Hawks waiting for their luck

LADY LUCK

For some reason, luck has not found our team yet. But, you know, it could sprinkle in at the right moment. And you hear about those teams where just weird things happen at the right moment.”

Taylor Hickey, Central Lee girls head coach

FORT MADISON - The exhaustion made Taylor Hickey smile.
Central Lee lost to WACO 52-45 in Thursday’s SEISC Shootout game at Holy Trinity’s Shottenkirk Gym, but the way the Hawks fought on defense in the second half made their coach proud.
“I told them it was really a fun game to coach,” Hickey said. “I loved how intense they were. One time I called a timeout, and they were just gassed. I said, ‘I love that. I love when you are literally giving your all.’”
The Hawks (10-11) were down 43-29 with 2:40 left in the third quarter before going on a 10-0 run. And although they couldn’t complete the comeback, it was their defense that Hickey enjoyed.
“I’m going to say they got mad,” Hickey said. “My own team got mad. I don’t see that very often. They were digging deep, getting angry. Jayden Mueller, who had a great game tonight, comes in during a timeout and says, ‘We’re staying in (man-to-man defense), and I’m guarding No. 14 (WACO’s Brenna Graber).’ That was one of the best things a player can do. She wanted to guard the best player, wanted to take the game in her hands.”
The Hawks had the same sort of problems that have plagued them all year. They fell behind 11-4 in the opening four minutes, and then kept pace with the Warriors (13-8), threatening but never getting the lead.
“We should be used to it by now,” Hickey said of the slow start. “I don't know why — it’s kind of been a season. It disappoints me, because we talk about it every game, not to let it happen. But you know, we fought back.”
Central Lee’s Kenna Sandoval kept the Hawks in the game with 10 first-half points, but was held to just two points in the second half. Sandoval kept working, though, finishing with 18 rebounds, including 12 offensive boards.
“They double-teamed her, which to me, that's a compliment,” Hickey said. “They double-teamed her and face-guarded her. That made us struggle a little bit, because we were really working that inside-out game.”
Lizzy Mason led Central Lee with 14 points.
Graber had 26 points to lead WACO.
Central Lee closes the regular season on Monday with a home game against Cardinal before opening Class 3A regional play next Saturday at Mid-Prairie.
“For some reason, luck has not found our team yet,” Hickey said. “But, you know, it could sprinkle in at the right moment. And you hear about those teams where just weird things happen at the right moment. We face Cardinal on Monday at home, and then the following Saturday, we got Mid-Prairie. And, well, they're pretty darn good at 15-4. But you never know. I keep telling (the players). I mean, luck is finding all these other teams. Why not us?”