Third quarter, free throws plague Newton boys in loss to Pella

Holding a narrow lead at halftime, the Newton boys’ basketball team couldn’t overcome a strong second half from Pella and nine missed free throws plagued the Cardinals during a 70-62 home loss.

The Dutch shot 57.4 percent from the floor and turned the ball over 11 times.

The Cardinals lost the Little Hawkeye Conference game in part because they shot 46.2 percent from the floor, turned the ball over 15 times and connected on only 7-of-16 from the free-throw line.

The game was tied at 15-all after one quarter and Newton outscored the Dutch 18-17 in the second to take a small lead at halftime.

But Pella’s 18-11 advantage in the third was too much for the Cardinals to overcome. The visitors also won the fourth 20-18.

Christian Lawson led the Cardinals (3-3, 1-1 in the LHC) with a career-best 19 points and he grabbed eight rebounds, dished out two assists and swiped two steals.

Caden Klein contributed 15 points, seven rebounds and two assists, Caleb Mattes added a career-best 13 points and finished with four rebounds and four assists and Hunter Teague scored a career-high nine points.

Nate Lampe collected six points, three rebounds and five assists and Cade Bauer tallied two assists off the bench.

Newton was 7-of-17 from 3-point range, while Pella shot 6-of-16 from deep and made 10-of-13 from the foul line.

The Dutch (2-3, 1-2) got 20 points and five rebounds from Luke Hardman, while Jack McGuire chipped in 19 points, seven rebounds and three steals.

The Cardinals have allowed 150 points in the last two games, both of which ended in losses. Newton surrendered just 115 in the first three games of the season.