The saying “offense wins games, and defense wins championships” may be true. North Mahaska’s defense shut down No. 9 in Class 3A PCM’s leading scorer and rolled to a 52-32 nonconference victory. The Warhawk girls took the lead from PCM with just over three minutes left in the first quarter and led 12-7 after one period and 28-11 at halftime.
“I felt good about this game coming in, but our girls played really well,” said NM coach L.E. Moore. “Our defense was strong.”
NM senior Breckyn Schilling led the team overall with 22 points, five rebounds, five assists, three steals and a blocked shot. But it was reserve Nataliya Linder that provided a big lift. The sophomore came off the bench to score 10 points, all in the first half, and grab 12 rebounds. She also blocked two shots.
“She (Nataliya) made a big difference tonight,” said Moore. “Sometimes it’s not the minutes you play but how you play in those minutes.”
Moore told his girls at halftime to be ready for the first four minutes of the second half because he knew the Mustangs would make a run at the Warhawks. That run cut the lead to 10 points but could not pull closer.
“We knew that first four minutes of the third quarter they would be coming at us and we had to be ready,” said Moore. “We were able to weather the storm and come away with the win.”
Adding to the North Mahaska effort was Regan Grewe with seven points and three assists. Kayla Readshaw and Sydney Andersen each scored six points. Andersen added five rebounds, two steals and an assist. Readshaw had three steals.
Libby Winters powered PCM (6-1) with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Tori Lindsay was limited to nine points.
North Mahaska improves to 5-0. They will host Colfax-Mingo Tuesday and close out the pre-holiday season at Moravia Friday.