Newton boys rout Grinnell, rally past Van Meter

The Newton boys’ basketball team scored more than 70 points just once in its first 14 games. But the Cardinals have hit that number three times in the past five games and another strong offensive night led to a blowout win over Grinnell on Friday.

The Class 3A No. 4 Cardinals recognized their 13 seniors and then blasted the Tigers 73-49 during a Little Hawkeye Conference contest.

Newton buried 11 3-pointers for the third time this season, made 50 percent of its shots from the floor overall and turned the ball over just 12 times.

The hosts led 24-11 after one quarter, posted a 44-point first half and went in front by 27 at the break. Grinnell (6-14 overall, 1-11 in the LHC) outscored Newton by three in the second half.

The Cardinals honored 13 players for their Senior Night. That group included Cole Plowman, Brody Bauer, Jake Ingle, Drew Thompson, Carson Satterfield, Tade Vanderlaan, Kacey Sommars, Ian Reynolds, Alex Thomason, Brody Fuller, Moses Slaughter, Trevor Klonglan and Teagan Galanakis.

Four seniors scored in double figures against Grinnell. Plowman led the way with 16 points and he chipped in seven rebounds and four blocks. Bauer registered 14 points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals.

Satterfield tallied 11 points, three rebounds and two assists, Ingle collected 10 points, three rebounds and six assists and Thompson chipped in six points, two assists and three steals.

Reynolds was the most productive reserve. He finished with five points, five rebounds, three steals and two blocks, while Sommars finished with four points, two boards and two assists.

Vanderlaan had three points and two rebounds and Thomason grabbed three boards.

Newton (14-5, 10-4) was 11-of-28 from 3-point range. Satterfield shot 3-of-5, Thompson was 2-of-4 and Bauer drained 2-of-5. The Cardinals also were 4-of-8 from the free-throw line.

The win helped Newton secure third place in the conference. The team’s four LHC losses came against 4A No. 5 Indianola and 4A No. 7 Norwalk.

Newton 65, Van Meter 59

Trailing 28-15 in the first half, the Cardinals rallied for a home non-conference win over Van Meter on Thursday.

Bauer had a career night, Vanderlaan buried four 3-pointers and Newton edged the Bulldogs 65-59.

Van Meter led 18-13 after one and pushed its margin to 28-15 in the second. But Newton rallied with a strong finish to the first half and then went past the Bulldogs with a pair of third-quarter triples by Vanderlaan.

Newton outscored Van Meter 21-15 in the third and 18-13 in the fourth.

Bauer finished with a career-high 29 points and added eight rebounds and three assists. He was 4-of-7 from 3-point range.

Vanderlaan’s first 3 of the third tied the game at 40-all and then he put his team in front 43-40 with another trey.

Ingle canned a 3 to draw Newton even at 46-all and a free throw by Caleb Mattes gave the home team a one-point lead after three quarters.

Plowman’s putback early in the fourth pushed the margin to three and Bauer mostly took over from there. Vanderlaan drilled another 3, but Bauer extended the Cardinals’ lead to 61-56 following two free throws, a putback, a triple and another basket.

Ingle’s free throws with 35 seconds left made it 63-59 and Thompson stole the ball at the other end. That’s when Bauer hit two free throws to seal the victory.

Vanderlaan finished with 12 points, five rebounds and four assists, Plowman registered 10 points, five boards, two assists and four blocks and Ingle scored eight points and delivered two assists.

Mattes scored four points and Thompson collected three assists and three steals.

Plowman’s school-record career blocks total is now at 97. He has a school-record 54 blocks this season.

The Cardinals shot 40.4 percent from the floor and nailed 12-of-30 from 3. They were 11-of-15 from the foul line and committed only 12 turnovers.

Van Meter (15-6) was led by Skyler Yazzie and Carter Durflinger, who both scored 15 points. Cael Trudo added 12 points.