BLUFFTON - Any team carrying a 2-9 record does not want to go on the road and have to play against an All-State-caliber player or the No. 1 team in the state.

That is exactly what Whitko faced on Saturday night when the Wildcats traveled to No. 1 (2A) Bluffton (10-1) to face Adam Ballinger, a 6-foot-9 center who is headed to Michigan State on a full ride scholarship next year.

The Wildcats had their own big man in Jeremiah Laws, who had 15 of his 22 points in the second half. Down only 37-33 at the end of the third quarter, Whitko had no supporting players and fell 55-43.

Ballinger, along with poor shooting, troubled the 'Cats. Ballinger tossed in a game-high 23 points and pulled down nine rebounds, while Whitko shot a dismal 27 percent from the field and hit on only 1 of 11 three-pointers.

At the end of the first half, Whitko was looking to go into the locker room down by seven. But the Tigers stalled for the last shot of the half and got it to Jeremy Crosbie, who nailed it from the perimeter, counting only as two as his foot was on the line.

Whitko, actually Laws, came out firing in the third stanza and didn't miss. He was 4-for-4 from the field and knocked down a free throw. The 'Cats outscored Bluffton 13-8 in the third.

What put the water on the fire in the fourth quarter was Bluffton's guard Eric Sills' back-to-back three-pointers after he had missed his first eight long-range attempts.

Whitko's Kevin Miller and Jered Deckena each had six caroms and Laws added five.

Whitko (2-10) will host Fort Wayne North Saturday. [[In-content Ad]]