NEW SHARON – North Mahaska used a shut down defense to defeat Columbus Community 61-22 to earn a spot in the Class 2A Region 6 final. The Warhawks will face Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Wednesday at Oskaloosa for a berth in the state tournament.

No. 14 North Mahaska took the lead a minute into the game 5-3 and allowed just three more points in the first quarter while building an 18-6 advantage. The Wildcats were held to just nine field goals in the game and 21 percent shooting from the field.

“We did some good things defensively,” said NM coach L.E. Moore. “Aly (Steil), Kayla (Readshaw) and Regan (Grewe) played hard tonight.”

Nine Warhawks scored in the contest. Defensively, the Warhawks outrebounded Columbus 39-25 and forced 21 turnovers while committing 11. North Mahaska recorded 14 steals to just five for Columbus.

Breckyn Schilling led the team with 15 points, six assists, six steals and four rebounds. Grewe scored 14, eight coming in the first two minutes of the second half. NM led 34-10 at half and Grewe’s points and a Readshaw bucket shot NM to a 44-10 lead. She also snagged five rebounds.

Post player Sydney Andersen scored six points, but led in rebounding with 10 and doled out six assists. Reserve Nataliya Linder scored nine and Readshaw had six points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals. Steil added five rebounds, four assists and three steals.

“This was a team win tonight,” added Moore. “We were ready to play tonight.”

Ariana Vergara led Columbus with eight points and Brittany Garcia led in rebounding with nine. Isabel Randon, Frannie Sosa and Kinlee Brown each had four points.

North Mahaska improved to 19-4 while Columbus ends the season at 15-7. North Mahaska will have a rematch with Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, a team they lost to 68-46 in Eddyville on Feb. 5. EBF is ranked No. 5 in Class 2A. Game time will be 7 p.m.