Warriors Score First Win Of Season
Wawasee boys hoops team beats Whitko Wildcats 48-36
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Anthony [email protected]
Playing a makeup game following Saturday’s postponement, the Wawasee Warriors (1-5) picked up their first win of the season, defeating the Whitko Wildcats (1-4) by a 48-36 count.
“It’s huge,” first-year Wawasee coach Steve Wiktorowski said of win No. 1 on the season. “The kids have been working really hard. I’ve just been really proud of them. They’ve stayed with things. I haven’t thought we’ve shot well the last couple of games, because they’ve been pressing because they wanted their first win so bad.”
Wawasee’s losing skid was at nine, dating back to last season, but back-to-back three-pointers by senior Chase Myers in the first quarter extended the Warriors’ lead to 13-2 over Whitko, and that lead never dipped below six points.
Myers finished the game with eight points, seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
Also for Wawasee, junior Stori Bright led the team with 12 points and seven rebounds, followed by nine points from junior Alex Clark and eight out of junior Gage Reinhard.
“I thought it was one of our more balanced nights, as far as contributions,” Wiktorowski said.
Balance has been a problem for Whitko this season, as the Wildcats have relied very heavily on senior Dylan Cumberland and freshman Nate Walpole for points.
Once again, the duo led the Wildcats by scoring 28 of the team’s 36 points, with Walpole netting 16 and Cumberland chipping in 12 points.
Of his 12 points, eight of Cumberland’s came in the final quarter, as he was a focal point of the Wawasee defense early on.
“They face-guarded him a little bit in the second and third quarters,” second-year Whitko coach Scott Wessel said. “He didn’t do a very good job of working to get open. That’s something I think he can do a little better and we’ll work on that for Friday (at home against Tippecanoe Valley).”
Walpole also had the attention of the Warriors, but still managed to hit 6 of 12 field goal attempts, scoring the game-high 16.
“He’s doing a great job,” Wessel said of the 6-foot guard. “He’s been thrown right into the fire. He’s been doing a nice job of doing what he’s had to do. We are counting on him to score for us, and that’s unfortunate for him as a freshman – that he has to step into that role right away.”
Going just seven players deep, as only 13 guys are in the entire program, Whitko’s turned to a slow-paced offense, which is averaging 39.2 points per game.
In order to be successful, the offense can’t afford turnovers and the defense can’t allow second-chance points.
Against Wawasee, both those things bit the Wildcats.
“The game came down to turnovers and offensive rebounds,” Wessel said. “In the first quarter, we had seven turnovers and we got down 17-6. Then, in the total game, we gave up 12 offensive rebounds. That killed us too.”
Despite Whitko’s limited offense, Wiktorowski was cautious coming into the game.
“I was really worried about this game, because they’re very patient and we’ve struggled with our offense and with getting a win,” he said. “The kids really wanted one. I was scared we would come in tight, they’d hit a few shots, get a lead, and we’d really be pressing. I thought it was key that we got off to a good start.”
On top of getting its first victory, Wawasee did it with star junior Alex Clark playing just one half, as a thigh bruise caused him to leave the game following the first time stoppage in the third quarter.
“That’s one of the hardest injuries to get over,” Wiktorowski said. “You usually find out (the severity) the next day. That’s when that thing gets really sore. So, we wanted to get him off with the lead and hope we could go in without him, which we did a pretty good job of. We want to ice it because our first conference game Friday is a point of emphasis.”
That first Northern Lakes Conference contest is at the Tiger Den against the Warsaw Tigers, a team Wawasee hasn’t beaten since 2006, a span of six games.
“The thing that was impressive as we watched (Warsaw) against Manchester (in 42-35 win Thursday) was they probably don’t have some of the size that they’ve had in the past, but these are kids brought up in the Warsaw system,” he said. “They know it very well. We’re still learning a new system. Tonight, I felt we took a big step forward in confidence on the road. That’s got to carry over on Friday.”
Whitko also opens its Three Rivers Conference schedule Friday against Tippecanoe Valley.
“They’re very good,” Wessel said. “They do what they do. (Coach Bill Patrick’s) been there for a long time. He’s a great coach because he does what he does, and they do it very well. We’re going to have to be ready for that.”
