Warsaw Boys Advance To NLC Tournament Championship Game
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
GOSHEN - Like a United Parcel Service employee during the Christmas season, Warsaw's William Knepper delivered late Friday in the semifinal round of the Lake City Bank/Northern Lakes Conference Holiday Tournament.
With the Tiger boys basketball team leading rival Wawasee 52-46, the quick and agile for his size 6-foot-3, 270-pound junior blocked a Warrior shot, deflected a pass and then ran the floor and made a layup all in the final 10 seconds as Warsaw picked up a 54-46 win.
"We put him in for defensive reasons," veteran Warsaw coach Al Rhodes said. "We needed a stop and he came through. He had a nice block and then a deflection that led to a steal."
The eight-point win was the eighth in a row for Warsaw, which is now 8-1 and will host Elkhart Memorial in tonight's championship game at 8 p.m. Memorial advanced by beating host Goshen 62-51 in Friday's first game.
Wawasee falls to 4-4 on the season and lost to the Tigers for the second time in a week.
Much like last Friday's Tiger win, Wawasee took control early before Warsaw staged its comeback.
With a three-pointer from junior Kyle Lantz, Wawasee led 11-4 with 3:53 to play in the opening quarter. After Warsaw senior Greg Clay's two free throws cut the Warrior lead to two, 11-9, Ryan Stichter banked in a three-pointer to give Wawasee a 14-9 lead going into the second stanza.
Unlike last week's game, though, when Warsaw dominated play both offensively and defensively in the second quarter en rout to a 17-point win, the Warriors hung around last night and led 23-20 at the break.
"Their guards did better with our pressure than they did in the first game," Rhodes said. "They got it into the high post area and found some shots."
What Warsaw found was a way to make free throws, hitting 17 of 21 for the game, including 11 of 12 in the fourth quarter.
Senior Chris Clay hit two charity tosses with 56 seconds left on the clock to give Warsaw a 48-45 advantage. After Clint Custer hit 1 of 2 free throws to cut Warsaw's lead to two, senior frontliner Jerad Shaw hit two free throws with 31 seconds remaining for a 50-46 advantage. Chris Clay scored a field goal with 18 seconds showing for a six-point lead, and then Knepper finished the game and the Warriors when he put on a show in the waning seconds.
"I can't say how proud I am of our kids," Rhodes said. "Even when things weren't going our way, they kept battling."
Wawasee led just once in the fourth quarter, when Kyle Lantz converted a three-point play to give the Warriors a 38-37 advantage with 5:21 left in the game.
Kyle Lantz led the Warriors in the scoring column with 15 points, while Ben Knisely added nine before fouling out. Ryan Stichter had six, Steve Conrad and Custer had five each and Kory Lantz netted four for Wawasee.
Twins Greg and Chris Clay paced Warsaw with 15 and 12 points, respectively, while Shaw and Ryan DeGeeter had eight each. Shaw finished with eight rebounds, while DeGeeter had seven.
WARSAW 54, WAWASEE 46
Wawasee (4-4) 14 9 9 14 - 46
Warsaw (8-1) 9 11 15 19 - 54
Wawasee FG FT R S Pts.
Ko. Lantz (G) 1-6 2-2 1 2 4
Ky. Lantz (F) 4-5 5-5 3 0 15
Conrad (G) 2-7 0-0 2 0 5
Custer (F) 2-4 1-3 5 2 5
Knisely (C) 4-8 0-1 6 0 9
Trobaugh 0-2 2-2 0 0 2
Stichter 2-2 0-0 2 0 6
Kauchak 0-0 0-0 1 0 0
Totals 15-34 9-13 20 4 46
Warsaw FG FT R S Pts.
