November 15, 2024

Baxter girls rout Meskwaki Settlement, Valley Lutheran

Bolts have now won 13 straight games

By Troy Hyde

Baxter head girls basketball coach Eric Padget chats with Elie Tuhn, left, and Lilie Vansice during a game earlier this season. The Bolts have won 13 straight games after defeating Valley Lutheran and Meskwaki Settlement School late last week. (Troy Hyde/Newton News file photo)

BAXTER — Another balanced attack paired with a strong start propelled Baxter’s girls’ basketball team to a 56-19 home win over Meskwaki Settlement School on Friday night during Iowa Star Conference South Division play.

Five Bolts scored at least eight points and Baxter led 35-9 at halftime. It was the Bolts’ 13th straight win.

Baxter (13-1 overall, 9-0 in conference play) led 18-6 after one and outscored Meskwaki 17-3 in the second. The Bolts won the second half 21-10.

McKenzie Eslinger had 14 points and eight rebounds to lead Baxter, while Maddie Pierce added 12 points and five rebounds.

Elie Tuhn chipped in eight points, five rebounds, nine assists and four steals and Sophie Meyer tallied eight points, four rebounds, eight assists and three steals.

Lilie Vansice also scored eight points and grabbed four boards, Mandee Selover pulled down eight rebounds and Merrin Ziesman swiped three steals.

The Bolts shot 45 percent from the floor, were 2-of-9 from 3-point range and made 8-of-23 from the free-throw line. They turned it over 17 times.

It was the Bolts’ first season sweep of Meskwaki (4-9, 3-5) in program history.

Valley Lutheran 72, Baxter 11

BAXTER — Bree Buswell scored a career-high 13 points, 13 players scored at least two points and the Bolts cruised past Valley Lutheran on Thursday night during ISC South Division action.

The Bolts led 27-7 after one and outscored Valley Lutheran 23-0 in the second.

Tuhn had 11 points, three rebounds, three assists and four steals for Baxter. Pierce scored 10 points, Eslinger had seven points and six rebounds and Meyer tallied seven points, three rebounds and three assists.

Selover added seven points and four assists, Brooke Bacon finished with three points, four rebounds and three assists and Vansice contributed four rebounds and three steals.

Lexi Samson had four points and three rebounds, Abby McReynolds scored three points, Kendyl Stevenson had three steals and Emma Ziesman grabbed four boards.

The Bolts shot 57 percent from the floor, made five 3s and were 3-of-9 from the line.

Valley Lutheran (0-8, 0-5) was led by Taylor Mauser’s nine points and five rebounds.