Newton boys use strong fourth quarter to pull away from Van Meter

VAN METER — Caden Klein made five of the team’s 10 3-pointers, Caleb Mattes and Christian Lawson also reached double-figures and the Newton boys’ basketball team pulled away from Van Meter with a big fourth quarter on Thursday.

The Cardinals led by three at halftime and doubled up the Bulldogs in the fourth during a 54-44 non-conference road win.

Newton has won three of its past four games, and the loss was Van Meter’s third straight.

Van Meter led 16-15 after one quarter, but Newton won the second 12-8 and escaped the fourth with a 14-7 advantage.

Klein was 5-of-8 from 3-point range and scored a game-high 17 points.

Mattes finished with 15 points, three rebounds and six assists, Lawson added 11 points, four rebounds and two assists and Nate Lampe chipped in nine points, five boards and two assists.

Cade Bauer grabbed a career-best eight rebounds and dished out two assists and Hunter Teague corralled two boards.

The Cardinals (9-10) shot 44.7 percent from the floor, made 10-of-25 from 3 and hit both of their free throws.

Van Meter (11-10) shot 43 percent from the floor despite making only 4-of-16 from 3 and connecting on 8-of-10 from the foul line. The game featured 17 total turnovers.

Cael Trudo led the Bulldogs with 13 points and eight rebounds, while John Brown added 13 points and four boards.