Newton girls score first conference win, end skid against Oskaloosa

An improved performance at the free-throw line, a significant drop in turnovers and a fast start all helped the Newton girls’ basketball team end a five-game skid against Oskaloosa on Friday night.

The Cardinals outscored the Indians in every quarter but one and Alex Riney’s double-double powered Newton to a 46-32 home win during Little Hawkeye Conference play.

It was Newton’s first conference victory of the season. The Cardinals have won three out of four games after starting the season 2-11.

Newton led 15-7 after one quarter and outscored the Indians 12-7 in the fourth. The other two frames produced a one-point advantage for the Cardinals.

The best overall game of Riney’s career produced 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Tori White added seven points, nine rebounds and two steals, Alex Garvis totaled nine points, three rebounds and two assists and Evie Main chipped in nine points and two steals.

Hailey Dickerson finished with six points and three rebounds, Haylie Ryan scored four points, Payton Carkhuff grabbed four boards and Bella Winther corralled two rebounds.

The Cardinals shot 38.5 percent from the floor and made 4-of-14 from 3-point range.

Newton (5-12, 1-10 in the conference) averages 22 turnovers per game this season but had only 13 against the Indians.

The Cardinals also shoot 60 percent as a team from the free-throw line but made 12-of-16 for 75 percent on Friday.

The win snapped the Indians’ five-game win streak against Newton. It was Newton’s first win over Oskaloosa (9-8, 3-8) since December 10, 2021.

Newton 56, Knoxville 42

DES MOINES — White’s monster game propelled the Cardinals to a second straight victory on Saturday.

Newton used another fast start, sank 76 percent of its free throw attempts and took care of the basketball again during a 56-42 triumph over Knoxville at Wells Fargo Arena.

The victory snapped Knoxville’s three-game win streak in the series. The Panthers (9-8) also came into the game on a three-game win streak.

Newton led 19-11 after one and outscored the Panthers 37-31 the rest of the way.

White’s career night included a career-best 21 points and a career-high 17 rebounds. She was 9-of-14 from the floor. The 17 rebounds is tied for the fifth most in school history for a single game.

Riney chipped in 10 points, four rebounds and two assists, Carkhuff scored nine points and Garvis tallied four points, two rebounds, five assists and four steals.

Dickerson and Main both finished with six points, three rebounds and two assists and Dickerson added two steals. Winther swiped two steals, too.

The Cardinals shot 43.7 percent from the floor, made 5-of-10 from 3 and buried 13-of-17 from the foul line. They also committed only 12 turnovers.

The 56 points are the second most Newton has scored this season and the Cardinals have posted three straight games of at least 44 points.

The win avenges last year’s 59-44 regional loss to the Panthers, too.