Preview: Wawasee Building On Toughness, Defense
December 3, 2020 at 12:10 a.m.
Preview: Wawasee Building On Toughness, Defense
By Steve Krah-
“We’ve really built over the last four years a program culture of hard work and toughness,” says Everingham, who welcomes back nine letterwinners from a Warriors team that went 14-10 overall and 3-4 in the Northern Lakes Conference in 2019-20. “Our returning guys are scrappy.
“Our identity is certainly going to start on the defensive end. We believe we can win every game when we step on the floor. We’re going to be very tough defensively.”
Everingham sees a group that has more length, athleticism and depth as any team he’s at at Wawasee and plans to use those attributes with standard man-to-man defensive philosophies.
“You could see us playing more full-court defense as well,” says Everingham. “That will give us an opportunity to steal possessions, get some rebounds and get out and go. “It’s a big help when you can get some easy baskets and you don’t have to get a lot of them.”
The Warriors averaged 48.9 points per game on offense and 48.1 on defense last season.
Wawasee played in many close games the past few seasons, including 10 decided by 10 points or fewer in 2019-20.
“That helps you for conference and postseason play,” says Everingham, whose club is to open Nov. 28 at Angola (the Fairfield game scheduled for Nov. 24 has been postponed).
“Depth has to be a strength for us this year, especially with COVID,” says Everingham. “If we have a couple of guys knocked out, we can still function.”
Warrior returnees include 5-8 senior Kameron Salazar, 6-2 junior Jack Stover, 6-3 Keaton Dukes, 5-6 senior Ethan Carey plus 6-4 junior Mason Possell, 6-5 sophomore Collin Roberson, 6-foot senior Adam Beer, 5-11 junior Caden Welty and 6-1 junior Gavin Hunker. Grant Brooks, a 6-4 junior, is a varsity newcomer.
Three-sport athlete Salazar (who averaged 3.5 points, 2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game last season) is heading into his third season as a starting point guard.
“He’s a calming influence for our entire team,” says Everingham of Salazar. “He’s a competitor. He grinds. He does not like to lose.”
Stover (6 ppg and 4 rpg in 2019-20) provides energy and athleticism.
“He’s a quick jumper and a underrated defensive player and rebounder,” says Everingham of Stover. “He was a very good role player last year. He’s now bigger and stronger.”
With a commitment to off-season weightlifting, Dukes (11.5 ppg and 5 rpg in 29019-20) has added about 25 pounds to his frame and is around 170.
“We want to get him good looks at the basket,” says Everingham. “He can score.”
Carey will be a shooting guard who can also share point duties with Salazar.
“He’s a good ball handler,” says Everingham of Carey. “Defensively, he pressures the ball extremely well.”
Possell came on strong at the junior varsity level a year ago. Everingham says he gives the Warriors length, athleticism and basketball I.Q.
Everingham sees Roberson as an up-and-cover in the program who will split time between the JV and varsity.
Beer is one of Wawasee’s top on-the-ball defenders.
“He could see time guarding the other team’s best player and giving them fits,” says Everingham of Beer.
Everingham says Welty’s role is likely to be as a back-up shooting guard in the varsity rotation.
Hunziker, who will be looked to for forward depth down the line, is coming off toe surgery and won’t be available at the beginning of the season.
Brooks is back after not playing as a sophomore. He has a chance to be what Everingham calls a “game changer” with his 40-inch vertical leap.
Everingham’s assistant coaches are Nate O’Connell, Chad Hoffert, Andrew Wilson and Scott Hetrick.
“We’ve really built over the last four years a program culture of hard work and toughness,” says Everingham, who welcomes back nine letterwinners from a Warriors team that went 14-10 overall and 3-4 in the Northern Lakes Conference in 2019-20. “Our returning guys are scrappy.
“Our identity is certainly going to start on the defensive end. We believe we can win every game when we step on the floor. We’re going to be very tough defensively.”
Everingham sees a group that has more length, athleticism and depth as any team he’s at at Wawasee and plans to use those attributes with standard man-to-man defensive philosophies.
“You could see us playing more full-court defense as well,” says Everingham. “That will give us an opportunity to steal possessions, get some rebounds and get out and go. “It’s a big help when you can get some easy baskets and you don’t have to get a lot of them.”
The Warriors averaged 48.9 points per game on offense and 48.1 on defense last season.
Wawasee played in many close games the past few seasons, including 10 decided by 10 points or fewer in 2019-20.
“That helps you for conference and postseason play,” says Everingham, whose club is to open Nov. 28 at Angola (the Fairfield game scheduled for Nov. 24 has been postponed).
“Depth has to be a strength for us this year, especially with COVID,” says Everingham. “If we have a couple of guys knocked out, we can still function.”
Warrior returnees include 5-8 senior Kameron Salazar, 6-2 junior Jack Stover, 6-3 Keaton Dukes, 5-6 senior Ethan Carey plus 6-4 junior Mason Possell, 6-5 sophomore Collin Roberson, 6-foot senior Adam Beer, 5-11 junior Caden Welty and 6-1 junior Gavin Hunker. Grant Brooks, a 6-4 junior, is a varsity newcomer.
Three-sport athlete Salazar (who averaged 3.5 points, 2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game last season) is heading into his third season as a starting point guard.
“He’s a calming influence for our entire team,” says Everingham of Salazar. “He’s a competitor. He grinds. He does not like to lose.”
Stover (6 ppg and 4 rpg in 2019-20) provides energy and athleticism.
“He’s a quick jumper and a underrated defensive player and rebounder,” says Everingham of Stover. “He was a very good role player last year. He’s now bigger and stronger.”
With a commitment to off-season weightlifting, Dukes (11.5 ppg and 5 rpg in 29019-20) has added about 25 pounds to his frame and is around 170.
“We want to get him good looks at the basket,” says Everingham. “He can score.”
Carey will be a shooting guard who can also share point duties with Salazar.
“He’s a good ball handler,” says Everingham of Carey. “Defensively, he pressures the ball extremely well.”
Possell came on strong at the junior varsity level a year ago. Everingham says he gives the Warriors length, athleticism and basketball I.Q.
Everingham sees Roberson as an up-and-cover in the program who will split time between the JV and varsity.
Beer is one of Wawasee’s top on-the-ball defenders.
“He could see time guarding the other team’s best player and giving them fits,” says Everingham of Beer.
Everingham says Welty’s role is likely to be as a back-up shooting guard in the varsity rotation.
Hunziker, who will be looked to for forward depth down the line, is coming off toe surgery and won’t be available at the beginning of the season.
Brooks is back after not playing as a sophomore. He has a chance to be what Everingham calls a “game changer” with his 40-inch vertical leap.
Everingham’s assistant coaches are Nate O’Connell, Chad Hoffert, Andrew Wilson and Scott Hetrick.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092