Seiss (G) 0-3 0-0 3 3 0
G. Clay (G) 5-13 4-6 2 0 15
C. Clay (F) 3-4 5-5 2 1 12
Shaw (F) 1-7 6-6 8 0 8
DeGeeter (C) 3-4 2-2 7 0 8
Walmer 1-1 0-0 0 0 3
Datta 0-0 0-0 1 0 0
Fussle 1-1 0-0 1 0 2
Knepper 2-6 0-2 2 2 4
Scott 1-1 0-0 1 0 2
Totals 17-40 17-21 27 7 54
Three-point goals - Wawasee 6-13 (Ky. Lantz 2-2, Stichter 2-2, Conrad 1-5, Knisely 1-1, Trobaugh 0-1), Warsaw 3-11 (G. Clay 1-6, C. Clay 1-1, Walmer 1-1, Shaw 0-2). Fouls - Wawasee 19, Warsaw 16. Fouled out - Knisely.
Three Players Score In Double Figures In Valley Win
Times-Union Staff Report
AKRON -ÊBehind a trio of double-figure scorers, the Tippecanoe Valley girls basketball team improved to 10-2 on the season with a 66-50 win over South Bend Clay Friday night in Akron.
Rebekah Parker led the Viking offensive explosion with 22 points, while Tabitha Pratt chipped in 18. Kathy Prater rounded out the scoring triplets with 12 points.
The Vikings took a 30-28 lead at the half and added to their lead through the final two quarters of play. A 23-point third quarteer sealed the deal for the Valley squad.
The 10-2 Vikings host North Judson Dec. 29.
TIPPECANOE VALLEY 66, SOUTH BEND CLAY 50
Clay 11 17 10 12 - 50
Valley 14 16 23 13 - 66
Clay scoring -ÊKeultjes 2 3-3 8, Miller 0 2-2 2, Taylor 5 6-6 17, Njoky 3 2-3 8, Irada 0 0-0 0, Gallant 3 1-1 7, Vomas 0 0-0 0, Macellori 3 2-2 8. Totals -Ê16 16-17 50.
Valley -ÊPratt 6 4-5 18, Rosenstiel 0 2-2 2, Prater 5 2-3 12, Clauson 1 0-0 2, Denny 1 0-0 2, Green 0 0-4 0, Zehr 0 0-1 0, Parker 9 3-5 22, Shafer 2 4-5 8, Anglin 0 0-0 0, Kramer 0 0-0 0. Totals -Ê24 15-24 66.
Three-point goals -ÊValley 3 (Pratt 2, Parker 1), Clay 2 (Keultjes 1, Taylor 1). Turnovers -ÊValley 10, Clay 29. Rebounds -ÊValley 28 (Prater 5), Clay 18. Assists -ÊValley 12 (Parker 3, Shafer 3), Clay N/A. Steals -ÊValley 12 (Parker 5), Clay N/AFouls - Valley 16, Clay 24. Fouled out -ÊMiller Keultjes.
Whitko Girls Fall To Wabash
Times-Union Staff Report
WABASH - The Whitko girls basketball team fell to 4-9 with a 64-41 loss to Wabash Friday night.
Wabash jumped out to a 12-8 lead after the first quarter and extended its lead from there. A 17-9 fourth quarter guaranteed the wqin for the Apaches.
Christa Badskey and Teri Walter led the Wildcats in scoring. Badskey hit 6 of 9 free throws on her way to 11 points, while Walter nailed two three-point baskets on her way to scoring 10.
Whitko shot 12 of 60 in the game and hit 13 of 25 free throws.
The Wildcats are off until January 4 when they host Rochester in a Three Rivers Conference matchup.
WABASH 64, WHITKO 41
Whitko 8 13 11 9 - 41
Wabash 12 21 14 17 - 64
Whitko scoring -ÊWalter 3-10 2-4 10, Wilkinson 0-0 0-0 0, Sellers 3-13 1-3 8, Reed 0-0 0-2 0, Badskey 2-10 6-9 11, Wendel 0-11 3-5 3, Trump 3-9 0-2 6, Rowland 1-3 1-2 2, Begley 0-1 0-0 0, Busz 0-1 0-0 0. Totals -Ê12-60 13-25 41.
