North Mahaska overcame a 12-point first quarter deficit Tuesday to post a 69-64 South Iowa Cedar League win at Keota. The victory gave the Warhawks sole position of second place in the league, one game behind No. 9 ranked Lynnville-Sully.
Keota jumped on top of the Warhawks with a 25-13 first quarter run. NM closed the gap with a 14-6 run in the second quarter and gained the lead 54-52 entering the final frame. The teams traded baskets, but NM was able to fly away from the Eagles’ talons for the victory.
The teams were evenly matched across the board. Each team used six players. Keota turned the ball over 10 times to 12 for NM. Keota had nine steals to five for the Warhawks.
Four of North Mahaska’s starters finished in double figures, two of them with double-doubles. Junior Nolan Andersen scored 20 points with 12 rebounds and senior Braden Steel had 14 points with 12 rebounds. Senior Lane Harmon chipped in 18 points with five assists and Nash Smith finished with 15 points, six rebounds and six assists. Steel and senior Ethan Huffman each blocked a shot.
NM held a 36-28 rebounding edge. North Mahaska was 9-of-14 from the charity stripe while the Eagles went 5-of-12.
Keota junior Sawyer Stout led all scorers with 21. Junior Cole Kindred added 16 and sophomore Billie Kindred had 10.
North Mahaska hosts Sigourney Friday.
South Iowa Cedar League Boys Standings
As of Jan. 11
Lynnville-Sully (13-0, 10-0), 2. North Mahaska (10-2, 9-1), 3. Keota (10-3, 8-2), 4. Montezuma (9-3, 7-3), 5. Tie, Belle Plaine (9-4, 6-4), Sigourney (8-6, 6-4), 7. HLV (5-6, 4-6), 8. BGM (3-9, 3-7), 9. Iowa Valley (2-9, 2-7). 10. English Valleys (2-11. 2-8), 11. Tri-County (2-9, 1-8), 12. Colfax-Mingo (0-10, 0-8).