Dike-New Hartford sidelines Cascade in a 2A girls’ state basketball quarterfinal, 58-28

DES MOINES — Mike Sconsa has taken home a variety of hardware options in his 10 trips to the girls’ state basketball tournament, including a championship trophy in 2018.

He’ll treasure this one as much as any.

“This is very meaningful to me,” Sconsa said. “It means a lot because it was very surprising.”

Tuesday’s outcome, that was more predictable.

Dike-New Hartford’s Maryn Bixby nailed seven 3-pointers, and the top-ranked Wolverines ousted No. 11 Cascade, 58-28, in a Class 2A quarterfinal at Wells Fargo Arena.

“You just don’t see teams like that in 2A,” Sconsa said of the three-time defending-champion Wolverines, who improved to 24-2 and advanced to Friday’s semifinal opposite No. 4 Sioux Central (23-1).

“They’ve got three Division-I volleyball kids on their back line. It’s not a good matchup for us, or for most people.”

Bixby will play volleyball at UNI. She’s a 6-footer, so you’d assume post, right?

Nah.

“(Twins) Payton and Jadyn (Petersen), they play down low, so I let them do that,” Bixby said. “I’m more comfortable outside.”

Payton Petersen will play volleyball at Louisville; Jadyn will join Bixby at Cedar Falls.

Bixby converted 7 of 15 shots from long range. She was the only player, either team, to reach double-figures, scoring 25.

“We did a good job moving the ball around,” she said. “We’re so good inside, and that opens up the 3-point line for me. We’ve played on the big stage before, so this is just another gym for us.”

Of course, Dike-New Hartford is the draw most teams want to avoid. DNH Coach Bruce Dall, meanwhile, dreaded facing the Cougars (17-7).

“They’re the last team I wanted to see,” Dall said. “Sconsa is on the Mount Rushmore of coaches.”

Dike-New Hartford pulled steadily away. It was 19-8 after a quarter, 34-12 at half, 48-20 after three.

“I just wish we could have shot better,” Sconsa said.

The Cougars were 13 of 45 from the field (28.9 percent), including 0-for-16 from 3-point range.

Molly Roling and Josie Manternach scored eight points apiece for the Cougars. Addison Frake added six points and 10 rebounds.

Each of those three will be back next season.

“We’ll work hard in the summer, keep working on our consistency,” Roling said.

“We had our highs and lows this year, but it was a memorable season. One thing this team had was a lot of heart.”

Recommended Reading

Photos: Cascade vs. Dike-New Hartford in Class 2A girls’ state basketball quarterfinals

Dike-New Hartford 58, Cascade 28

Class 2A State Quarterfinal, at Des Moines

CASCADE (28): Addison Frake 3-11 0-0 6, Molly Roling 4-10 0-0 8, Claudia Noonan 0-3 0-0 0, Ella Nauman 0-2 1-4 1, Maggie McDermott 1-1 1-3 3, Kate Green 0-0 0-0 0, Klaire Bergfeld 0-0 0-0 0, Brooklyn Trumm 0-5 0-0 0, Lilly Sutton 0-0 0-0 0, Kalynn Lamey 0-1 0-0 0, Harper Sconsa 0-5 0-0 0, Emersyn Green 1-1 0-2 2, Shelby McDermott 0-0 0-0 0, Josie Manternach 4-6 0-0 8, Ashlyn Schockomoehl 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 13-45 2-9 28.

DIKE-NEW HARTFORD (58): Jadyn Petersen 3-7 3-5 9, Payton Foster 0-3 0-0 0, Maryn Bixby 9-17 0-0 25, Madde Buskohl 1-3 0-0 3, Payton Petersen 3-6 3-4 0, Izzy Norton 3-8 0-0 9, Kailyn Meester 0-0 0-0 0, Sophia Bennett 0-1 0-0 0, Silvey Fuller 0-1 0-0 0, Joy Eilderts 0-0 0-0 0, Rylee Reicks 1-1 0-0 2, Autumn Meester 0-1 0-0 0, Addy Joslin 0-0 0-0 0, Miranda Tyler 1-2 0-0 2, Mallory Petersen 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 21-51 6-9 58.

Cascade 8 4 8 8 — 28

Dike-New Hartford 19 15 14 10 — 58

3-point goals: Cascade 0-16 (Roling 0-2, Noonan 0-3, Nauman 0-2, Trumm 0-3, Lamey 0-1, Sconsa 0-5), DNH 10-31 (Foster 0-3, Bixby 7-15, Buskohl 1-3, Norton 2-7, Bennett 0-1, Fuller 0-1, M. Petersen 0-1). Team fouls: Cascade 8, DNH 13. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Cascade 26 (Frake 10), DNH 42 (J. Petersen 17). Assists: Cascade 5 (Frake 2), DNH 18 (P. Petersen 6). Steals: Cascade 11 (Trumm 5), DNH 10 (four with 2). Turnovers: Cascade 16, DNH 17.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com