SOUTH WHITLEY - The first question Gary Goshert is asked after his Manchester Squires outlasted Whitko 35-30 is, just how many years did your basketball team set basketball back in this game?

Goshert laughs, then responds with a question of his own: "You mean, how many years did this game set me back?"

Goshert said Friday he hadn't seen a game like this in his 15 years of varsity coaching. Here's why: The Manchester pessimist looks at the game and notes the 9-2 Squires made only 9 of 38 field goals against 1-8 Whitko. The Manchester optimist looks at the game and notes the Squires needed to shoot only 24 percent to beat Whitko.

Of Manchester's nine field goals, one came outside the paint. The Squires won a basketball game where they hit one perimeter shot.

"For us to be that inefficient offensively and still come out on top, that says a lot for the character of this team," Goshert said. "To win, this may be a first in my 15 years of varsity coaching, to shoot that kind of percentage and still win."

Manchester strengthened its hold on the Three Rivers Conference, moving to 4-0. Whitko suffered a school-record sixth straight loss and dropped to 1-2 in the TRC.

People always say to throw out the records when these rivals get together. This game proved why. On paper, Manchester would have smoked Whitko.

"I knew it was going to be close the whole way," Goshert said. "I just felt that."

Where to start? How about here: With six minutes to go, Whitko led 28-27. Of Manchester's 27 points, center Chris Enyeart and guard Rex Reimer had 24. That's how ugly it was. Two players had all but three of Manchester's points, and the Squires were in the game in the fourth quarter.

The Squires led 25-24 after three quarters then opened up their lead in the fourth, thanks to their defense. Whitko lost the ball six times in the final frame, the most crucial error coming with 3:50 left. Manchester guard Chris Good stole the ball, setting up a reverse layup by teammate Heath Simcoe. Manchester cashed in on the turnover to lead 30-28.

The Squires never lost the lead again. They got to the free-throw line when they needed to, 12 times in the fourth quarter. They hit enough, eight. Good sealed the win at the line, making 4 of 4 free throws -Êhis only four points in the game - in the last 30 seconds to up Manchester's lead from 31-30 to 35-30.

And the Squires won out in the battle of the inept offenses. Whitko wasn't much better, hitting 12 of 36 (33 percent) from the floor. But the Wildcats lost two other key categories, turnovers and free throws. Manchester committed 12 turnovers to Whitko's 21. Manchester made 16 of 25 free throws; Whitko made 5 of 8.

"We got enough defensive stops to have the advantage at the end," Goshert said. "And then we had the free throws by Chris Good."

Whitko's offensive woes tainted a solid defensive effort. The Wildcats played what head coach Fred Fields called the best "pure" man-to-man defense his team played yet this season. The Wildcats extended their pressure beyond the three-point line, and afterward, Manchester junior varsity coach Steve Rice remarked to Goshert how the Squires just had no open looks all evening.

Problem was, like Manchester, Whitko's perimeter shooting was nonexistent. Wildcat guards combined for seven points.

"When we had our quote unquote defensive lineup out there, I'm not sure we gave up a score," Fields said. "I just feel bad for our kids. They didn't get rewarded for the (good) week (of practices) we had."

Enyeart's 15 and Reimer's nine led the Squires in scoring. Reserve Bo Mullins scored 11 to lead Whitko. [[In-content Ad]]