North Mahaska took advantage of 25 Grand View Christian turnovers to move a step closer to a state tourney berth Tuesday, Feb. 15. The host Warhawks scored 23 points off the GVC miscues to score a 63-30 win.
North Mahaska, ranked eighth in Class 1A, jumped out to a 20-9 lead and never looked back. They held the Thunder to single digits scoring in each quarter. The Warhawks dominated the boards 29-16 and turned the ball over 11 times.
Layla Hargis had another strong night with 24 points, 13 rebounds, two steals and two assists. Breanna Fogle ripped the nets for 14 points with six rebounds and four assists. Breckyn Schilling also reached double figures with 10 points. She snagged six rebounds and doled out four assists. Addie Schilling scored seven and Kaitlyn VanDonselaar added six. Regan Grewe led the theft column with five steals.
STARE DOWN. Grand View Christian’s Delainey Murphy stares down North Mahaska’s Breckyn Schilling before Schilling makes a drive in their regional quarterfinal game Tuesday.
“We get to play again and at home,” said a smiling NM coach L.E. Moore. “They kept coming at us and never quit but we got it done. We were a little nervous coming in, but settled in. We missed some shot I thought we should have made and made some bad passing decision, but we worked through it.”
Grand View Christian did not have a true post player so much of their game was played with passes around the perimeter with a drive to the basket. Moore’s team was able to work on some different defensive sets that may be beneficial in future games.
Naomi Parlee led GVC with 13 points, five rebounds and a block. Haley Lane had seven points and five rebounds; Kelly DeMeulemaere had six points and four steals.
North Mahaska, 21-1, hosts Southeast Warren, who defeated Wayne 48-46, Friday at 7 p.m. in the Region 7 semifinal. The winner will play the winner of No. 12 Martensdale-St. Marys (22-1) and
Lamoni (20-4). In the regional final on Wednesday, Feb. 23 at a site to be determined.