Wawasee Tops Valley In Sectional Opener
March 3, 2021 at 3:19 a.m.
Wawasee Tops Valley In Sectional Opener
By Chip Davenport-
Welty’s seven points and Dukes’s five were instrumental in the Warriors 16-10 edge in the final quarter.
Welty’s pair of free throws put Wawasee ahead 44-43 for the game’s twelfth and final lead change, followed by burly 6’1” junior Mark Wiggs’ crucial bucket with less than three minutes left in the contest over the outstretched arms of 6’7” Valley junior Dawson Perkins, increasing the Warriors’ edge 46-43.
Wawasee retook possession of the ball with 2:47 in the final frame, controlling the ball for the next 86 seconds until Welty was fouled, and subsequently scored on two more shots from the charity stripe to finish with a game-leading 16 points.
Momentum continued in Wawasee’s direction as they finished the game with a basket by Adam Beer off a broken press, and Dukes’s three free throws to reach their greatest advantage over the Vikings 53-45.
Welty’s 4 for 4 accuracy beyond the arc was essential to the Warriors. Three of his four treys put the Warriors ahead throughout the evening’s see-saw contest. Wiggs’s physicality aided by Beer’s ability to wipe the offensive glass clean were also keys to the Wawasee victory.
“Every year I got a little secret weapon in my back pocket.,” Warrior head coach Jon Everingham said, “Sometimes it works. sometimes it doesn't. Credit to Mark Wiggs for sticking with it all year long. He’s been kindly asking me for opportunities, and tonight we gave him one because I thought he matched up well a Perkins.”
In the meantime, before Dukes’s fourth quarter surge, he was held by Valley’s Rex Kirchenstien and Braden Shepherd to 2 for 9 shooting from the field and no baskets from the three-point line.
“I thought we played good defense tonight.”, Viking head coach Chad Patrick remarked. “They're pretty physical, and they’re smart. They don't beat themselves.”
The Warriors physical play resulted in a commanding edge on the boards, 28-15 including 11 offensive caroms. The Vikings had 16 turnovers to Wawasee’s 10 miscues.
Wiggs added seven points to the Warriors’ offensive effort, and 5’7” senior guard Kam Salazar added 8 assists for the victors.
Valley, a team who graduates only one senior (Chase Miller), had a balanced offensive attack. Nolan Cumberland and Perkins (11 points each, in addition to 8 boards, and two blocked shots by Perkins), Paul Leasure (10 tallies), and Brendyn Stump (9 points) were among Valley’s scoring leaders.
“Chase Miller, he's a great kid, and he has been awesome for our program,”, Patrick said, “so we’ll miss him, but we’ve got everybody else back, so that's exciting.”
Valley ends its season at 7-16 while the Warriors (12-11) advance to Friday’s sectional semifinal to face conference foe NorthWood (13-8) for an 8:00 p.m. tip-off.
Welty’s seven points and Dukes’s five were instrumental in the Warriors 16-10 edge in the final quarter.
Welty’s pair of free throws put Wawasee ahead 44-43 for the game’s twelfth and final lead change, followed by burly 6’1” junior Mark Wiggs’ crucial bucket with less than three minutes left in the contest over the outstretched arms of 6’7” Valley junior Dawson Perkins, increasing the Warriors’ edge 46-43.
Wawasee retook possession of the ball with 2:47 in the final frame, controlling the ball for the next 86 seconds until Welty was fouled, and subsequently scored on two more shots from the charity stripe to finish with a game-leading 16 points.
Momentum continued in Wawasee’s direction as they finished the game with a basket by Adam Beer off a broken press, and Dukes’s three free throws to reach their greatest advantage over the Vikings 53-45.
Welty’s 4 for 4 accuracy beyond the arc was essential to the Warriors. Three of his four treys put the Warriors ahead throughout the evening’s see-saw contest. Wiggs’s physicality aided by Beer’s ability to wipe the offensive glass clean were also keys to the Wawasee victory.
“Every year I got a little secret weapon in my back pocket.,” Warrior head coach Jon Everingham said, “Sometimes it works. sometimes it doesn't. Credit to Mark Wiggs for sticking with it all year long. He’s been kindly asking me for opportunities, and tonight we gave him one because I thought he matched up well a Perkins.”
In the meantime, before Dukes’s fourth quarter surge, he was held by Valley’s Rex Kirchenstien and Braden Shepherd to 2 for 9 shooting from the field and no baskets from the three-point line.
“I thought we played good defense tonight.”, Viking head coach Chad Patrick remarked. “They're pretty physical, and they’re smart. They don't beat themselves.”
The Warriors physical play resulted in a commanding edge on the boards, 28-15 including 11 offensive caroms. The Vikings had 16 turnovers to Wawasee’s 10 miscues.
Wiggs added seven points to the Warriors’ offensive effort, and 5’7” senior guard Kam Salazar added 8 assists for the victors.
Valley, a team who graduates only one senior (Chase Miller), had a balanced offensive attack. Nolan Cumberland and Perkins (11 points each, in addition to 8 boards, and two blocked shots by Perkins), Paul Leasure (10 tallies), and Brendyn Stump (9 points) were among Valley’s scoring leaders.
“Chase Miller, he's a great kid, and he has been awesome for our program,”, Patrick said, “so we’ll miss him, but we’ve got everybody else back, so that's exciting.”
Valley ends its season at 7-16 while the Warriors (12-11) advance to Friday’s sectional semifinal to face conference foe NorthWood (13-8) for an 8:00 p.m. tip-off.
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