Baxter basketball recovers from slow starts to sweep North Tama

TRAER — The Baxter boys basketball team made half of its shots from the floor, turned the ball over only nine times and out-rebounded North Tama by six in the game.

But the Bolts needed a rally after the first quarter during a 69-53 road win on Friday in Iowa Star Conference South Division play.

Baxter trailed by two after one but outscored the Redhawks 17-11 in the second, 22-14 in the third and 16-12 in the fourth.

The Bolts, who have won eight of the past nine games against North Tama, shot 8-of-22 from 3-point range and connected on 11-of-19 from the free-throw line.

Eli Dee posted his second straight 30-point double-double, finishing with 30 points, 13 rebounds and five assists to lead the visitors.

Stadan Vansice posted 12 points, three rebounds and four assists, Dakota Parker chipped in nine points, three rebounds, two steals and two blocks and Colten Damman contributed six points and two assists.

Maddux Tuhn put in eight points and Hayden Burdess totaled four points and a career-best 14 rebounds.

Baxter is now 2-1 on the season and 2-0 in the conference. North Tama dropped to 2-1 and 1-1 after shooting 35 percent from the floor and making only 6-of-26 from 3.

Kayler Morris led the Redhawks with 16 points, four rebounds and four assists and Brayton Cibula posted 15 points and eight rebounds. North Tama turned the ball over only eight times.

GIRLS

Baxter 58, North Tama 21

The Bolts trailed by two after one quarter but dominated the final three frames during a 58-21 conference road win over North Tama on Friday.

North Tama led 11-9 after one, but Baxter won the second 12-5 and outscored the Redhawks 37-5 in the final two quarters.

Baxter is 15-2 against North Tama since 2017, but the series is even at 2-all in the last four games.

Kamdyn Krampe finished with 29 points, six rebounds and seven steals to lead the Bolts, while Olivia Parrie totaled 11 points, four rebounds, four assists and eight steals.

Emileigh Beals finished with eight points, three rebounds, three assists and nine steals, Kaylyn Krampe chipped in four points, four rebounds and three steals and Myah Johnston contributed three points and three rebounds off the bench.

Avery Wonders totaled six rebounds, Mackenzie Cross scored the first three points of her varsity career and Brylea Nicholson grabbed three rebounds off the bench.

The Bolts (2-2, 2-0 in the conference) shot 32.4 percent from the floor, made 4-of-28 from 3 and connected on 8-of-14 from the line. Baxter swiped 27 steals and turned the ball over 12 times.

Kruiz Ewoldt led North Tama with eight points and seven rebounds. Lily Sell grabbed 10 boards and Gabriella Seda had nine rebounds.

The Redhawks shot 28 percent from the floor, made 3-of-10 from 3 and missed both free throw attempts. They turned the ball over 48 times.