Everything seemed to be working for the North Mahaska Warhawk basketball team Tuesday as they opened the postseason with a 90-39 victory over GMG. The Warhawks shot 60.3 percent from the field and 44 percent from the arc hitting 13 of the long balls.
“We have been in kind of a shooting slump lately and have been putting in work on our shooting,” said North Mahaska coach Seth Streebin. “In practice we put an emphasis on putting up threes.”
While the long ball became a big weapon later in the game it was the inside game that propelled NM to the early lead. Lane Harmon, who finished with a game-high 21 points, hit his first in the quarter. Braden Steel and Nash Smith each added six points from the paint as NM built a 27-10 lead after one period. The Wolverines regained their composure and matched the Warhawks as the NM made a two-point gain at halftime.
North Mahaska’s Lane Harmon battled GMG’s Rider Kupka for a first half basket. Harmon scored 21 points to help the Warhawks to a 90-39 Class 1A district tourney win.
Six triples rained down in the third quarter as NM outscored the Wolverines 33-8 putting the game out of reach. North Mahaska saw a continuous clock with 11 minutes left to play in the game. The Warhawks added five more 3-pointers in the final 9 minutes including three by reserve Gabe Hora.
North Mahaska played all 12 players with nine scoring, five of them in double figures. The Warhawks also dominated the boards 33-17 including 10 offensive boards.
Harmon added nine assists to his scoring total and two steals. Nolan Andersen scored 19 points with seven boards, four steals and three assists. Smith scored 14 points with five rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Braden Steel added eight points with six rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks.
Jabal Woodbury led GMG with 15 points and Brady Duden had 10.
The win pits North Mahaska 18-4, against Pekin, 12-10, who defeated Lone Tree 74-58. Thursday’s game will be at 7 p.m. in New Sharon.