Olivia Von Bank

ARMSTRONG — North Union guard Naomi Jones and her Warrior basketball teammates tipped off the Iowa high school season by pick-pocketing a nonconference victory on Tuesday night.

Jones garnered eight of the Warriors’ 29 steals to complement scoring 21 points, while teammate Olivia Von Bank collected stellar all-around numbers of 23 points, six steals, six rebounds and three steals to pace a 74-36 landslide win over the West Bend-Mallard Wolverines in Armstrong.

Olivia Merrill generated 13 points, grabbed a game-high eight rebounds and pocketed four steals for North Union, while Libby Stevens contributed 11 points, three assists and three steals to the winning performance.

Emily Meyer distributed a game-best seven of the Warriors’ 21 assists to complement five points and four steals, while Shelby Fraker doled out four assists and netted three steals.

Von Bank connected on 10 of 17 field goals from 2-point range to help fuel her game-high 23-point outing, while Jones made 7 of 11 shots from inside the arc to pace her 21-point performance.

The Warriors sank 27 of 48 shots from 2-point distance for 56.2 percent, hit 4 of 12 from behind the bonus arc and made 8 of 16 free throws on the night.

Hailey Stalzer netted a team-best 15 points for the Wolverines, while teammate Kierstin Montag supplied 11 points.

The Warriors built a 46-18 halftime advantage over the Wolverines and never looked back.

North Union (1-0) travels to Buffalo Center, Iowa, on Friday, Dec. 2, to face North Iowa in a 6:15 p.m. Top of Iowa Conference game.

The Warriors then play host to Estherville-Lincoln Central in the first game of a nonconference varsity doubleheader at 6:15 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5, in Armstrong. The North Union–ELC varsity boys basketball will follow after the completion of the girls contest.