Sydney Kapayou

TAMA — Sydney Kapayou scored 13 of her game-high 15 points in the first half as the Marshalltown girls’ basketball team survived a season-opening scare from South Tama, winning 52-49 here Tuesday night.

The host Trojans had eyes on their first win since beating the Bobcats in the first game of the 2022 campaign. STC trailed throughout the first half but battled back to take the lead during the third quarter.

Marshalltown trailed by as many as seven points in the period but used a 7-0 run to erase the deficit, and the two teams went into the fourth quarter tied at 40-all.

The Bobcats grabbed the advantage right away on Kapayou’s final bucket of the game, 42-40, and MHS never trailed again.

Marshalltown shot just 4-for-13 from the free-throw line in the final period, but it proved to be enough to hold off the host Trojans.

Kapayou’s 15 led a balanced scoring effort for the Bobcats. Kinsley Bowie came away with 10 points and four assists, Frankie Long overcame foul trouble for eight points and six rebounds, while Millie Heitmann had seven points and 10 boards. Ellie Hughes finished with seven points and nine rebounds, and Jorja Janssen added five points, including a baseline layup midway through the fourth that put the Bobcats on top 48-42.

Olivia Hala and Rylee Ridout had 10 points apiece to lead South Tama. Hala had three steals and Ridout led the Trojans with six rebounds. Scout Ridout added nine points in her varsity debut, while Cahysia Kapayou made a pair of 3-pointers for six points.

Kapayou’s 3-point attempt came up empty with Marshalltown leading 52-49 with 20 seconds left, and the margin stood as MHS went 0-for-4 at the line the rest of the way.

Madison Hitchcock pitched in with five points for STC, which visits Saydel on Dec. 3. Marshalltown plays its home opener against Des Moines Lincoln on Dec. 3 inside the Roundhouse.

Marshalltown 52, South Tama 49

MARSHALLTOWN (1-0) — Kinsley Bowie 10, Millie Heitmann 7, Ellie Hughes 7, Sydney Kapayou 15, Frankie Long 8, Morgan Hilderbrand 0, Jorja Janssen 5.

SOUTH TAMA (0-1) — Olivia Hala 10, Janette Cervantes 2, Aubrey Dolezal 0, Rylee Ridout 10, Madison Hitchcock 5, Cahysia Kapayou 6, Dyan Keahna 2, Scout Ridout 9, Azalee Morgan 0, Daelia Lasley 2, Paige Croskey 3.

MHS 15 11 14 12 — 52

STC 8 12 20 9 — 49

3-Point Goals–MHS 2 (Kapayou 2), STC 3 (Kapayou 2, S. Ridout). Team Fouls–MHS 16, STC 28. Fouled Out–Hala, Cervantes.