WAUKEE — It wasn’t a bad game for Marshalltown boys’ basketball — that is, except for the first eight minutes of game action.

Marshalltown’s 59-point offensive performance wasn’t enough to overcome a 20-point first-quarter deficit in a 87-59 loss Friday night to No. 6 Waukee.

The Waukee boys clinched the division title by way of Friday’s victory and improved to 18-2 on the season, while despite the strong showing the Bobcats fell to 4-16 and haven’t won since January 24th against Fort Dodge.

Still, coach Michael Appel said the effort was much better from his team than their loss to Ames Tuesday night.

“It was a night and day difference from the team that played against Ames,” Appel said.

It was a quick punch to the mouth that set the Bobcats back, with Waukee taking a 27-7 lead after the first quarter and scoring 54 first-half points. Leading the charge was Tucker DeVries for the Warriors. DeVries led all scorers with 21 points and hit three 3-point baskets.

The Bobcats had a terrible time getting stops, and Appel said it was something the team has to continue to improve on in order to win games.

“It’s been our problem all year, we gotta lock down and get stops,” Appel said. “We gotta do a better job of executing.”

Part of the Bobcats’ defensive woes came down to fouls — Marshalltown committed 16 during the game, nine more than the Warriors. Marshalltown got to the line twice all game, while Waukee shot 16 free-throws.

Offensively, though, it was a whole new Bobcats look. Appel said the team worked on introducing new concepts to its offense, focusing on getting spacing and driving to the basket as well as kicking the ball out for 3-pointers — of which the Bobcats hit 11. Armmoniey Thomas once again led Marshalltown in scoring with 19 points, but three separate players scored nine points to chip in — Isaiah Borgos, Justin Melde and Austin Shomo. The Bobcats scored 28 points in the second quarter and added 27 more in the second half. Some of the late action was played against Waukee’s backups, but it was still marked progress from the loss to Ames.

Up next for the Bobcats is a trip to Norwalk Monday night to face Northern Iowa recruit Bowen Born. It’ll be another difficult challenge for a Marshalltown team on a losing streak, but Appel said Friday’s effort gives him hope.

“We may have lost, but I’m a lot more happy from the effort,” Appel said.

Waukee 87, Marshalltown 59

At Waukee

MARSHALLTOWN (4-16, 2-8) — Armonniey Thomas 7 2-2 19, Justin Melde 3 0-0 9, Will Van Buren 1 0-0 2, Isaiah Borgos 4 0-0 9, Aidan DeVolder 1 0-0 2, Austin Shomo 3 0-0 9, Grant Greazel 1 0-0 3, Sean Nyuon 0 0-0 0, Dwight Joar 1 0-0 2, Trevor Stamp 2 0-0 4. TOTALS 23 2-2 59.

WAUKEE (17-2, 9-1) — KyShawn VanDis 2 0-0 4, Tucker DeVries 8 2-3 21, Payton Sandford 7 1-1 18, Pryce Sandfort 2 1-2 7, Lincoln Swanson 1 1-1 3, Justin Johnson 0 0-0 0, Ryan Cose 0 0-0 0, Mason Myers 2 5-5 9, Blake Papenberg 5 0-0 11, Joseph Lindholm 0 0-0 0, Keenan Peters 3 0-0 6, Nathan Holstrom 1 0-0 2, Cade Kelderman 0 1-2 1, Braden Menz 1 0-0 2, Wyatt Heston 1 0-0 3, Connor Soethout 0 0-2 0, Luke Jacobi 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 33 11-16 87.

MHS 7 25 13 14 — 59

WAUKEE 27 27 17 16 — 87

3-Point Goals–MHS 11 (Thomas 3, Shomo 3, Melde 3, Greazel, Borgos), Waukee 10 (DeVries 3, Pa. Sandfort 3, Pr. Sandfort 2, Papenberg, Heston). Total Fouls–MHS 16, Waukee 7. Fouled Out–none.