HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM: Tough loss for Little Hawks

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By Annika Wasson and Payton Evans, City High DES MOINES - At just the wrong time for the City High girls' basketball team, a polar vortex hit Wells Fargo Arena.A second half slump in which the Little Hawks' offense went cold resulted in the only loss this season, a 49-44 defeat at the hands of  West Des Moines Dowling  in the semifinals of the state tournament Friday.In the first quarter, it was obvious the game would be a battle of two defenses. Neither team scored for the first few minutes and City held Dowling from scoring until the final minute of the first quarter. The Maroons played a much more physical game than many teams this season and were able to interrupt the team's offense in this way.“The physicality worked to our disadvantage,” head coach Bill McTaggart said. “That's the way it goes sometimes, so I give credit to Dowling they're a good defensive team.”The Little Hawks lost the lead for the first time in the fourth quarter during the Maroons' 11-0 run which ultimately dug a hole too deep to climb out  of.The Little Hawks were led by senior Kiera Washpun with 15 points and sophomore Courtney Joens with 14. Florida recruit Haley Lorenzen, who has been the team's strongest offensive threat throughout the season, was double and tripled teamed during Friday's game, making it difficult for her teammates to get her the ball under the basket.“(Lorenzen) has carried us so many games and she helped us get to the semifinal,” McTaggart said. “I just feel bad that it wasn't her best game all year, but she'll have a great career at Florida.”The Little Hawks end their season 24-1 and McTaggart hopes his team will be able to see beyond their semifinal loss to acknowledge all the accomplishments they've made this season.“It'll be a period of time before it sinks through,” McTaggart said. “It's too bad we couldn't get the whole thing done, but I think down the road they'll realize how special they were.”See more, including video, at www.thelittlehawk.com