Dalen Huston

MASON CITY — Dalen Huston scored a game-high 21 points and the Marshalltown boys’ basketball team returned to the win column with a 55-48 triumph over Mason City in Friday’s Iowa Alliance Conference clash.

Huston scored 14 of his 21 points in the first half to help the Bobcats (10-6, 3-2) capture a 29-23 lead going into the break. Mason City (5-9, 1-5) closed to within two points midway through the third quarter but couldn’t get over the hump and suffered its seventh consecutive loss.

“We had a pretty good game overall tonight,” said MHS head coach Michael Appel. “It’s always good to come out on top. I just thought we were consistent again with defending really well and the big difference tonight was we knocked down some of those shots early.”

Drake Kapayou sank three 3-pointers and contributed 11 points for the Bobcats, while Treshaun Brooks scored nine points and both Carter Giannetto and Jaxson Eisenbarth added two treys for six points.

Jess Cornick scored a team-leading 20 points for Mason City. Davion Maxwell and Kale Hobart added nine points apiece and Ethen Roberts chipped in eight points for the Riverhawks.

Marshalltown returns to the road on Tuesday with a conference game at Ottumwa.