Slow start dooms Norwalk in road loss

CASTALIA — The hardest two-game stretch for Norwalk is over. The Truckers were on the wrong side of a loss to Division IV No. 1 Bellevue last Friday. Tuesday, things didn't get much easier against Div. VI No. 2 Margaretta. Norwalk didn't get much going offensively, falling 48-28 in Sandusky Bay Conference crossover action to the Polar Bears. "We knew we were coming into a tough stretch," Norwalk coach Kyle Brubaker said. "We're facing some great teams, and credit to them for being great teams. Our biggest worry is internal. We don't feel like we're competing for all 32 minutes. "We know we're not playing our best basketball." The Truckers (6-4) made just one field goal in the first quarter to seven turnovers. Norwalk had seven more turnovers in the second quarter. The Truckers actually got on the board first when Alyssa Gruhlke split two free throws. But Margaretta (11-1) scored the next 10 points as Ashlyn Kingsborough and Lanie Schaefer nailed 3-pointers to ignite the Polar Bears' offense. Trinity Lazzara scored to stop the run, but a 3 from Renna Keller helped push Norwalk down 16-4 after one quarter. Margaretta's sweltering defense continued to wreak havoc on the Truckers' offense. Norwalk struggled to take care of the ball as the Polar Bears pushed the lead to 23-4 on a 3 from Keller and two free throws by Kenadie Saylor. Gruhlke hit a 3-pointer to snap Norwalk's 7:35 drought without a point, but the Truckers trailed 25-9 at halftime. "At halftime, we had 14 turnovers and 13 shot attempts," Brubaker said. "That's never a good recipe for success. It's difficult in a game like this, and credit to Margaretta for being in good positions defensively. There are times when we make bad decisions and times when people are wide open and we miss them." Norwalk played a little better in the second half. Lazzara scored twice in the first 1:15 of the third quarter, but the Truckers couldn't get much going. Norwalk never really cut into the Polar Bears' lead despite taking care of the ball a little better. The Truckers didn't commit a turnover in the third quarter, but neither did Margaretta. The Polar Bears led 38-18 after three quarters. Norwalk played even over the final eight minutes of the game. The Truckers were only outrebounded 32-31. Norwalk made just 10 of 41 shots on the night, including 2 of 10 from 3-point land. Lazzara led the Truckers with 10 points, while Jo Jackson had seven points and five rebounds. "I think we have a couple of scorers that aren't hitting their usual numbers," Brubaker said. "Part of that is the competition level, and part of that is us not playing well. It can be anyone at the top between those three on any given night." Gruhlke added six points and seven rebounds for the Truckers, who host Perkins on Friday. "Six and four doesn't feel good," Brubaker said. "We're not playing well, but all of our goals are in front of us if you work towards them. We'll take this as kind of the midway point. What's done is done. We'll learn from it and move on and get to work. "It's never easy in our league. We have a big game Friday, and we'll see how we respond." NORWALK (6-4) Alyssa Gruhlke 2-1—6, Emmie Leber 1-3—5, Trinity Lazzara 4-2—10, Jo Jackson 3-0—7. TOTALS 10-6—28. MARGARETTA (11-1) Lillian Belak 1-0—2, Lanie Schaefer 3-2—9, Cassidy Lane 2-3—7, Ellyse Schaefer 1-0—3, Kenadie Saylor 3-4—10, Ashlyn Kingsborough 2-0—6, Addyson Fitzthum 1-0—2, Renna Keller 3-0—9. TOTALS 16-9—48. Norwalk 4 5 9 10 — 28 Margaretta 16 9 13 10 — 48 3-point FGs: (N) Gruhlke, Jackson; (M) Keller 3, Kingsborough 2, L. Schaefer, E. Schaefer.