WAWASEE 48, WHITKO 36
Wa 18 11 14 5 – 48
Wh 9 12 4 11 – 36
Wawasee – Gage Reinhard 3-4 1-2 8, Chase Myers 3-6 0-0 8, Sam Clark 0-1 2-2 2, Alex Clark 3-4 1-3 9, Stori Bright 4-7 4-6 12, Aaron Voirol 2-4 1-1 5, Jeffrey Moore 0-0 0-1 0, Jake Hutchinson 0-1 0-0 0, David Rocha 1-4 0-1 2, Elijah Solina 0-3 0-0 0, Kody Carpenter 0-0 0-0 0, Chase Rookstool 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 17-35 9-16 48.
Whitko – Nate Walpole 6-12 2-2 16, Seth Patrick 0-0 2-2 2, Dylan Cumberland 4-12 3-3 12, Roger Helblig 0-2 0-0 0, Ian Keirn 0-0 0-0 0, Devon Adkins 2-3 2-2 6, Danny Zawlocki 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 12-30 9-9 36.
Three-pointers – Wawasee 5-11 (Myers 2, A. Clark 2, Reinhard), Whitko 3-8 (Walpole 2, Cumberland); Team Fouls – Wawasee 15, Whitko 15; Turnovers – Wawasee 14, Whitko 15; Rebounds – Wawasee 25 (Myers 7, Bright 7), Whitko 17 (Walpole 4, Zawlocki 4); Assists – Wawasee 8 (Reinhard 2, Voirol 2, Hutchinson 2), Whitko 7 (Cumberland 3); Steals – Wawasee 7 (Myers 2), Whitko 4 (Cumberland 2); Blocks – Wawasee 2 (Myers 2), Whitko 0.
Records: Wawasee 1-5, Whitko 1-4
JV – Wawasee 44, Whitko 21
Wawasee – Parker Hatfield 16, Riley Weber 6, Stephon Miller 6, Rookstool 5, Solina 4, Aaron Beer 3, Moore 2, Tyler Smith 2.
Whitko – Kyle Whepley 10, Adkins 6, Alex Bechtold 2, Tyler Baugher 2, Tim Gensch 1[[In-content Ad]]
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Playing a makeup game following Saturday’s postponement, the Wawasee Warriors (1-5) picked up their first win of the season, defeating the Whitko Wildcats (1-4) by a 48-36 count.
“It’s huge,” first-year Wawasee coach Steve Wiktorowski said of win No. 1 on the season. “The kids have been working really hard. I’ve just been really proud of them. They’ve stayed with things. I haven’t thought we’ve shot well the last couple of games, because they’ve been pressing because they wanted their first win so bad.”
Wawasee’s losing skid was at nine, dating back to last season, but back-to-back three-pointers by senior Chase Myers in the first quarter extended the Warriors’ lead to 13-2 over Whitko, and that lead never dipped below six points.
Myers finished the game with eight points, seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
Also for Wawasee, junior Stori Bright led the team with 12 points and seven rebounds, followed by nine points from junior Alex Clark and eight out of junior Gage Reinhard.
“I thought it was one of our more balanced nights, as far as contributions,” Wiktorowski said.
Balance has been a problem for Whitko this season, as the Wildcats have relied very heavily on senior Dylan Cumberland and freshman Nate Walpole for points.
Once again, the duo led the Wildcats by scoring 28 of the team’s 36 points, with Walpole netting 16 and Cumberland chipping in 12 points.
Of his 12 points, eight of Cumberland’s came in the final quarter, as he was a focal point of the Wawasee defense early on.
“They face-guarded him a little bit in the second and third quarters,” second-year Whitko coach Scott Wessel said. “He didn’t do a very good job of working to get open. That’s something I think he can do a little better and we’ll work on that for Friday (at home against Tippecanoe Valley).”
Walpole also had the attention of the Warriors, but still managed to hit 6 of 12 field goal attempts, scoring the game-high 16.
“He’s doing a great job,” Wessel said of the 6-foot guard. “He’s been thrown right into the fire. He’s been doing a nice job of doing what he’s had to do. We are counting on him to score for us, and that’s unfortunate for him as a freshman – that he has to step into that role right away.”
