Luke Nunnikhoven was on fire to start Tuesday’s South Iowa Cedar League contest against Colfax-Mingo. The North Mahaska senior scored 10 points in the first quarter
and finished with 20 to lead the Warhawks to a 70-33 victory. Every player in the game for the Warhawks scored except one.
Nunnikhoven’s effort in the first period matched Colfax-Mingo as NM rolled out to a 24-10 lead to set the tone of the game. Jaxon VanDerVeer tossed in a pair of 3-pointers to help the run. Six Warhawks scored five points or more. The victory came off the heels of a physical game Monday at PCM.
RD Keep/North Mahaska Communications
Luke Nunnikhoven lays up a ball off a steal as Colfax-Mingo’s Harrison Rhone gives chase. The
North Mahaska senior scored 20 points and grabbed three steals in NM’s 70-33 win Tuesday.
“We played good team basketball,” said NM coach Kevin Kelderman. “We were missing a couple guys, but it was good to see some other guys step up.”
Senior Gabe Hora also reached double figures with 16 points to go with six rebounds, four steals and block. Asher DeBoef had a quiet night with nine points, six rebounds, three assists and a steal. VanDerVeer finished with eight. Luke Boender came off the bench to score six and Dane Van Mersbergen added five.
Kelderman, who is in his first year as head basketball coach, fells his team is where he wants them to be as they near the mid-point of the season.
“We did some really good things,” said Kelderman. “I like where we are at. We are making strides in moving and we are getting better at moving off the screens. I don’t like when we just
stand there and wait to get the ball for a 3-pointer like they do in the NBA.
“We played really good team basketball tonight. We have things to work on.” North Mahaska, 5-1 overall and 4-0 in league play, will close out the pre-holiday season at Moravia Friday.