Fast start helps Newton boys sink Knoxville

DES MOINES — A dominant first half was all the Newton boys’ basketball team needed against Knoxville on Saturday.

Caleb Mattes hit the 20-point plateau for the second straight night and the Cardinals scored their fifth straight win over the Panthers following a 59-50 non-conference victory at Wells Fargo Arena.

Newton led 19-10 after one quarter and pushed its halftime advantage to 16 points after a 14-7 second frame.

Mattes led the Cardinals with 20 points, five rebounds and three assists and Christian Lawson chipped in 14 points, six rebounds and two assists.

Nate Lampe added nine points, four boards and three steals, Hunter Teague registered six points and six rebounds and Caden Klein collected seven points, three rebounds and three assists.

Cade Bauer led the reserves with three points and a career-best seven boards. Christian Ergenbright also pulled down three rebounds.

Newton (6-9) shot 43.4 percent from the floor, made 4-of-16 from 3-point range and sunk 9-of-13 from the free-throw line.

Knoxville (11-6) outscored the Cardinals 33-26 in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to complete the comeback.