Wabash scoring -ÊN/A
Three-point goals -ÊWhitko 4-17 (Walter 2-6, Sellers 1-2, Badskey 1-5, Wendel 0-4), Wabash 8. Rebounds -ÊWhitko 32, Wabash N/A. Steals -ÊWhitko 8, Wabash N/A. Assists -ÊWhitko 2, Wabash N/A. Fouls - Whitko 24, Wabash 21.
Triton Opens Holiday Tourney WIth Loss
Times-Union Staff Report
BOURBON -ÊThe Triton boys basketball team opened its own holiday tourney with a 49-47 loss to Pioneer.
The teams were knotted at 8-all going into the second quarter, but Triton outscored Pioneer 18-12 in the frame to take a four point lead at haltime.
However, Pioneer fought back in the final half of play to pick up the win.
Josh Moore led the Trojans with 17 points, while Todd Blackford added 10. The Trojans will face LaVille in the consolation game of the tourney tonight, while Pioneer will play Caston.
TRITON HOLIDAY TOURNEY
PIONEER 49, TRITON 47
Pioneer 8 12 15 14 - 49
Triton 8 18 9 10 - 47
Pioneer scoring -ÊFarrer 0 0-0 0, Russell 3 2-2 8, Trubby 3 0-0 6, Alexander 2 0-1 4, Winegardner 5 2-4 12, Hollering 6 0-1 12, Seward 1 0-0 3, Robinson 1 1-2 4, Frame 0 0-0 0, Liebner 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 6-11 49.
Triton scoring -ÊNifong 0 0-0 0, Wanamacher 1 2-4 5, Boyer 3 1-3 7, Blackford 4 0-1 10, Yankovich 0 0-2 0, Landis 4 0-0 8, Moore 8 1-2 17, Watkins 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 4-12 47.
Three-point goals -ÊPioneer 2 (Seward, Robinson), Triton 3 (Wanamacher, Blackford 2). Fouls -ÊPioneer 16, Triton 15. Fouled out -ÊMoore.
Other game -ÊCASTON 68, LAVILLE 50
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GOSHEN - Like a United Parcel Service employee during the Christmas season, Warsaw's William Knepper delivered late Friday in the semifinal round of the Lake City Bank/Northern Lakes Conference Holiday Tournament.
With the Tiger boys basketball team leading rival Wawasee 52-46, the quick and agile for his size 6-foot-3, 270-pound junior blocked a Warrior shot, deflected a pass and then ran the floor and made a layup all in the final 10 seconds as Warsaw picked up a 54-46 win.
"We put him in for defensive reasons," veteran Warsaw coach Al Rhodes said. "We needed a stop and he came through. He had a nice block and then a deflection that led to a steal."
The eight-point win was the eighth in a row for Warsaw, which is now 8-1 and will host Elkhart Memorial in tonight's championship game at 8 p.m. Memorial advanced by beating host Goshen 62-51 in Friday's first game.
Wawasee falls to 4-4 on the season and lost to the Tigers for the second time in a week.
Much like last Friday's Tiger win, Wawasee took control early before Warsaw staged its comeback.
With a three-pointer from junior Kyle Lantz, Wawasee led 11-4 with 3:53 to play in the opening quarter. After Warsaw senior Greg Clay's two free throws cut the Warrior lead to two, 11-9, Ryan Stichter banked in a three-pointer to give Wawasee a 14-9 lead going into the second stanza.
Unlike last week's game, though, when Warsaw dominated play both offensively and defensively in the second quarter en rout to a 17-point win, the Warriors hung around last night and led 23-20 at the break.
"Their guards did better with our pressure than they did in the first game," Rhodes said. "They got it into the high post area and found some shots."
What Warsaw found was a way to make free throws, hitting 17 of 21 for the game, including 11 of 12 in the fourth quarter.
