North Mahaska’s girls’ basketball team learned first-hand why Newell-Fonda has won back to back State 1A championships.  Newell-Fonda defeated the Warhawks 77-44 Wednesday (3/2) in the opening round of the Class 1A State Girls’ Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.  The Mustangs raced to a 26-8 first quarter lead and though the Warhawks tried to catch up, they couldn’t.  North Mahaska Coach LE Moore says it’s tough to win when your team turns the ball over 40 times.

“You know, we just can’t turn the ball over 40 times….46 points off turnovers, you just can’t do that at this level. I’m proud of my girls, we never stopped.  We had it down to 15 at halftime.  I felt really good, really, if you can feel good down 15.  I thought if we got a couple of baskets, get it to ten.  To keep it to ten points.  And momentum shifts, it just goes, and then we got tired and made some not so good passes, I guess, is the term to use, I guess.”

Addie Schillling led North Mahaska with 14 points, with Layla Hargis adding 13 points and eight rebounds.  The Warhawks end the season with a 23-2 record.  North Mahaska’s only other loss this season was on opening night back in November.