Lily Roberts

PLEASANT HILL — The Marshalltown girls’ basketball team went shorthanded into its showdown with Class 5A No. 2 Southeast Polk, and it didn’t work out well for the Bobcats.

Southeast Polk (6-0, 1-0) scored the game’s first 13 points and never slowed down, defeating the Bobcats 68-18 in Friday’s CIML Iowa Conference opener for both teams.

MHS senior forward Madi Finch was unable to participate because of a sprained ankle suffered in Friday’s home loss to Newton, and her impact was immediately felt as the host Rams ran roughshod on the Bobcats (1-5, 0-1).

Southeast Polk led 19-5 after one quarter, 47-9 at the half, and then held Marshalltown scoreless in the third period, 12-0.

“Overall we struggled with their pace all night,” said MHS head coach Brian Murphy. “Any turnovers or long rebounds turned into transition points, and we couldn’t keep up.”

Grace Larkins finished with a game-high 20 points for Southeast Polk, and Brooklin Daily added 12 points. Nine different players scored for the Rams.

Marshalltown was led by sophomore Lily Roberts with six points and two steals. Erica Johnson tallied five points and Gabby Himes had four points and three rebounds. Emma Younkin added two free throws and two offensive rebounds, and Olivia Brintnall went 1-for-2 at the free-throw line.

“By the end of the night our offense showed some progress,” Murphy said. “I thought Lily had her best game of the season — she was aggressive and looked to attack. We also had a number of posts step up. Gabby had some nice moves at the rim and Emma had an immediate impact on the game with an offensive rebound and putback within seconds of checking in.”

Marshalltown returns home for Monday’s non-conference showdown with Waterloo East.

Southeast Polk 68, Marshalltown 18

At Pleasant Hill

MHS (1-5, 0-1) — Erica Johnson 2 0-2 5, Lily Roberts 3 0-0 6, Priscila Vergara 0 0-0 0, Gabby Himes 2 0-0 4, Avygail Smith 0 0-0 0, Rachel Smith 0 0-0 0, Emma Younkin 0 2-2 2, Olivia Brintnall 0 1-2 1. TOTALS 7 3-6 18.

SE POLK (6-0, 1-0) — Grace Larkins 10 0-0 20, Jessica Stuart 3 0-0 6, Brooklin Daily 5 1-1 12, Rylie Kruse 4 0-0 9, Brooke Woodyard 2 0-0 5, Jacie Mitchell 0 0-0 0, Jaycie Elliott 1 1-2 4, Sydney McNeeley 0 2-2 2, Tara Sullivan 0 0-0 0, Stella Charleston 0 0-0 0, Magela McGowan 3 0-0 7, Isabela McCool 0 0-0 0, Kadence Williams 1 0-0 3. TOTALS 29 4-5 68.

MHS 5 4 0 9 — 18

SE POLK 19 28 12 9 — 68

3-Point Goals–MHS 1 (Johnson), SEP 6 (Elliott, Daily, McGowan, Kruse, Woodward, Williams). Total Fouls–MHS 11, SEP 8. Fouled Out–none.