NEW SHARON – North Mahaska basketball coach L.E. Moore may lobby to change the name of his team to the bulldogs. His fifth-ranked Warhawk girls shut down Pella Christian’s leading scorer in the second half to score a 58-50 Class 2A Region 5 quarterfinal win. The Warhawks will host Grundy Center Friday in the regional semifinal.
“We’ve got some bulldogs out there,” said Moore following the victory. They showed that bulldog mentality and never stopped playing. We just kept working and working and working.”
The contest was tight throughout. PC had a five-point advantage in the first quarter leading 15-10. In the second quarter North Mahaska’s Breckyn Schilling drained a 3-pointer and sophomore reserve Nataliya Linder came in and dropped an inside jumper on an offensive rebound to put the Warhawks up 20-19. It as a lead that they never would relinquish.
Pella Chistian’s Rachel Kacmarynski had scored 10 of those 19 points. In the second half, Linder, Sydney Andersen and Regan Grewe held her to two free throws and a basket. Linder’s length and height proved a force to be reckoned with underneath.
Linder’s effort brought forth nine points, eight rebounds, three steals, two assists and two blocks.
“She was a difference maker for us,” said Moore. “That’s why she is in there. I am proud of them all. I’m just happy and now we get ready for the next ball game against Grundy Center.”
North Mahaska, 20-2, built an 11-point lead, 53-42 after Schilling hit another trey with 4 minutes 12 seconds to play. North Mahaska turned the ball over on three consecutive possessions and Pella Christian’s Chloe Snyder dropped in a couple threes to cut the lead to 53-48 with 2:15 to play. Moore called a timeout to regroup his team.
“We got lazy with the ball, and they came back,” said Moore. “We can’t take a play off we have to play to the end. Pella Christian was not going to quit but the girls stepped up and made free throws.”
PC was forced to foul and in the final 1:20 the Warhawks went 5-for-8 to seal the game. NM was 12-for-18 for the game while the Eagles shot 9-of-12 at the line.
One of those bulldogs Moore referred to was point guard junior Aly Steil. She doled out four assists and nabbed two steals.
“What can you say about her, she was tremendous,” said Moore. “Aly managed our game very well and she’s always asking questions which is great. She’s smart and rebounds well.”
Another bulldog was 5-foot 6-inch Regan Grewe who battled the taller Eagles to score 19 points. She hit a first quarter 3-pointer and four free throws with the remainder of the points coming from the inside.
Schilling scored 14 points with seven rebounds and three assists. Kayla Readshaw scored eight points with two assists.
Pella Christian, 8-15, 2as led by Kacmarynski with 14 points, 13 rebounds, five steals, four assists and two blocks. Her sister Faith added 13 points, five rebounds and four steals. Snyder and Addie Van Arendonk each scored nine.
North Mahaska hosts Grundy Center at 7 p.m. Friday. Grundy Center is 15-7 on the season. They defeated Alburnett Tuesday, 58-40. The winner of Friday’s contest will advance to the regional final against either Hudson 17-6 or Jessup 17-4 on Wednesday, Feb. 26.
