Host Eagles too much for Newton boys

PELLA — Significant advantages in the second and fourth quarters for Pella Christian were too much for the Newton boys’ basketball team to overcome on Thursday night.

The Cardinals trailed by four after one quarter but nine-point surpluses in the second and fourth guided the Eagles to a 69-48 home win during Little Hawkeye Conference play.

“They’re a solid team and they have a bunch of length,” Newton head boys’ basketball coach Jason Carter said. “They play different than what we’re used to and their zone is tough to simulate in practice.”

Carter said his squad was playing right with Pella Christian until the Eagles used a late run in the second to gain an advantage. The hosts also banked in a 3-pointer at the end of the half to go up double digits at halftime.

“We had too many turnovers,” Carter said. “We weren’t as aggressive with their zone as we needed to be, and we just didn’t make enough shots.”

The Cardinals were plagued by turnovers and foul trouble. Four of Newton’s five starters — Nate Lampe, Caleb Mattes, Christian Lawson and Hunter Teague — had two fouls in the first half.

The Cardinals (2-4, 1-3 in the conference) outscored the Eagles 11-10 in the third, but the Eagles countered with a 23-14 advantage in the fourth.

Mattes scored a career-high 15 points and added two rebounds, three assists and two steals in the loss, while Caden Klein tallied 14 points, five rebounds and two assists. Lampe scored nine points, corralled four boards and dished out three assists and Cade Bauer hit a pair of 3s and scored six points off the bench.

Braelyn Parks finished with three rebounds and three assists and Christian Lawson delivered two assists.

The Cardinals shot 36 percent from the floor, made 6-of-20 from 3-point range and hit 8-of-12 from the free-throw line.

Dane Geetings led the Eagles (5-2, 2-1) with 23 points, while Tyson De Vries and Isaiah Breems each scored nine. Pella Christian shot 56 percent from the floor, connected on 7-of-14 from 3 and also sunk 8-of-12 from the foul line.

“Our kids battled and competed really hard for the entire game,” Carter said. “I can’t fault the effort. We just have to get rid of those long stretches when we don’t score very many points.”