North Mahaska Rebounds from Loss
NORTH ENGLISH – North Mahaska left no doubt that they were out to win and used strong shooting and rebounding in a 75-39 victory at English Valleys Tuesday. North Mahaska was coming off a 20-point loss at Gladbrook-Reinbeck on Monday and outrebounded EV 37-19 to get back in the win column.
North Mahaska (8-1) is ranked eighth in the latest Associated Press poll came out firing on all cylinders with four different players scoring as the Warhawks built a 12-2 lead in the first two and half minutes. Using a solid presence on the boards NM tripled the score on English Valleys by quarters end 27-9.
“First quarter was rebounding more than anything, but shots not falling was the second issue,” said EV coach Caleb Lewis. “I loved that we played even for the next two quarters. We started to play a bit better and competed harder.”
Lewis saw his team play to a 16-12 deficit in the second quarter and held a 10-9 edge in the third period. Unfortunately, the Bears went cold in the fourth period scoring just eight points and no points in the final 2 minutes.
North Mahaska junior Nash Smith led all scorers with 24 points and added eight rebounds and three steals. Junior Lane Harmon was solid at both ends of the court chipping in 16 points, 10 rebounds and five steals. Senior Sean Knockel hit for 11 points, junior Ethan Huffman added eight and junior Braden Steel scored seven points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
“We got things going early and scored,” said NM coach Seth Streebin. “I wondered about tired legs after a really physical game last night. I thought the guys did a good job tonight.”
Senior Kaden Hall led English Valleys with 21 points, seven rebounds, three steals and an assist.
“Kaden had a really off night shooting 20 percent below his average percentage, but he still impacted the game in positive ways,” said Lewis. “Beau (Flander) did a great job for us. Myles (Grove) didn’t play due to injury. Reese (Bender) is our second leading scorer, and he really had an off night shooting. I’m very proud of my team for the way they competed after digging themselves in a hole early. We’ve made a lot of strides since the first game.”
Flander was also in double figures with 12 points. Bender was limited to two points on 1-of-9 shooting.
North Mahaska will return to action on Tuesday, Jan. 4 when they host Iowa Valley. English Valleys (4-4) will play four games in four days beginning Jan. 4 at BGM. They follow up with a game at Sigourney, Highland and Montezuma on Friday, Jan. 7.
