AMES — The Marshalltown girls’ basketball team held archrival Ames to just three points in the second quarter of Tuesday’s Iowa Alliance Conference North Division showdown.

Unfortunately for the Bobcats, Ames already had enough of a cushion with weather the storm.

The Little Cyclones used a decisive first quarter to defeat Marshalltown, winning 43-25 in Tuesday’s divisional clash. The Bobcats (6-12, 1-7) were forced into 44 turnovers in suffering their seventh-straight loss to the Little Cyclones (10-9, 7-1).

Ames led 18-3 after the opening quarter but got no more than a Karsyn Pankonen 3-pointer in the second period. Marshalltown could only rally back to within 21-12 by halftime, and the Bobcats couldn’t catch the Little Cyclones the rest of the way.

“This game was a testament to our defense, but also took a highlighter to our biggest pitfall,” said MHS head coach Brian Murphy. “On one hand, giving up 44 turnovers creates an almost impossible situation to succeed. On the other, we were incredibly efficient on offense when we actually got into our halfcourt offense.

“As has been the case all season, our defensive effort and execution was something to be very proud of.”

The Bobcats entered the conference contest ranked eighth out of 40 Class 5A teams by allowing 39.94 points per game.

But Marshalltown attempted just three shots in the first quarter and dug itself into a hole it couldn’t climb out of.

“We just have to take the next step of owning the collective responsibility of valuing the ball,” Murphy said.

Pankonen scored 19 points to lead the Little Cyclones. Anisa Percival and Victoria Williams added eight points apiece and Sophia Thatcher chipped in with seven.

Frankie Long led the Bobcats with seven points and seven rebounds, while Morgan Hilderbrand hit for five points and two assists. Amairra Johnson added four points, while Jorja Janssen and Ellie Hughes pitched in with three points apiece.

Ames 43, Marshalltown 25

MARSHALLTOWN (6-11, 1-7) — Kinsley Bowie 0 1-2 1, Millie Heitmann 1 0-0 2, Jorja Janssen 1 1-2 3, Ellie Hughes 1 1-2 3, Frankie Long 2 3-6 7, Niah Lott 0 0-0 0, Amairra Johnson 1 2-2 4, Morgan Hilderbrand 2 0-0 5. TOTALS 8 8-14 25.

AMES (10-9, 7-1) — Karsyn Pankonen 5 6-6 19, Jada Britten 0 0-0 0, Natalya Deardorff 0 1-4 1, Anisa Percival 2 4-4 8, Victoria Williams 3 2-2 8, Sophia Thatcher 3 0-2 7, Cassidy Wollner 0 0-0 0, Kiley Sodahl 0 0-0 0, Meredith Frandsen 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 13 13-18 43.

MHS 3 9 7 6 — 25

AMES 18 3 11 11 — 43

3-Point Goals–MHS 1 (Hilderbrand), Ames 4 (Pankonen 3, Thatcher). Team Fouls–MHS 13, Ames 12. Fouled Out–Percival.