Jorja Janssen

DES MOINES — The Marshalltown girls’ basketball team set out to attack the basket. Des Moines North didn’t offer much resistance.

The Bobcats led from start to finish in a 41-8 trouncing of the host Polar Bears on Tuesday night, putting an end to a three-game losing streak to start the new year.

Jorja Janssen had a game-high 12 points to go with 10 steals and three assists, leading Marshalltown (8-4) back to the right side of the win-loss ledger.

Frankie Long added 10 points and the Bobcats got some much-needed rest a night after falling at home to Cedar Rapids Jefferson.

Millie Heitmann returned to the lineup and tallied five points, six rebounds and four steals, and Mallory Meyeraan added a career-high five points for MHS.

“Our goal for the game was to return to our defensive identity and to attack the rim to finish strong,” said MHS head coach Brian Murphy. “We did a good job of defensive intensity early in the first quarter, dipped a bit in the second and came out the way that I would want us to come out to start the third.

“We missed too many makeable shots early in the game, which is something we need to continue to work on to return to consistent success. It was a good chance to work on finishing through contact as essentially no shooting fouls were called.”

North (1-10) got all four free-throw attempts in the game, going 1-for-4, and the Polar Bears committed just six fouls. Marshalltown didn’t attempt any free throws but led 16-0 after one period and 30-2 at the half.

The Bobcats are back at home on Friday night for a game against Des Moines Roosevelt.

Marshalltown 41, Des Moines North 8

MARSHALLTOWN (8-4) — Kinsley Bowie 2 0-0 4, Morgan Hilderbrand 1 0-0 3, Millie Heitmann 2 0-0 5, Jorja Janssen 5 0-0 12, Frankie Long 5 0-0 10, Sophie Boone 0 0-0 0, Kendall Brummel 0 0-0 0, Mallory Meyeraan 2 0-0 5, Keira Halsted 1 0-0 2, Savea Goshon 0 0-0 0, Melanie Fernandez 0 0-0 0, Avery Buschbom 0 0-0 0, Angie Hernandez 0 0-0 0, Vanessa Hernandez Jovel 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 18 0-0 41.

DM NORTH (1-10) — Caroline Brown 0 0-0 0, Mwasite Wilondja 0 0-2 0, Jazmin Hull 0 0-0 0, Alondra Quintana-Contreras 0 0-0 0, Barinegior Menegbo 0 0-0 0, E’Zia McGee 1 1-2 3, Gabriela Velazquez 2 0-0 5, Melany Torres-Martinez 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 3 1-4 8.

MHS 16 14 11 0 — 41

DM NORTH 0 2 4 2 — 8

3-Point Goals–MHS 5 (Janssen 2, Hilderbrand, Heitmann, Meyeraan), DM North 1 (Velazquez). Team Fouls–MHS 11, DM North 6. Fouled Out–none.