North Mahaska ninth ranked girls’ basketball team knew going to Lynnville-Sully would be a tough contest against the 11th-ranked inn Class 1A Hawks. NM, currently ranked 12th in Class 2A, could have secured the top spot in the South Iowa Cedar League with a victory.
However, it was the Hawks who took advantage and picked up a 55-47 win. The loss by NM means there is a three-way tie for the conference title between North Mahaska, Lynnville-Sully and Montezuma, all with 10-2 conference marks.
The trio of powerhouses have split their games with each other so will have to rely on other SICL teams to win if any one of them can earn the title themselves.
The game was close as L-S was trying to avenge an early season two-point loss. NM led 25-24 at halftime but saw the Hawks double up North Mahaska 16-8 in the third quarter. Breckyn Schilling, who went over the 1,000-point mark in the game, hit a basket at the 7-minute mark of the third quarter, but NM would not score again for three minutes. Aly Steil broke the drought with a lane running basket. The Hawks had hit a pair of threes and had taken the lead. Steil and Schilling hit back-to-back shots to make the score 32-3, but NM managed just one basket by Regan Grewe as L-S led 40-33 entering the fourth quarter.
The Warhawks had trouble getting shots to fall in the second half and another poor performance at the free throw line contributed to the loss. Lynnville-Sully went to the line for 26 charity shots, eight of those coming in the final minute as NM tried to gain points. NM went 7-for-18 at the line in the game including 2-for-6 in the second half.
Schilling led NM with 22 points and six steals. Kayla Readshaw and Sydney Andersen each added five points.
L-S was led by Kate Harthoorn with 20 points while Tatum Huyser and Aubree Arthur each scored 11.
North Mahaska will host Colfax-Mingo Tuesday, travel to North English on Thursday for a make-up game with English Valleys and go to BGM Friday.