Sure-Shot Valparaiso Drops Warsaw Boys To 1-2
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
VALPARAISO - Twenty-first year Warsaw boys basketball coach Al Rhode's scouting report for Saturday's game at Valparaiso couldn't have been more correct.
Rhode's research tabbed the Vikings as a three-point shooting machine. In a 70-59 loss, the Tigers found out just how deadly Valparaiso is beyond the arc.
In upping their season record to 4-0, the Vikings made good on 9 of 10 three-point attempts, shooting a percentage most coaches would like to see their team hit from the free throw line.
"It's disapointing because I put so much emphasis on getting ready for their shooters," Rhodes, whose Tigers fall to 1-2 for the first time since the 1985-86 season, said. "We didn't discipline ourselves, and we did a poor job. I'm not sure if they didn't believe me, or if we just weren't capable."
Said 12th-year Valparaiso coach Bob Punter: "Warsaw's focus was on not letting (Erik) Rhinehart shoot the three. We were still able to free him up. Three-point shots are worth nothing, but three-point baskets are worth three."
In its last six quarters of play, Valparaiso is 18 of 24 (75 percent) from three-point land.
Rhinehart, a 6-foot-7 senior, led the Vikings in the scoring column with 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including a 4-of-5 performance beyond the arc. Also in double figures for Valparaiso were starters Matt Handlon (11), Ben Lieske (11) and Justin Kissantis (10). Junior guard Nate Hines scored seven points off the bench for the Vikings, who have topped the Tigers three times in the last five years.
The two teams traded baskets in the first quarter, with the biggest lead being the 17-13 lead Valparaiso held going into the second stanza.
A Warsaw basket by 6-4 junior Jerad Shaw brought the Tigers within two, 17-15, with 6:47 remaining in the first half. Senior Trent Martin then put Warsaw on top 18-17 with one of his two three-pointers.
Martin finished the game 2 of 7 beyond the arc. As a team, the Tigers were 5 of 18 (27.8 percent) in the three-point category.
Greg Clay led the Tigers in the scoring column with 22 points on 7-of-16 shooting from the field and a 6-of-7 performance from the charity stripe. The 6-3 junior was 2 of 6 beyond the arc. Senior Josh Buck scored Warsaw's only other three-pointer and finished the game with 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting from the field and a 4-of-6 performance at the free throw line. Martin and junior Chris Clay added six points each, while Shaw added five points and led the team in rebounds with seven.
Warsaw trailed trailed just 25-20 with three minutes remaining in the first half, but over the next two minutes, the Vikings went on a 10-0 run. With three seconds left in the second stanza, Greg Clay made good on a free throw. Missing the second, Clay got the rebound and connected on an off-balance three-pointer to cut the deficit to 11, 35-24, at the half.
"We let things get away late in the second quarter," Rhodes said. "Our execution on offense was very poor. We were down 15. We made a free throw and an off-balance three to get that close (at halftime)."
The Tigers finished the game shooting 21 of 47 (44.6 percent) from the field and committed 15 turnovers. Warsaw was also 12 of 18 at the free throw line.
To go with its astounding shooting percentage beyond the arc, Valparaiso shot 23 of 37 (62.2 percent) from the field and 15 of 18 (83.3 percent) from the charity stripe.
The Tigers were as close as 37-32 with 4:16 left in the third quarter, but Valparaiso came right back with a Rhinehart three-pointer. The Vikings went to the fourth quarter with a 48-35 lead.
Warsaw trailed by 10 or more through the entire fourth quarter.
"We played offense and defense and rebounded for half the game, imagine what we could do if we put that together for 32 minutes," Rhodes said. "We have to keep focused on where we eventually want to go. We could just as easily be 2-1. If we stay focused, good times are ahead."
Warsaw will host Gary Wallace Dec. 9.
"It's important for us to know that we're improving," Rhodes said. "In an unusual schedule, we don't play again until Saturday. This (loss to Valpo) should leave a bad enough taste in our mouth that we can use it as motivation."
