OSKALOOSA – North Mahaska was hoping to avenge a loss to No. 5 Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont when the two teams met in Oskaloosa Wednesday with a berth in next week’s state tournament on the line. The Rockets took advantage of 26 North Mahaska turnovers to secure a state berth 61-41.
No. 14 North Mahaska battled to the wire and never gave up but the taller EBF squad was able to be successful on both ends of the court. The game was much closer than the final score indicates.
Thirty seconds into the game North Mahaska’s Breckyn Schilling hit a 3-pointer to give NM a 3-2 lead. From there EBF went on a 17-3 run and never looked back. The Rockets cooled off some in the second quarter and led 27-16 at halftime.
Both teams struggled with turnovers with North Mahaska committing 17 in the first half and EBF 13. The free throw line aided the Rockets as they went 5-for-7 in the half while NM was 1-of-4. Foul trouble played a huge role in the second half as Schilling, Regan Grewe and Sydney Andersen all had to play with fouls. Andersen fouled out midway through the fourth period.
“We played hard but we were too careless with the basketball,” said NM coach L.E. Moore. “They are a good team and took advantage. We made a nice run towards the end of the first half. I thought foul trouble hurt us in the second half. I thought Syd played had and Grewe really helped us.”
Schilling, the team’s leading scorer was held to just four points. Andersen secured a double-double before fouling out with 12 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and a steal. Grewe also scored 12. Aly Steil chipped in five. Nataliya Linder came off the bench to snag seven rebounds and two steals.
North Mahaska tied EBF in rebounding 28-28, but many of the Rockets’ boards came in the offensive court and resulted in second chance points, something NM had only a handful. Linder, who stepped in for Andersen and Grewe, played some quality minutes as a freshman.
North Mahaska has no seniors so the junior-dominated team was blessed with a strong freshman class.
“They all contributed to our season,” said Moore. “They have high expectations for themselves and we have high expectations for them. Nataliya Linder played an outstanding game. We have a good freshman class and they will take this experience with them into next year.”
EBF was led by junior Molly Shafer with 23 points and five rebounds. Kaylee Helm chipped in 14 and Aliya Wagoman added 12 points and eight rebounds. Kate Shafer had 11 boards, four steals and blocked a shot. Ava Eastlick had eight point and a block.
North Mahaska, co-champion of the South Iowa Cedar League, finishes the season at 19-5. EBF, 23-1, will play Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. against Sioux Center, 22-1. The Rockets enter the Class 2A tourney as the fifth seed while Sioux Center is sixth.
