North Mahaska’s girls were one and done at the 1A Girls’ State High School Basketball tournament.  The Warhawks lost to West Hancock 67-54 in a 1A girls’ quarterfinal on Wednesday (2/27) in Des Moines.  Sophomore Rachel Leerar had 23 points to lead West Hancock.  Despite the loss, North Mahaska Coach L.E. Moore was upbeat after the game.

“We’re young, our eyes were wide open in the first half.  We let their point guard (Leerar) do whatever she wanted to do.  She’s a great one, she’s a good one, probably one of the best point guards we’ve faced all year.  One of the better teams we’ve faced all year and certainly well coached.  We worked hard against them. But we just came up a little short.  But we learned a valuable lesson: never stop, never quit, play 32 minutes and continue to work hard.”

Emma Tyrrel had 16 points to lead the Warhawks.  North Mahaska ends the year 15-5, but with no seniors on this year’s squad, the Warhawks could return to State next year.