VALPARAISO 70, WARSAW 59
Warsaw (1-2) 13 11 11 24 - 59
Valparaiso (4-0) 17 18 13 22 - 70
Warsaw FG FT R S Pts.
Seiss (G) 1-1 0-0 0 5 2
Martin (G) 2-7 0-0 1 0 6
Shaw (F) 2-5 1-2 7 0 5
Buck (C) 6-13 4-6 1 3 17
G. Clay (F) 7-16 6-7 6 1 22
C. Clay 3-4 0-0 4 2 6
Johnson 0-1 1-2 0 1 1
Foster 0-0 0-1 1 0 0
Totals 21-47 12-18 20 12 59
Valparaiso FG FT R S Pts.
Rhinehart (F) 4-6 2-2 3 1 14
Kassantis (G) 0-3 10-10 3 1 10
Handlon (G) 4-6 0-0 1 0 11
Hart (F) 2-5 0-1 5 0 4
Lieske (C) 5-8 1-1 6 1 11
Hines 3-4 0-0 1 4 7
Marchand 2-2 0-0 0 1 5
Springsteen 2-2 1-2 0 0 5
Totals 23-37 15-18 19 9 70
Three-point goals - Warsaw 5-18 (Martin 2-7, G. Clay 2-6, Buck 1-3, Shaw 0-1, C. Clay 0-1 , Valparaiso 9-10 (Rhinehart 4-5, Handlon 3-3, Hines 1-1, Marchand 1-1. Turnovers - Warsaw 15, Valparaiso 20. Fouls - Warsaw 18, Valparasio 18. Fouled out - none.
JV - Warsaw 39, Valparaiso 36 (2OT)
Warsaw (3-0) scoring - Ryan DeGeeter 14, Geoff Walmer 9, Erik Fussle 6, William Knepper 4, Scott Howard 2, Suraj Datta 2, Ross Wilhite 2 [[In-content Ad]]
VALPARAISO - Twenty-first year Warsaw boys basketball coach Al Rhode's scouting report for Saturday's game at Valparaiso couldn't have been more correct.
Rhode's research tabbed the Vikings as a three-point shooting machine. In a 70-59 loss, the Tigers found out just how deadly Valparaiso is beyond the arc.
In upping their season record to 4-0, the Vikings made good on 9 of 10 three-point attempts, shooting a percentage most coaches would like to see their team hit from the free throw line.
"It's disapointing because I put so much emphasis on getting ready for their shooters," Rhodes, whose Tigers fall to 1-2 for the first time since the 1985-86 season, said. "We didn't discipline ourselves, and we did a poor job. I'm not sure if they didn't believe me, or if we just weren't capable."
Said 12th-year Valparaiso coach Bob Punter: "Warsaw's focus was on not letting (Erik) Rhinehart shoot the three. We were still able to free him up. Three-point shots are worth nothing, but three-point baskets are worth three."
In its last six quarters of play, Valparaiso is 18 of 24 (75 percent) from three-point land.
Rhinehart, a 6-foot-7 senior, led the Vikings in the scoring column with 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including a 4-of-5 performance beyond the arc. Also in double figures for Valparaiso were starters Matt Handlon (11), Ben Lieske (11) and Justin Kissantis (10). Junior guard Nate Hines scored seven points off the bench for the Vikings, who have topped the Tigers three times in the last five years.
The two teams traded baskets in the first quarter, with the biggest lead being the 17-13 lead Valparaiso held going into the second stanza.
A Warsaw basket by 6-4 junior Jerad Shaw brought the Tigers within two, 17-15, with 6:47 remaining in the first half. Senior Trent Martin then put Warsaw on top 18-17 with one of his two three-pointers.
Martin finished the game 2 of 7 beyond the arc. As a team, the Tigers were 5 of 18 (27.8 percent) in the three-point category.
