Fouls, turnovers plague Newton girls in loss to Pella Christian

PELLA — The Newton girls’ basketball team rallied from a 12-point hole in the fourth quarter against Pella Christian on Thursday night.

But the Cardinals came up short against the Eagles after being outscored by 15 at the free-throw line.

Pella Christian led by six at halftime and took the same margin to the fourth quarter before downing the visiting Cardinals 51-48 during Little Hawkeye Conference play.

“We got within two points late in the game, but it slipped away from us,” Newton head girls’ basketball coach Jake Bennett said. “Offensive rebounds hurt us and we turned the ball over too much against their pressure.”

The Eagles were 16-of-35 from the foul line, while Newton was just 1-of-2.

The Cardinals (1-6, 0-4 in the LHC) were whistled for 29 fouls and a lot of them came after Pella Christian corralled offensive rebounds, according to Bennett.

The offense was balanced as Hailey Dickerson led the way for Newton with 10 points and five rebounds.

Tori White put in nine points, Bella Winther scored a career-high eight and Alex Riney and Alex Garvis both scored seven. Payton Carkhuff added five points.

White added six rebounds, two assists and four steals, Riney collected two rebounds, three assists and four steals and Garvis registered three rebounds and three steals. Carkhuff pulled down two boards and swiped two steals and Evie Main dished out two assists.

The Cardinals shot 46 percent from the floor but were just 3-of-14 from 3-point range, turned the ball over 24 times and were out-rebounded 31-20.

“We got more looks where we wanted to get them tonight,” Bennett said. “The girls stepped up and made some shots, too.

Addie Van Arendonk led the Eagles (3-6, 1-2) with 18 points, while Rachel Kacmarynski added 10 points, 14 rebounds, three assists and four steals. Pella Christian shot 47 percent from the floor and were 3-of-7 from 3. The hosts won despite turning the ball over 30 times.

The last three games and five of the past six in the series have been decided by single digits.