The Marshalltown girls’ basketball team earned the lead that allowed them to not have to score in the fourth quarter to beat South Tama.

That wasn’t exactly the plan, however.

The Bobcats tipped off the new year with a win over South Tama for the third season in a row, stopping the Trojans 30-21 on Tuesday, Nov. 25, inside the Roundhouse.

Marshalltown scored the first basket of the second half to take an 11-point lead, but the Bobcats saw their advantage cut to five before the night was through.

MHS went the first six and a half minutes of the fourth quarter without scoring, but the Trojans didn’t score for the final four minutes of the game to ruin their comeback try.

Marshalltown led 26-17 entering the fourth quarter but turned the ball over five times in the final frame while going 4-for-8 from the charity stripe.

Frankie Long scored a game-high eight points go go with nine rebounds, Millie Heitmann had seven points and 12 rebounds, and Jorja Janssen added three points and 10 boards as the taller Bobcats took advantage of their greatest asset — their height.

Dyan Keahna scored a team-high seven points off the bench for STC. Rylee Ridout had six points and eight rebounds. Scout Ridout had two points, nine rebounds, four assists and four steals, while Olivia Hala and Cahysia Kapayou added three points each.