Greg Clay led the Tigers in the scoring column with 22 points on 7-of-16 shooting from the field and a 6-of-7 performance from the charity stripe. The 6-3 junior was 2 of 6 beyond the arc. Senior Josh Buck scored Warsaw's only other three-pointer and finished the game with 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting from the field and a 4-of-6 performance at the free throw line. Martin and junior Chris Clay added six points each, while Shaw added five points and led the team in rebounds with seven.
Warsaw trailed trailed just 25-20 with three minutes remaining in the first half, but over the next two minutes, the Vikings went on a 10-0 run. With three seconds left in the second stanza, Greg Clay made good on a free throw. Missing the second, Clay got the rebound and connected on an off-balance three-pointer to cut the deficit to 11, 35-24, at the half.
"We let things get away late in the second quarter," Rhodes said. "Our execution on offense was very poor. We were down 15. We made a free throw and an off-balance three to get that close (at halftime)."
The Tigers finished the game shooting 21 of 47 (44.6 percent) from the field and committed 15 turnovers. Warsaw was also 12 of 18 at the free throw line.
To go with its astounding shooting percentage beyond the arc, Valparaiso shot 23 of 37 (62.2 percent) from the field and 15 of 18 (83.3 percent) from the charity stripe.
The Tigers were as close as 37-32 with 4:16 left in the third quarter, but Valparaiso came right back with a Rhinehart three-pointer. The Vikings went to the fourth quarter with a 48-35 lead.
Warsaw trailed by 10 or more through the entire fourth quarter.
"We played offense and defense and rebounded for half the game, imagine what we could do if we put that together for 32 minutes," Rhodes said. "We have to keep focused on where we eventually want to go. We could just as easily be 2-1. If we stay focused, good times are ahead."
Warsaw will host Gary Wallace Dec. 9.
"It's important for us to know that we're improving," Rhodes said. "In an unusual schedule, we don't play again until Saturday. This (loss to Valpo) should leave a bad enough taste in our mouth that we can use it as motivation."
VALPARAISO 70, WARSAW 59
Warsaw (1-2) 13 11 11 24 - 59
Valparaiso (4-0) 17 18 13 22 - 70
Warsaw FG FT R S Pts.
Seiss (G) 1-1 0-0 0 5 2
Martin (G) 2-7 0-0 1 0 6
Shaw (F) 2-5 1-2 7 0 5
Buck (C) 6-13 4-6 1 3 17
G. Clay (F) 7-16 6-7 6 1 22
C. Clay 3-4 0-0 4 2 6
Johnson 0-1 1-2 0 1 1
Foster 0-0 0-1 1 0 0
Totals 21-47 12-18 20 12 59
Valparaiso FG FT R S Pts.
Rhinehart (F) 4-6 2-2 3 1 14
Kassantis (G) 0-3 10-10 3 1 10
Handlon (G) 4-6 0-0 1 0 11
Hart (F) 2-5 0-1 5 0 4
Lieske (C) 5-8 1-1 6 1 11
Hines 3-4 0-0 1 4 7
Marchand 2-2 0-0 0 1 5
Springsteen 2-2 1-2 0 0 5
Totals 23-37 15-18 19 9 70
Three-point goals - Warsaw 5-18 (Martin 2-7, G. Clay 2-6, Buck 1-3, Shaw 0-1, C. Clay 0-1 , Valparaiso 9-10 (Rhinehart 4-5, Handlon 3-3, Hines 1-1, Marchand 1-1. Turnovers - Warsaw 15, Valparaiso 20. Fouls - Warsaw 18, Valparasio 18. Fouled out - none.
JV - Warsaw 39, Valparaiso 36 (2OT)
Warsaw (3-0) scoring - Ryan DeGeeter 14, Geoff Walmer 9, Erik Fussle 6, William Knepper 4, Scott Howard 2, Suraj Datta 2, Ross Wilhite 2 [[In-content Ad]]