in a career-best nine points and grabbed two boards.

“She drove the ball to the basket and got to the line but now she just has to make them,” Vander Velden said about Dickerson. “It was great to see her play well. I think she will continue to see playing time because she can drive the ball, shoot the ball and play inside or outside.”

Cade Horn registered four points, three rebounds, two assists and two blocks, Emily Wermager finished with three points, two rebounds and three assists and Alex Garvis grabbed four boards and dished out two assists.

Marissa Cunningham, who got the start to counter Norwalk’s shorter lineup, pulled down five rebounds, Evie Main had three points and two boards and Haylie Ryan and Alex Riney collected two rebounds.

“We tried to go big early in the game to get some buckets down low,” Vander Velden said. “Their ball pressure didn’t allow us to make quality passes inside.”

Anna Larson came into the game averaging less than six points, six rebounds and five assists per game but finished with 13 points, 12 boards and eight assists to lead Norwalk.

Bailey Birmingham chipped in 19 points and six rebounds and Avery Thomas tallied nine points and nine rebounds.

Norwalk (3-8, 1-4) shot 43 percent from the floor and out-rebounded the Cardinals 46-34.

Notes: The Newton junior varsity team lost to Norwalk 54-33. Dickerson scored 10 points to lead the way, while Main and Riney each put in six points.