SQUEEZING BY — North Union forward Nick Schiltz (front) attempts to squeeze around tight defensive pressure by Belmond-Klemme’s Kaleb Carlson during Top of Iowa Conference basketball action Tuesday night in Armstrong. (Photo by Greg Abel)

ARMSTRONG — Every time Belmond-Klemme made an offensive surge on the scoreboard Tuesday night, senior forward Kaleb Carlson proved an integral part of each Broncos’ scoring run.

Carlson produced a game-best double-double performance of 20 points and 13 rebounds to complement three assists to steer the visiting Broncos to a 63-46 Top of Iowa Conference basketball victory over the North Union Warriors in Armstrong.

Nick Schiltz drained a top-of-the-key 3-pointer and Aidan Fries later sank two free throws to keep the Warriors within 14-8 midway through the opening quarter.

Carlson, however, dominated the boards and displayed his deft passing skills to serve as a catalyst behind the Broncos’ 9-0 stampede near the end of the first frame.

Alex Bartz pounded home a low-post entry pass from Jordan Meyer to trigger Belmond-Klemme’s run before Carlson banked home a putback basket. Carson Lane sank a solo charity toss before Lane was the recipient of a Carlson pass for a runner in traffic. Meyer garnered a steal-turned-layup to cap the Broncos’ surge at 23-8 with 30 seconds remaining.

Schiltz answered for the Warriors just before the first-quarter horn by tossing in a baseline leaner off Kyan Jones’ inbound pass for a 13-point deficit.

Carlson then played a key role behind B-K’s 10-2 run during the early stages of the second quarter. Tristan Yoder cashed in one of Lane’s game-best five assists for a low-post basket before Lane converted a traditional 3-point play via Meyer’s steal and dish.

Gage Madden, who produced eight points, six boards and three assists for North Union, interrupted B-K’s run with a putback bucket only to see Carlson nailed a left-corner 3-pointer and a low-post toss-in off assists from Lane.

Luke Schmidt opened the third quarter for the Warriors with a 3-pointer before Carlson engineered the Broncos’ 7-0 surge that created a 44-20 lead for the visitors.

Dan Fothergill scored half of North Union’s 18 fourth-quarter points to pace his team-leading total of 11 on the game. Fothergill connected on 4 of 5 field goals, including a traditional 3-point play down the stretch.

Logan Odegaard finished with nine points for the Warriors, while Aidan Fries topped the defense with three steals.

Yoder tallied 11 points for B-K, Lane netted 10 and Meyer generated eight points.

North Union (0-6) travels to Algona, Iowa, on Friday night to face Bishop Garrigan, while Belmond-Klemme (3-3) plays host to North Iowa on Friday night.

BK 23 12 18 10 — 63

NU 10 7 11 18 — 46

NORTH UNION (46)

Schmidt 1-2 0-0 3, Schiltz 2-6 0-0 5, Odegaard 3-8 3-6 9, Fries 0-4 3-4 3, Madden 4-11 0-2 8, Heinen 0-3 1-2 1, Jones 0-2 0-0 0, D. Fothergill 5-8 1-2 11, Neusch 1-1 0-0 2, Anderson 0-1 0-0 0, Lofstrom 2-2 0-1 4, Boever 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 18-41 8-17 46.

BELMOND-KLEMME (63)

Yoder 5-6 0-0 11, Carlson 9-13 1-3 20, Meyer 3-11 1-2 8, Lane 4-8 2-3 10, Gomez 2-3 0-0 4, Bartz 3-3 0-0 7, Duran 0-2 0-0 0, Franklin 1-2 1-2 3, Paulsen 0-1 0-0 0, Kern 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 27-50 5-10 63.

3-pointers: BK 4-15 (Yoder, Carlson, Meyer and Bartz 1 each); NU 2-10 (Schmidt and Schiltz 1 each). Fouled out: None. Rebounds: BK 35 (Carlson 13); NU 24 (Madden 6). Steals: NU 6 (Fries 3); BK 4. Assists: BK 11 (Lane 5, Meyer and Carlson 3 each); NU 5 (Madden 3).