Going just seven players deep, as only 13 guys are in the entire program, Whitko’s turned to a slow-paced offense, which is averaging 39.2 points per game.
In order to be successful, the offense can’t afford turnovers and the defense can’t allow second-chance points.
Against Wawasee, both those things bit the Wildcats.
“The game came down to turnovers and offensive rebounds,” Wessel said. “In the first quarter, we had seven turnovers and we got down 17-6. Then, in the total game, we gave up 12 offensive rebounds. That killed us too.”
Despite Whitko’s limited offense, Wiktorowski was cautious coming into the game.
“I was really worried about this game, because they’re very patient and we’ve struggled with our offense and with getting a win,” he said. “The kids really wanted one. I was scared we would come in tight, they’d hit a few shots, get a lead, and we’d really be pressing. I thought it was key that we got off to a good start.”
On top of getting its first victory, Wawasee did it with star junior Alex Clark playing just one half, as a thigh bruise caused him to leave the game following the first time stoppage in the third quarter.
“That’s one of the hardest injuries to get over,” Wiktorowski said. “You usually find out (the severity) the next day. That’s when that thing gets really sore. So, we wanted to get him off with the lead and hope we could go in without him, which we did a pretty good job of. We want to ice it because our first conference game Friday is a point of emphasis.”
That first Northern Lakes Conference contest is at the Tiger Den against the Warsaw Tigers, a team Wawasee hasn’t beaten since 2006, a span of six games.
“The thing that was impressive as we watched (Warsaw) against Manchester (in 42-35 win Thursday) was they probably don’t have some of the size that they’ve had in the past, but these are kids brought up in the Warsaw system,” he said. “They know it very well. We’re still learning a new system. Tonight, I felt we took a big step forward in confidence on the road. That’s got to carry over on Friday.”
Whitko also opens its Three Rivers Conference schedule Friday against Tippecanoe Valley.
“They’re very good,” Wessel said. “They do what they do. (Coach Bill Patrick’s) been there for a long time. He’s a great coach because he does what he does, and they do it very well. We’re going to have to be ready for that.”
WAWASEE 48, WHITKO 36
Wa 18 11 14 5 – 48
Wh 9 12 4 11 – 36
Wawasee – Gage Reinhard 3-4 1-2 8, Chase Myers 3-6 0-0 8, Sam Clark 0-1 2-2 2, Alex Clark 3-4 1-3 9, Stori Bright 4-7 4-6 12, Aaron Voirol 2-4 1-1 5, Jeffrey Moore 0-0 0-1 0, Jake Hutchinson 0-1 0-0 0, David Rocha 1-4 0-1 2, Elijah Solina 0-3 0-0 0, Kody Carpenter 0-0 0-0 0, Chase Rookstool 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 17-35 9-16 48.
Whitko – Nate Walpole 6-12 2-2 16, Seth Patrick 0-0 2-2 2, Dylan Cumberland 4-12 3-3 12, Roger Helblig 0-2 0-0 0, Ian Keirn 0-0 0-0 0, Devon Adkins 2-3 2-2 6, Danny Zawlocki 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 12-30 9-9 36.
Three-pointers – Wawasee 5-11 (Myers 2, A. Clark 2, Reinhard), Whitko 3-8 (Walpole 2, Cumberland); Team Fouls – Wawasee 15, Whitko 15; Turnovers – Wawasee 14, Whitko 15; Rebounds – Wawasee 25 (Myers 7, Bright 7), Whitko 17 (Walpole 4, Zawlocki 4); Assists – Wawasee 8 (Reinhard 2, Voirol 2, Hutchinson 2), Whitko 7 (Cumberland 3); Steals – Wawasee 7 (Myers 2), Whitko 4 (Cumberland 2); Blocks – Wawasee 2 (Myers 2), Whitko 0.
Records: Wawasee 1-5, Whitko 1-4
JV – Wawasee 44, Whitko 21
Wawasee – Parker Hatfield 16, Riley Weber 6, Stephon Miller 6, Rookstool 5, Solina 4, Aaron Beer 3, Moore 2, Tyler Smith 2.
Whitko – Kyle Whepley 10, Adkins 6, Alex Bechtold 2, Tyler Baugher 2, Tim Gensch 1[[In-content Ad]]
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