Little Hawks survive West's bid for upset

By John RiehlThe Gazette john.riehl@gazettecommunications.comIOWA CITY - A.J. Derby felt fortunate the Class 4A third-ranked Iowa City High Little Hawks survived a scare from crosstown rival Iowa City West last night.The Trojans took more energy to the Little Hawks' home floor and guarded them like they haven't been guarded this season. But it was still more of the same for West, as City High stayed unbeaten with a 42-40 boys' basketball victory."West High came out and played a great game. We came up with the big shots at the end of the game and got the win," Derby said. "They came out with a lot of energy and we weren't as fired up as we should have been for the City-West game."Derby made a 3-pointer with 3 minutes, 38 seconds remaining to give the Little Hawks (4-0) a 39-36 lead they didn't relinquish. Derby finished with a game-high 14 points but struggled shooting. He made 5 of 18 field goal attempts and 3 of 7 free throws.Trailing 42-40, West (1-3) had three opportunities in the final 30 seconds to tie it or take the lead. But the Trojans turned the ball over every time, with Derby getting two steals in the final nine seconds.West, its own worst enemy, committed 22 turnovers."We are what we are," Trojan Coach Steve Bergman said. "We turn the ball over too much. The last three possessions, we didn't get a shot. The effort's been good all year. But you have to stop making the same mistakes over and over or you're doomed to have the same result."I'm getting real tired of this result."City High trailed most of the game and found itself behind 30-23 with 1:36 left in the third quarter. The Little Hawks responded with a 16-6 run, capped by Derby's fourth-quarter 3-pointer."We haven't faced that kind of (defensive) pressure all season," City High Coach Adam Loria said. "At times, we didn't handle it well. As much as (the Trojans) might be struggling offensively, they don't let up at all on the defensive end of the floor. They made it very, very difficult on us tonight."The Little Hawks committed 15 turnovers.Tayler Bontrager led West in scoring with 12 points, making 5 of 11 field goals.Contact the writer: (319) 339-3177 or john.riehl@gazcomm.com