OSKALOOSA — Indianola and Oskaloosa brought in identical 15-4 records into their non-conference game Saturday.

Indianola was ranked second in Class 4A while Oskaloosa is No. 15 in the same class.

At the end of the day, it was stellar free-throw shooting by Oskaloosa and chilly field-goal shooting by Indianola that determined the winner.

Oskaloosa converted 27 of 30 opportunities from the free-throw line while Indianola shot 27 percent from the field (13-for-48) in a 52-35 win for Oskaloosa.

From late in the second quarter through most of the fourth, Oskaloosa hit 20 consecutive foul shots while Indianola went to the line just five times in the game.

“We did just a great job,” Oskaloosa coach Steve Kaisand said. “We missed two in the first half and one down the stretch. That really took a competitive game and made it a lop-sided score. We did an outstanding job at the free-throw line. I couldn’t be more proud of the girls in that aspect or any other aspect.”

Oskaloosa, wearing pink uniforms in honor of the Coaches vs. Cancer program, struggled early on as Indianola led 9-2 in the first quarter, but Oskaloosa would score the final five points of the quarter to pull to within two at 9-7.

Kena Veldhuizen had trouble hitting her shots from the field until she went to her speedy driving game to get in the offensive flow and cause problems for Indianola.

The senior guard only had six buckets — all coming on drives to the basket — and made all 12 of her chances from the charity stripe for her game-high 24 points.

“She did a great job of adjusting show she was feeling and took the ball to the hole well, not only get some points for herself, but also get points for others,” Kaisand said.

Oskaloosa took its first lead of the game on a Veldhuizen drive in the late before a 3-pointer from Erica Davidson put Indianola back on top at 14-12.

Two free throws from Taylor Crawford tied the game at 14 as Veldhuizen hit a pair of foul shots and Kate Hasselman made 1 of 2 for at 17-14 lead at halftime.

Indianola tied the game at 21 with 3:21 left in the third on a Davidson 3-ball, but Hasselman put Oskaloosa on top for good on the next possession.

She added two more free throws and Veldhuizen had two more driving layups for a 29-21 advantage late in the quarter.

Oskaloosa spent most of the fourth quarter at the free-throw line which enable it to keep Indianola at bay.

Oskaloosa had just three field goals in the quarter, but still score 23 points as it went 15-for-16 from the charity stripe.

Oskaloosa gets back to Little Hawkeye Conference action Tuesday night as it travels to Newton.



Oskaloosa 52, Indianola 35

I    9    5    9    12    —    35

O    7    10    12    23    —    52

INDIANOLA (35) — Ally Orwig 5-9 0-0 10, Erica Davidson 3-15 0-0 8, Maddie Glascock 1-4 0-0 3, Rachel Kaale 1-11 2-2 4, Markayla Mahr 2-7 1-1 5, Mollie Deskin 0-0 0-0 0, Maggie Deskin 1-2 0-0 3, Taylor Barnett 0-0 2-2 2, Annie Palmer 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 13-48 5-5 35.

3-point goals — 4-19 (Davidson 2-11, Ma. Deskin 1-2, Glascock 1-2, Kaale 0-1, Orwig 0-3). Rebounds — 24 (Kaale 9). Steals — 7 (Orwig 3). Assists — 9 (Glascock 3). Blocks — 2 (Ma. Deskin, Mahr). Fouled out — Glascock, Barnett). Total fouls — 22. Turnovers — 11.

 OSKALOOSA (52) — Taylor Richardson 0 0-0 0, Kena Veldhuizen 6 12-12 24, Allie Christenson 2 1-2 6, Taylor Crawford 1 6-6 8, Kate Hasselman 3 5-6 11, Sarandyn Curtis 0 3-4 3, Peyton Zickefoose 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 37-30 52.

3-point goals — 1 (Christenson). Rebounds — 24 (Hasselman 8, Crawford 6, Veldhuizen 5). Steals — 6 (Richardson 3, Veldhuizen 2). Assists — 6 (Veldhuizen 5). Total fouls — 10. Turnovers — 7.