North Mahaska’s No. 4 Warhawk basketball team has reached the Class 2A regional final after a solid 58-40 victory over Grundy Center Friday. The Warhawks are making their sixth appearance in the regional final in the past seven years and the fourth in a row.
Grundy Center was a formidable foe and the Warhawks were prepared. The visiting Spartans edged ahead of North Mahaska (21-2) 11-8 after the first period. The teams swapped the lead throughout the first half. In the final two minutes of the half the trio of Regan Grewe, Aly Steil and Breckyn Schilling scored the final seven NM points and Grundy Center’s Karlee Lynch hit a late bucket for a 24-20 NM lead at halftime.
For Grundy Center leading rebounder and prolific scorer Ava Mundt had picked up three fouls in the first half and others had two or three fouls. Lynch hit 1-of-2 free throws at the 4 minute 48 second mark of the third quarter to tie the game at 28-28. From there North Mahaska’s inside game took over as Grewe and Nataliya Linder worked inside and Breckyn Schilling worked outside. They outscored the Spartans 16-8 after Lynch hit her shot to go ahead 44-36 entering the final frame.
Grundy Center was held scoreless for five minutes as North Mahaska built a commanding 52-36 lead. The Spartans were limited to just four points in the final period.
RD Keep/North Mahaska Communications
North Mahaska’s Regan Grewe battles Grundy Center’s Ava Mundt, left, and Karlee Lynch for a first half basket. Grewe scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to help the Warhawks to Wednesday’s regional final and a chance at a state tourney berth.
“We went to work and stepped up in the second half,” said NM coach L.E. Moore. “We knew what we had to do. They (GC) re all good athletes and 14 (Lynch) is tough. They are well-coached and young so they will be back.”
Grewe was a force inside scoring 18 points, 15 in the second half. She grabbed 10 rebounds. Schilling scored 13 points with seven assists, four rebounds, two steals and a block. Linder finished with nine points with three rebounds and two steals. A stat that is not reflected is how many times she altered a Spartan shot or pass.
Aly Steil added seven points, Sydney Andersen had six and Kayla Readshaw five.
Grewe was quick to give her teammates the credit for her success Friday.
“I just pressed through but we just continue to help each other,” said Grewe. “My teammates fed me the ball and was able to get it to go in. Playing with these girls has been a very good experience. We keep pushing through to get where we need to be.”
Lynch led Grundy Center with 14 points and six rebounds. Mundt finished with 10 points, four rebounds and three steals.
North Mahaska will travel to Marshalltown’s Roundhouse on Wednesday to face Hudson, 18-6. The Pirates beat Jesup for the second time this season 48-39 to advance to the regional final. Hudson also beat Grundy Center in January, 55-48. Game time Wednesday will be 7 p.m.