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Two new head coaches had their teams on display in competition for the first time as the Creston girls topped Nodaway Valley, 27-16, in a two-quarter game capping the Creston Girls Basketball Jamboree Tuesday night.
In the first two games, Diagonal edged Lenox 19-14 and CAM showed its offensive firepower in a 35-8 victory over East Union.
Brian Eisbach has taken over the Nodaway Valley girls program this year and his scrappy Wolverines team took a 14-12 lead after one quarter against the host Panthers. Annie Herr scored four of her team-high six points on inside drives in the quarter and Alyssa Davis drained a 3-pointer from the right side.
Creston outscored Nodaway Valley 15-2 in the second quarter. Kelsey Fields led the Panthers with 11 points and Brielle Baker added 10.
“I was happy overall,” said first-year Creston coach Tony Neubauer. “Our defense needed to be better in the first quarter. We really picked it up in the second quarter and it allowed us to get some good transition opportunities. We just didn’t finish a few times.”
Neubauer started the 6-foot-2 sophomore Fields in the post along with the 5-8 senior Baker, 5-7 senior Saige Rice, 5-11 sophomore Sam Dunphy and 5-1 junior Sydney Hartsock. Also appearing in the game were seniors Taylor Buxton, Bree Ross and Kesia Stewart and sophomore Braelyn Baker.
“I think we’ll be OK,” Neubauer said. “The kids competed pretty well. You can always control attitude and effort and that’s what we’re looking for.”
Eisbach’s starting five consisted of juniors Reagan Weinheimer and Alyssa Davis, sophomores Macy Kuhns and Lexi Shike and freshman Maddax DeVault.
“We had a very good first quarter,” Eisbach said. “Creston is obviously a very well-coached team and they have a lot of athletes. So, it was a good experience for us. We have some things to work on. Overall, I thought they hustled well. We just have to keep building.”
The Wolverines open at home Tuesday against West Central Valley. Creston’s original opener Friday vs. Des Moines Christian was rescheduled for Feb. 5, so the opening game now is Nov. 26 at home against Winterset.
Nodaway Valley (16) — Annie Herr 6, Alyssa Davis 3, Maddax DeVault 3, Reagan Weinheimer 2, Lexi Shike 2.
Creston (27) — Kelsey Fields 11, Brielle Baker 10, Sam Dunphy 4, Bree Ross 2.