The North Zulch women’s basketball team picked up a pair of victories over former district foes Iola and Burton before resuming league play with a matchup in Bartlett Tuesday. The Lady Bulldogs were 1-1 in district entering Tuesday’s road matchup.

The team’s 46-37 win over rival Iola avenged a loss from earlier in the season in which the Lady Bulldogs were not at full strength. They were without Katelyn Crocker in both matchups against the former district opponents last week.

“Obviously, (Iola) is our neighbor and it is a big rivalry,” said head coach Michael Stenseth. “The first time we played them we were shorthanded, but we also did not come out and play very well.”

The Lady Bulldogs jumped out to an early 18-8 lead after the first quarter to set the tone for the remainder of the game. The quarter saw four three-point field goals from Shae Keith, Lakin Madden, and two from Ayesha Suny. “When can four

“When you can get four threes from three different people, a team cannot just focus on one person,” said Stenseth. “Starting out with a 10-point lead in the first quarter helped a lot. Then we kind of tried to work on certain things and just gradually pulled away.”

The Lady Bulldogs built a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter before Iola chipped away to earn the nine-point defeat. Madden led the team in scoring with 18 points and was followed by Madison Murphy with 13 and Suny with 10.

“It was a big win for us,” said Stenseth. “At the same time we were able to work on a specific style of press and a specific style of defense that will help us a lot in the rest of district and in the playoffs.”

North Zulch then defeated Burton Friday by a score of 40-36 after jumping out to another quick lead in the early stages of the game.

“We have played (Burton) the last two years and have pretty much had our way with them,” said Stenseth. “I was concerned that there would be a letdown, and to some degree there was, but Burton is so much better this year defensively.”

A three-pointer from Suny helped the Lady Bulldogs build the early lead, but Burton outscored North Zulch the rest of the way.

“(The second and third quarters) were pretty much even,” said Stenseth. “In the middle of the third, they actually took the lead for a couple of possessions.”

The Lady Bulldogs were able to reclaim a fourpoint advantage by the end of the third quarter before playing even basketball for the remainder of the game. Madden led the way in scoring with 13 points and was followed by Keith with seven and Madison Murphy with six.

Freshman Taylor Wallin gave the team a boost with five points in the midst of late uncertainty.

“(Wallin) really stepped up,” said Stenseth. “It seemed like she brought a lot of energy and really picked us up when we were in foul trouble.”

The wins over Iola and Burton were the team’s final scheduled non-district matchups of the season.

“I wasn’t really happy with how we handled some of the late game situations,” said Stenseth. “But we were also able trying to work on some of those things. We are looking forward to (Tuesday against Bartlett) because it will be the first time since the beginning of the year that we will have (Madden and Crocker) at the same time.”

After Tuesday’s matchup in Bartlett, the Lady Bulldogs will return home to host Calvert. It will be their first home district matchup of the year since their games against Richards and Buckholts were canceled due to the programs suspending their seasons.