Green Devils lead TOIE after Warriors suffer first loss

Press Staff Report

Two’s company … three’s a crowd.

Such was the crowd that congregated atop the Top of Iowa-East Conference boys basketball standings this early season.

Going into this last weekend, North Butler and Rockford were both undefeated, and Osage still had a perfect conference record.

On Friday, the NB Bearcats lost to Saint Ansgar, 59-58, in double overtime. Then on Tuesday, the Bearcats were soundly defeated by Osage, 66-40.

But for the Green Devils to seize the perch for themselves, they needed a little help. And they got it from Newman Catholic.

Down by 12 at halftime, the Knights rallied late in the game to catch and overtake Rockford, 59-51, Tuesday for the Warriors’ first setback of the season.

Joe Scholl led a balanced attack for the Knights with 14 points. Josh Fitzgerald and Brady Gatton had 12 and 10 points, respectively, for Newman Catholic (3-3, 3-2).

Zach Bushbaum had 11 points, Jared Marth grabbed 10 rebounds, and Alex Schriever had four assists for Rockford, which fell to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the TOIE.

Though they have one loss this season, the Green Devils are 4-0 in conference play.

North Butler is currently 4-2 overall and in the TOIE.

Rockford will host winless Central Springs on Friday in the second of a varsity basketball doublehead.

North Butler’s next game is Tuesday (Dec. 19) against Nashua-Plainfield.

* In TOIE girls basketball action, Rockford junior Morgan Thieman had a monster game against Newman Catholic, scoring 25 points on 9 of 13 shooting from the field including 4 of 4 from beyond the 3-point arc. Thieman also led her team with 11 rebounds.

But Newman Catholic senior Peyton Olson also scored 25 points, and she had a little more scoring support around her as the Knights won, 71-46.

Newman Catholic improved to 4-3 and 2-2; Rockford fell to 2-4, 2-2

Boys Game

NEWMAN CATHOLIC 59,
ROCKFORD 51

Scoring By Quarters

ROCKFORD 13 20 8 10 — 51

NEWMAN CATHOLIC 10 11 15 23 — 59

ROCKFORD (51)

Jake Staudt 9, Zach Bushbaum 11. Alex Schriever 5, Max Rooney 7, Kaden Lyman 5, Jared Marth 8, Matt Schubert 6.

NEWMAN CATHOLIC (59)

Isaac Fettkether 2, Joe Scholl 14, Josh Fitzgerald 12, Brady Gatton 10, Justin Fausnaugh 5, Merritt McCardle 3, Ian Holmgaard 2, Jared Bock 2, Jacob Schutt 9.

Girls Game

NEWMAN CATHOLIC 71,
ROCKFORD 46

Scoring By Quarters

ROCKFORD 7 7 14 18 — 46

NEWMAN CATHOLIC 15 17 29 10 — 71

ROCKFORD (46)

Amber Reams 2, Jamie Schuster 14, Olivia Harden 5, Morgan Thieman 25.

NEWMAN CATHOLIC (71)

Peyton Olson 25, Lily Castle 7, Hailey Worman 8, Paige Leininger 4, Maria Determan 7, McKenzie Sullivan 3, Kailiah Thompson 7, Emma Verstegen 4, Paige Walker 3, Kealan Curley 3.