NEW SHARON – When Baxter and North Mahaska met in January North Mahaska escaped with a 2-point victory after holding a 20-point lead. A big third quarter by the Bolts was the difference. Thursday night in the Class 1A District 9 semifinal, it was North Mahaska with the big third quarter to post a 69-56 win and advance to Tuesday’s district final.
North Mahaska led 37-25 at halftime then came out in the third quarter and outscored the Bolts 19-7 to take the lead by 24. Baxter tried to come back but was unable to climb back.
North Mahaska altered its second half defense on the Bolts’ leading scorer Eli Dee. The junior poured in 18 first half points but managed just seven in the second half.
“We kind of put a wrinkle in defensively because Dee had such a great first half,” said NM coach Kevin Kelderman. “We kind of tried to blitz him a little bit and make him give up the ball. Obviously, we went on a run. When shots start falling for us it becomes contagious. We had a good run in the third quarter and said we are not going to let them back in this.”
Rebounding was a big key for the Warhawks. They outrebounded the Bolts 41-18 including 15 offensive boards to allow second chance scoring opportunities. The Warhawk defense gave up just three offensive boards to Baxter.
Jack Kelderman, who has been nursing and injury, played at full force Thursday leading the Warhawks in rebounding with 11.
“The balls were coming my way tonight and I just grabbed them,” said Kelderman. “That’s kind of our mentality so I was doing that a lot tonight.”
His wrist was wrapped to give stability and allowed him to get back into the starting lineup.
“It felt good enough to play,” said Kelderman. “It’s my senior year so I have to do what it takes. I got through it and it feels good enough to play so I’m going to keep playing.”
Coach Kelderman knew the boards would be crucial and having Jack in the lineup aided the effort.
“We didn’t know what we were going to get there,” said coach Kelderman. “That was such a blessing. I thought him and Adrian (Smith) were so huge on the boards tonight because the (Cainan) Travis kid can jump and number 10, (Perrin) Sulzie, is a big kid. We kept them off the boards.”
North Mahaska’s Asher DeBoef and Dee tied for the game’s scoring high with 25 apiece. North Mahaska had four players in double figures. DeBoef had a double-double adding 11 rebounds to his effort along with six rebounds and three steals. Smith just missed a double-double with 17 points and nine rebounds. Lucas Nunnikhoven added 10 points.
Baxter had two with double figures in scoring behind Dee. Travis scored 13 and Sulzie added 10.
North Mahaska improves to 20-3 on the season and will face Montezuma in the district final at Grinnell on Tuesday. It will be third meeting of the two rivals this season. North Mahaska won 58-46 in New Sharon in December and 59-56 at Montezuma in January. Game time will 7 p.m. The winner advances to the substate 5 final on March 1 against either No. 6 Gladbrook-Reinbeck or Dunkerton.
