URBANDALE — Des Moines Christian handed Woodward-Granger a pair of crushing losses last season, winning by 42 points on their home floor and posting a 33-point victory in Woodward.
For 16 minutes Friday it looked as if recent history would repeat itself, as the host Lions (2-0, 2-0) opened a 17-13 lead after one quarter of play and then stretched their advantage to 40-28 at the intermission.
However, a determined W-G (2-1, 1-1) squad was not about to call the issue settled and slowly began fighting their way back into contention to trail 53-44, after three periods.
The Hawks continued to battle all the way but simply could not make up the margin and fell, 71-65, in the WCAC tussle. Foul shooting hampered the attempted rally, with W-G sinking just 9-of-21 at the charity stripe.
Four players hit for double-figures to lead the guests, with Noah Hoyt scoring 15 points, Keith Braunschweig 14, Bryce Achenbach 13 and Reese Jamison 10. J.P. Nixon added seven points and Kaya Bowlsby five, with a Joe Rhodes free throw concluding the scoring list.
Achenbach collected six rebounds while providing seven assists and making three steals. Bowlsby had four assists and three steals, with Nixon tallying three thefts while grabbing five boards. Hoyt also had five caroms and added two assists and two steals.
W-G hosts Saydel Monday in a girls/boys non-conference set, with the Hawk boys hosting Woodward Academy Tuesday for a junior varsity/varsity slate. The W-G girls and boys will then visit Van Meter Friday.
