The Le Mars basketball teams started off the second half of the MRAC schedule on Tuesday night in Sergeant Bluff.
The Bulldog girls had a rough night offensively and fell to the Warriors by a 44-36 final score.
Le Mars’ offensive was unable to get into any rhythm of substance after starting the game up 12-2. They would get outscored 42-24 the rest of the way for the loss while shooting right at 30% from the field for the game. Head Coach Cody Dyhrkopp says the struggles on the offensive end impact the confidence in every aspect of the game.
The Bulldogs just continued to play from behind for the majority of the game until getting some late life in the fourth quarter pulling within as close as three points late. Coach Dyhrkopp says that was too late to get back into the intensity of the game.
This stretch of games has Le Mars losing three of their last four games heading into a big home matchup with Council Bluffs AL on Friday night. This stretch of games does not get any easier for Le Mars who desperately wants to get out of the funk they are in. Coach Dyhrkopp says it is going to take some good practices to try and get back on the right track.
Le Mars falls to 7-6 overall and 5-3 in the MRAC with the loss. Sergeant Bluff-Luton improved to 5-7 overall and 3-5 in the league race.
The Le Mars boys suffered a similar fate to the girls in getting handed their seventh loss in a row in a 40-23 contest to the Warriors.
The Bulldogs and Warriors traded baskets in the first quarter before things fell off the rails in the second. The Bulldogs were outscored 14-2 in the second quarter leading to a 12-point deficit at the break. The Bulldogs went on to shoot sub 20% from the field for the remainder of the game. Le Mars Head Coach Dave Irwin says a lot of the problems offensively are mental.
The dichotomy of offense to defense for the Bulldogs is at best perplexing to anyone who watches. The Bulldogs are one of the best teams in the MRAC on the defensive end holding teams to less than 55 points per game on average. Coach Irwin says he wishes his team could match their confidence on defense to their lack of confidence on offense.
Being in the midst of a seven-game losing streak, things look pretty dark for the Bulldogs who have matchups with Council Bluffs AL and Bishop Heelan on tap for the next two games. Coach Irwin says he hopes, no matter the outcome on the scoreboard, that his team finds the ability to have fun playing the game again.
The Bulldogs fall to 2-10 overall and 2-6 in the MRAC with the loss. Sergeant Bluff-Luton improves to 8-4 overall and 6-2 in the MRAC.