Senior Chris Clay hit two charity tosses with 56 seconds left on the clock to give Warsaw a 48-45 advantage. After Clint Custer hit 1 of 2 free throws to cut Warsaw's lead to two, senior frontliner Jerad Shaw hit two free throws with 31 seconds remaining for a 50-46 advantage. Chris Clay scored a field goal with 18 seconds showing for a six-point lead, and then Knepper finished the game and the Warriors when he put on a show in the waning seconds.
"I can't say how proud I am of our kids," Rhodes said. "Even when things weren't going our way, they kept battling."
Wawasee led just once in the fourth quarter, when Kyle Lantz converted a three-point play to give the Warriors a 38-37 advantage with 5:21 left in the game.
Kyle Lantz led the Warriors in the scoring column with 15 points, while Ben Knisely added nine before fouling out. Ryan Stichter had six, Steve Conrad and Custer had five each and Kory Lantz netted four for Wawasee.
Twins Greg and Chris Clay paced Warsaw with 15 and 12 points, respectively, while Shaw and Ryan DeGeeter had eight each. Shaw finished with eight rebounds, while DeGeeter had seven.
WARSAW 54, WAWASEE 46
Wawasee (4-4) 14 9 9 14 - 46
Warsaw (8-1) 9 11 15 19 - 54
Wawasee FG FT R S Pts.
Ko. Lantz (G) 1-6 2-2 1 2 4
Ky. Lantz (F) 4-5 5-5 3 0 15
Conrad (G) 2-7 0-0 2 0 5
Custer (F) 2-4 1-3 5 2 5
Knisely (C) 4-8 0-1 6 0 9
Trobaugh 0-2 2-2 0 0 2
Stichter 2-2 0-0 2 0 6
Kauchak 0-0 0-0 1 0 0
Totals 15-34 9-13 20 4 46
Warsaw FG FT R S Pts.
Seiss (G) 0-3 0-0 3 3 0
G. Clay (G) 5-13 4-6 2 0 15
C. Clay (F) 3-4 5-5 2 1 12
Shaw (F) 1-7 6-6 8 0 8
DeGeeter (C) 3-4 2-2 7 0 8
Walmer 1-1 0-0 0 0 3
Datta 0-0 0-0 1 0 0
Fussle 1-1 0-0 1 0 2
Knepper 2-6 0-2 2 2 4
Scott 1-1 0-0 1 0 2
Totals 17-40 17-21 27 7 54
Three-point goals - Wawasee 6-13 (Ky. Lantz 2-2, Stichter 2-2, Conrad 1-5, Knisely 1-1, Trobaugh 0-1), Warsaw 3-11 (G. Clay 1-6, C. Clay 1-1, Walmer 1-1, Shaw 0-2). Fouls - Wawasee 19, Warsaw 16. Fouled out - Knisely.
Three Players Score In Double Figures In Valley Win
Times-Union Staff Report
AKRON -ÊBehind a trio of double-figure scorers, the Tippecanoe Valley girls basketball team improved to 10-2 on the season with a 66-50 win over South Bend Clay Friday night in Akron.
Rebekah Parker led the Viking offensive explosion with 22 points, while Tabitha Pratt chipped in 18. Kathy Prater rounded out the scoring triplets with 12 points.
The Vikings took a 30-28 lead at the half and added to their lead through the final two quarters of play. A 23-point third quarteer sealed the deal for the Valley squad.
The 10-2 Vikings host North Judson Dec. 29.
TIPPECANOE VALLEY 66, SOUTH BEND CLAY 50
Clay 11 17 10 12 - 50
Valley 14 16 23 13 - 66
Clay scoring -ÊKeultjes 2 3-3 8, Miller 0 2-2 2, Taylor 5 6-6 17, Njoky 3 2-3 8, Irada 0 0-0 0, Gallant 3 1-1 7, Vomas 0 0-0 0, Macellori 3 2-2 8. Totals -Ê16 16-17 50.
Valley -ÊPratt 6 4-5 18, Rosenstiel 0 2-2 2, Prater 5 2-3 12, Clauson 1 0-0 2, Denny 1 0-0 2, Green 0 0-4 0, Zehr 0 0-1 0, Parker 9 3-5 22, Shafer 2 4-5 8, Anglin 0 0-0 0, Kramer 0 0-0 0. Totals -Ê24 15-24 66.
