** Our apologies to the Newton Lady Eagles for not posting this sooner. Somehow the tournament was overlooked on our to do list!
The Newton Lady Eagles powered through three games at the Bob Kerans Tournament this week, opening with dominant wins over Flora and Altamont before falling to a sharp-shooting Effingham squad in the final matchup. Newton closed the event with a strong 2–1 tournament record and a 4–1 overall start to the season, placing second behind champion Effingham.
Several Lady Eagles delivered standout performances across all three contests, with Allie Hermann, Izzy Meinhart, and Claire Probst earning spots on the prestigious All-Tournament Team.
Game 1 – Newton 62, Flora 31
Newton wasted no time setting the tone, exploding to an 18–6 first-quarter lead and never looking back.
Scoring Leaders
- Allie Hermann – 18
- Grace Schumacher – 10
- Izzy Meinhart – 9
- Claire Probst – 8
- Brady Bergbower – 8
- Maddie Brummer – 6
- Kistner – 2
- Duncan – 1
Team Stats
- 26 two-point field goals
- 1 three-pointer
- 7-for-12 free throws
Additional Newton Highlights
Rebounding:
Probst 8; Brummer 5; Schumacher 5; Hermann 4; Duncan 4
Steals:
Bergbower 6; Schumacher 4
Assists:
Bergbower 5; Probst 3
Newton’s defensive pressure controlled the entire contest, forcing turnovers and converting on the other end. Balanced scoring and rebounding depth pushed the Eagles to a convincing tournament-opening victory.
Game 2 – Newton 50, Altamont 24
Newton kept the momentum rolling in Game 2, dominating the first three quarters and holding Altamont to just 12 points through the first 24 minutes of play.
Scoring Leaders
- Brady Bergbower – 13
- Izzy Meinhart – 8
- Grace Schumacher – 8
- Allie Hermann – 7
- Maddie Brummer – 7
- Claire Probst – 5
- Gentry – 2
Team Stats
- 17 two-point field goals
- 3 three-pointers
- 7-for-16 free throws
Additional Newton Highlights
Rebounding:
Probst 8; Hermann 7; Bergbower 6; Brummer 5
Steals:
Bergbower 4; Hermann 3; Probst & Gentry 2 each
Assists:
Bergbower 3; Schumacher 3; Meinhart 3
Newton’s defense again proved overwhelming, while efficient ball movement on offense allowed multiple players to contribute. The win improved the Lady Eagles to 4–0 on the season.
Game 3 – Effingham 67, Newton 41
In the tournament’s most anticipated matchup, undefeated Effingham connected on eight three-pointers and put together a strong second half to hand Newton its first loss of the season.
Scoring Leaders
- Allie Hermann – 14
- Izzy Meinhart – 7
- Brady Bergbower – 6
- Grace Schumacher – 6
- Maddie Brummer – 4
- Claire Probst – 2
- Emma Schumacher – 2
- Gentry – 0 (2 FT attempts)
Team Stats
- 14 two-point field goals
- 1 three-pointer
- 10-for-14 free throws
Additional Newton Highlights
Rebounding:
Probst 6; Hermann 6; Brummer 5; Schumacher 4; Bergbower 3
Assists:
Bergbower 3; Schumacher 3; Probst 3
Despite the loss, the Lady Eagles continued to show resilience and strong team play, battling against a hot Effingham roster that would ultimately take home the tournament title.
Final Tournament Standings
- Effingham
- Newton
- Altamont
- Flora
All-Tournament Team
- Alyssa Martin (MVP) – Effingham
- Allie Hermann – Newton
- Averie Wolfe – Effingham
- Izzy Meinhart – Newton
- Josie Lewis – Flora
- Claire Probst – Newton
- McKenzie Love – Effingham
