On The Court Basketball Previews

By Times-Union Sports Staff

ELKHART MEMORIAL AT WARSAW

Tip-off: 6:15 p.m Saturday in Warsaw

Coaches: Steve Johnson (E. Memorial), Al Rhodes (Warsaw)

Records: E. Memorial 6-6, Warsaw 12-1

Last game: Elkhart Memorial 53 NorthWood 44; Warsaw 79, SB Adams 72

Last year: Warsaw 76, Elkhart Memorial 67

Matchup: Steve Siebenmorgen leads the Tigers in scoring with 14.3 points per game and also adds 5.7 rebounds per game ... With 13.5 points per game, Zach Nelson comes in just behind Siebenmorgen and pulls down 5.8 rebounds per game for Warsaw ... Chris Wiggins chips in 12.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game for the Tigers ... Ross Kesler pulls down 3.1 rebounds and dishes out 3.4 assists while Rob Kesler dishes out 3.4 assists and nabs 2.0 steals per game for the Warsaw squad ... Nick Slabaugh heads up the Charger attack with 16 points and six rebounds per game ... Aaron Maurer chips in 14 points and eight rebounds ... Nick Daiber weighs in at eight points and seven rebounds.

Johnson: "One, (Warsaw) plays a lot of people. You need a program, without a program you don't know them. We have a big conference game with LaSalle on Friday. The emphasis is on LaSalle. They (Warsaw) are tough and agressive and do what good teams do. We have to stay underneath they take it to you strong on the boards, we have to stay with them."

Rhodes: "(Elkhart Memorial) has been up and down. The game is important for us because of sectional ramifications. Elkhart Memorial is sitting in a pretty good spot. We have a road trip to Marion, which will be a tough game the night before. We have to fully concentrate on Marion throughout the week, and then Saturday morning, we will prepare for Elkhart Memorial."

WHITKO AT MANCHESTER

Tip-off: 6:30 p.m. Saturday in North Manchester

Coaches: Fred Fields (Whitko) Gary Goshert (Manchester)

Records: Whitko 5-6, 1-1 TRC; Manchester 9-3, 4-0 TRC

Last game: FW North Side 93, Whitko 33; Manchester 92, Manchester 69

Last year: Manchester 35, Whitko 30

Matchup: Manchester will play its second conference game in as many days ... Eric Swan leads the Squire scoring drive with 19.4 points per game and adds 6.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game for Manchester ... Rex Reimer leads the Squires in assists with 4.3 per game and chips in and average of 11.3 points and 1.8 steals per game ... Chris Betten pulls down 5.3 rebounds while dishing 1.3 assists and scoring 7.0 points per game ... Ben Mohr leads the Whitko scoring drive with 16.5 points and grabs 2.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.5 steals per game ... Joe Grant pulls down 6.7 rebounds and adds an average of 7.6 points per game ... Ben Ryan adds 12.6 points 7.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per game for the Wildcats.

Goshert: "Whitko has some experience on the perimeter. They have their point guard, Josh Gonzalez back, and their wing players (Ben) Mohr and (Shane) Henderson. All three are able to penetrate with the basketball and shoot from the perimeter. Whitko also has the (Joe) Grant kid who stays around the basket and is a very strong and physical player. They have seven or eight players that come in a do a good job for them and play defense well. This is our second TRC game in two days, playing Whitko on Saturday will be something to look forward to because the Whitko-Manchester games always tend to have extra zip because of the rivalry involved."

Fields: "Manchester is probably one of the most talented teams in the area from top to bottom. The addition of (Eric) Swan makes them even more legitimate. But, like the rest of us, they do have weaknesses and we will try to focus on those weaknesses. Right now we are hurting because four of our top seven players are sick or injured. Those spots may need to a field of JV players on the court for us. The challenge will be for those young player to make the adjustment to varsity play."

TRITON AT NORTHWOOD

Tip-off: 6:15 p.m. Saturday in Nappanee

Coaches: Joe Bennett (Triton), Dan Gunn (NorthWood)

Records: Triton 5-5; NorthWood 5-5

Last game: New Prairie 64, Triton 50; Elkhart Memorial 53, NorthWood 44

Last year: NorthWood 50, Triton 37

Matchup: NorthWood is led by Darin Nunemaker who averages 13.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 assists per game ... Charlie Roeder averages 8.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game ... With 6.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game, Ian Reed is another Panther leader ... Matt Savill averages 13.6 points per game, leading Trojan scoring attack ... Brandon Zeider chips in 11.2 points and 3.6 rebounds per game for Triton while Austin Unterbrink hands out an average of 3.7 assists per game ... Jim Read pulls down 3.9 rebounds per game for the Trojans.

Bennett: "NorthWood is a very physical team. The have good size and are very athletic. They play a combination of zone and man-to-man defense. The thing I like about them is that they are competitive and they play hard every time they step on the court. We need to be able to step up to the challenge of playing an NLC team. We'll try to play aggressive defense and wear down their offense."

Gunn: "Bennett was one of our assistants last year, and I got to see Triton play against Jimtown. The team is improving and they are playing better defense. They do a nice job of moving the ball in a half-court offense. I think the key to this game will be our being prepared to play on Saturday after a tough Friday night game. We will need to shoot well and be patient and take good shots."

WAWASEE AT EAST NOBLE

Tip-off: 6:30 p.m. Saturday in Kendallville

Coaches: Jerry Davis (Wawasee), Marty Johnson (East Noble)

Records: Wawasee 0-12, East Noble 9-3

Last game: Plymouth 63, Wawasee 47; West Noble 57, East Noble 54

Last year: East Noble 49, Wawasee 44

Matchup: For the Warriors, Andrew Warner leads the scoring drive with 12.7 points per game and pulls down 4.3 rebounds per game ... Jeremy High pulls down an average of 5.8 rebounds, and chips in 9.4 points, 3.1 assists, and 2.0 steals per game ... R.J. Wilson adds in 9.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per game for Wawasee ... East Noble is led by seniors Donnie Danklesen and Kyle Young ... Both Young and Danklesen are starters and the core of the Cougar squad.

Davis: "East Noble has a lot of juniors who played a lot last year as sophomores. They are experienced although they appear young on paper. They have an excellent offense and nice size in both height and physical stature. They like to play a flex offense that leads to a lot of scoring action. We will try to keep pressure on that offense try to keep them from shooting."

Johnson: "Wawasee is a team that seems to improve every time they play. We will try to make it difficult for them to get good shots. We will also try to avoid giving up turnovers and scoring opportunities." [[In-content Ad]]