Three-point goals -ÊValley 3 (Pratt 2, Parker 1), Clay 2 (Keultjes 1, Taylor 1). Turnovers -ÊValley 10, Clay 29. Rebounds -ÊValley 28 (Prater 5), Clay 18. Assists -ÊValley 12 (Parker 3, Shafer 3), Clay N/A. Steals -ÊValley 12 (Parker 5), Clay N/AFouls - Valley 16, Clay 24. Fouled out -ÊMiller Keultjes.
Whitko Girls Fall To Wabash
Times-Union Staff Report
WABASH - The Whitko girls basketball team fell to 4-9 with a 64-41 loss to Wabash Friday night.
Wabash jumped out to a 12-8 lead after the first quarter and extended its lead from there. A 17-9 fourth quarter guaranteed the wqin for the Apaches.
Christa Badskey and Teri Walter led the Wildcats in scoring. Badskey hit 6 of 9 free throws on her way to 11 points, while Walter nailed two three-point baskets on her way to scoring 10.
Whitko shot 12 of 60 in the game and hit 13 of 25 free throws.
The Wildcats are off until January 4 when they host Rochester in a Three Rivers Conference matchup.
WABASH 64, WHITKO 41
Whitko 8 13 11 9 - 41
Wabash 12 21 14 17 - 64
Whitko scoring -ÊWalter 3-10 2-4 10, Wilkinson 0-0 0-0 0, Sellers 3-13 1-3 8, Reed 0-0 0-2 0, Badskey 2-10 6-9 11, Wendel 0-11 3-5 3, Trump 3-9 0-2 6, Rowland 1-3 1-2 2, Begley 0-1 0-0 0, Busz 0-1 0-0 0. Totals -Ê12-60 13-25 41.
Wabash scoring -ÊN/A
Three-point goals -ÊWhitko 4-17 (Walter 2-6, Sellers 1-2, Badskey 1-5, Wendel 0-4), Wabash 8. Rebounds -ÊWhitko 32, Wabash N/A. Steals -ÊWhitko 8, Wabash N/A. Assists -ÊWhitko 2, Wabash N/A. Fouls - Whitko 24, Wabash 21.
Triton Opens Holiday Tourney WIth Loss
Times-Union Staff Report
BOURBON -ÊThe Triton boys basketball team opened its own holiday tourney with a 49-47 loss to Pioneer.
The teams were knotted at 8-all going into the second quarter, but Triton outscored Pioneer 18-12 in the frame to take a four point lead at haltime.
However, Pioneer fought back in the final half of play to pick up the win.
Josh Moore led the Trojans with 17 points, while Todd Blackford added 10. The Trojans will face LaVille in the consolation game of the tourney tonight, while Pioneer will play Caston.
TRITON HOLIDAY TOURNEY
PIONEER 49, TRITON 47
Pioneer 8 12 15 14 - 49
Triton 8 18 9 10 - 47
Pioneer scoring -ÊFarrer 0 0-0 0, Russell 3 2-2 8, Trubby 3 0-0 6, Alexander 2 0-1 4, Winegardner 5 2-4 12, Hollering 6 0-1 12, Seward 1 0-0 3, Robinson 1 1-2 4, Frame 0 0-0 0, Liebner 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 6-11 49.
Triton scoring -ÊNifong 0 0-0 0, Wanamacher 1 2-4 5, Boyer 3 1-3 7, Blackford 4 0-1 10, Yankovich 0 0-2 0, Landis 4 0-0 8, Moore 8 1-2 17, Watkins 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 4-12 47.
Three-point goals -ÊPioneer 2 (Seward, Robinson), Triton 3 (Wanamacher, Blackford 2). Fouls -ÊPioneer 16, Triton 15. Fouled out -ÊMoore.
Other game -ÊCASTON 68, LAVILLE 50
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