The Newton boys and girls basketball teams opened Little Hawkeye Conference play last night splitting a doubleheader at Indianola, as heard on the KRLS3 stream.

The Newton boys improved to 3-0 with an overtime 64-56 win. The game was close throughout; Newton led 16-13 at the end of the first quarter and Indianola led 34-32 at halftime. Newton was up 47-45 at the end of the third and at the end of regulation, it was tied at 52. Newton scored first in overtime on a Dawson Maki basket and never trailed again. Cade Bauer led the Cardinals with 17 points and Caden Klein added 12. Newton coach Jason Carter says while this year’s team doesn’t have a lot of game experience, they do have veteran seniors. 

“I thought that was really the difference tonight. Having seniors keep their composure even though they do not have a lot of varsity experience. I thought the kids did a really good job of weathering the storm, especially on the road in an overtime conference game.”

The Newton girls lost their first game of the season 53-42 to Indianola. After getting off to a slow start, the Cardinals rallied late in the third quarter scoring fourteen straight points. Newton went from trailing 30-16 to a 30-30 tie. Indianola then outscored Newton 23-to-12 the rest of the game. Payton Carkhuff had nine points and Alex Garvis eight for the Cardinals. Newton coach Jake Bennett was proud of his team’s fight.

“Just to see the fight and the tenacity of the team and the resilience and belief that they belong in the gym is an outstanding thing and the thing I’m most proud of the girls for.”  

The Newton girls basketball team is now 3-1 and will play Des Moines East at Newton High School next Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in a game that can be heard live on the KRLS3 stream with pregame coverage at 6:45 p.m. The next game for the Newton boys will be at Dallas Center Grimes next Friday night, December 13th.

The Newton boys and girls bowling teams both picked up wins against Knoxville Friday at Statesmen Lanes in Oskaloosa. The Cardinal boys won 2980 to 1985. The Newton girls beat the Panthers 2071 to 1852. The Newton boys and girls bowling teams host an invitational at Cardinal Lanes today.