Home Sports In Consecutive Seasons, Le Mars Girls Basketball Ends the Year at Bishop...

In Consecutive Seasons, Le Mars Girls Basketball Ends the Year at Bishop Heelan

The Le Mars girls basketball team experienced déjà vu on Saturday with their season ending to Bishop Heelan in the regional semifinal for the second year in a row. The Crusaders beat the Bulldogs in a close 46-38 contest.

The Bulldogs got down early but never wavered. That’s what made head coach Cody Dyhrkopp so proud of them when things were said and done.

The game was really slowed down on the offensive end by Heelan’s aggressive zone defense and trap game. Coach Dyhrkopp says that stretched out his offensive set and made things difficult for his team.

Le Mars showed their fight in the fourth quarter when they were down 15 points heading into the fourth. They worked the deficit down to six points in the process of getting back into the game. Coach Dyhrkopp says the comeback was good to see, but it came a little too late.

The Bulldogs graduate one senior off their roster in Payton Wright. She has been a role player for the Bulldogs coming off the bench and being a leader from there. Coach Dyhrkopp says she could have quit early on, but she stuck it out and always did the job she was asked to do.

The bright side of a game like this is that the Bulldogs will be bringing back their entire starting lineup and some of their top players off the bench. Coach Dyhrkopp says these postseason losses sting when they happen, but they only make his team stronger for the next season to come.

The Bulldogs finish the season with a record of 13-10. Bishop Heelan won their 21st game in a row and will take a 21-2 record into their regional final on Tuesday night.