Wawasee Edges Valley Vikings
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Cliff Tanner-
In the last regular season game for both teams, Wawasee's Trevor McKibben hit a running jumper as time ran out to secure a 69-67 win over the host Tippecanoe Valley Vikings.[[In-content Ad]]But the end was not without controversy.
Valley's Caleb Rovenstine hit a three-pointer with less than three seconds left to tie the game at 67-all.
Following the bucket, Wawasee ran down the court, and before time expired, play was whistled dead. Officials agreed that Wawasee coach Phil Mishler had called timeout. After a conference between officials, 6.2 seconds were put back on the clock, allowing the winning score.
"We did a nice job tonight continuing to take advantage of second chances," Mishler said. "We just had to keep going after the ball and creating second chances."
McKibben finished with seven points, including the game winner. He also pulled down seven rebounds.
Valley went into the final stanza down 53-49, but the Warriors later went on a 7-2 run and extended their lead to 62-52 early in the fourth.
"We did a good job at times and didn't at others," Valley coach Bill Patrick said. "We kept playing to get back into the game. We were around at the end, but we just couldn't get it done. That has been our story all year."
With 2:59 left in the game, Valley's Anthony Tolson hit a three-pointer to pull to within 64-61.
After Wawasee sophomore Riley Stichter hit two free throws, Rovenstine hit a three-pointer to pull to within 66-64.
Prior to any late-game theatrics, Valley was down 38-28 at the half.
Valley junior Zach Owens caught fire in the third quarter and scored 13 of his game-high 21 points as the Vikings pulled to within 53-49 going into the final quarter. Owens also had 12 rebounds to lead all players.
Wawasee's Grant Ruch hit four three-point baskets in the second quarter to help the Warriors build an 11-point lead. He finished with 14 points on the night and pulled down five rebounds.
"Our bench has been our help all year long and tonight was no exception. They came through in some key moments," Mishler said.
Stichter led the Wawasee attack with 17 points and added five rebounds. He finished the game 6 of 10 from the field.
"We did a good job in the second half containing Ruch. Our defense also found a way to keep
Stichter out of the middle for much of the second half," Patrick said.
The start of the game appeared as though Wawasee, with its full-court pressure, would run away with the game as the Warriors went on a 6-0 run to take the early lead. Valley fought back and went into the second quarter down 13-10.
Tolson finished with 15 points on the night. He also had three blocked shots, including one that helped Valley build a 9-0 run late in the third quarter.
Valley senior Devin Vogel finished with 10 points and Rovenstine came off the bench to add nine.
Warrior senior Wes Kaiser added 13 points to the cause. Kaiser continually drove to the basket to score on some easy lay ups.
Keegan Beer and Logan Hatfield both came off the bench to score six points for Wawasee.
The 7-13 Wawasee Warriors will face Lakeland in the first round of Sectional 21 at NorthWood High School Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
"We are looking forward to facing Lakeland next week. We played them tough in the game earlier in the year. It is nice to get a win before sectional play. It is always a good confidence boost for us," MIshler said.
The 4-16 Vikings will also be at Sectional 21 Wednesday, playing the NorthWood Panthers at 6 p.m.
WAWASEE 69, TIPPECANOE VALLEY 67
W 13 25 15 16 - 69
V 10 18 21 18 - 67
Wawasee - Kaiser 4 3-5 13, Beer 2 0-0 6, McKibben 2 3-6 7, Ruch 4 2-3 14, Stichter 6 5-5 17, Hatfield 2 0-0 6, Schrock 1 0-0 2, Ringler 1 2-2 4. Totals 24 15-21 69.
Valley - Rovenstine 2 4-4 9, Cooper 1 0-0 2, Owens 8 4-6 21, Burkhart 2 0-0 4, Tolson 7 0-0 15, Miller 2 0-0 4, Lukens 0 2-3 2, Vogel 3 3-4 10, Kitch 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 13-17 67.
Three-point goals - Wawasee 10 (Ruch 4, Beer 2, Kaiser 2, Hatfield 2), Valley 4 (Rovenstine, Owens, Tolson, Vogel); Rebounds - Wawasee 27 (McKibben 7, Ruch 5, Stichter 5 Ringler 5), Valley 29 (Owens 12, Burkhart 5); Turnovers - Wawasee 19, Valley 15; Team Fouls - Wawasee 20, Valley 21; Records: Wawasee 7-13, Valley 4-16
In the last regular season game for both teams, Wawasee's Trevor McKibben hit a running jumper as time ran out to secure a 69-67 win over the host Tippecanoe Valley Vikings.[[In-content Ad]]But the end was not without controversy.
Valley's Caleb Rovenstine hit a three-pointer with less than three seconds left to tie the game at 67-all.
Following the bucket, Wawasee ran down the court, and before time expired, play was whistled dead. Officials agreed that Wawasee coach Phil Mishler had called timeout. After a conference between officials, 6.2 seconds were put back on the clock, allowing the winning score.
"We did a nice job tonight continuing to take advantage of second chances," Mishler said. "We just had to keep going after the ball and creating second chances."
McKibben finished with seven points, including the game winner. He also pulled down seven rebounds.
Valley went into the final stanza down 53-49, but the Warriors later went on a 7-2 run and extended their lead to 62-52 early in the fourth.
"We did a good job at times and didn't at others," Valley coach Bill Patrick said. "We kept playing to get back into the game. We were around at the end, but we just couldn't get it done. That has been our story all year."
With 2:59 left in the game, Valley's Anthony Tolson hit a three-pointer to pull to within 64-61.
After Wawasee sophomore Riley Stichter hit two free throws, Rovenstine hit a three-pointer to pull to within 66-64.
Prior to any late-game theatrics, Valley was down 38-28 at the half.
Valley junior Zach Owens caught fire in the third quarter and scored 13 of his game-high 21 points as the Vikings pulled to within 53-49 going into the final quarter. Owens also had 12 rebounds to lead all players.
Wawasee's Grant Ruch hit four three-point baskets in the second quarter to help the Warriors build an 11-point lead. He finished with 14 points on the night and pulled down five rebounds.
"Our bench has been our help all year long and tonight was no exception. They came through in some key moments," Mishler said.
Stichter led the Wawasee attack with 17 points and added five rebounds. He finished the game 6 of 10 from the field.
"We did a good job in the second half containing Ruch. Our defense also found a way to keep
Stichter out of the middle for much of the second half," Patrick said.
The start of the game appeared as though Wawasee, with its full-court pressure, would run away with the game as the Warriors went on a 6-0 run to take the early lead. Valley fought back and went into the second quarter down 13-10.
Tolson finished with 15 points on the night. He also had three blocked shots, including one that helped Valley build a 9-0 run late in the third quarter.
Valley senior Devin Vogel finished with 10 points and Rovenstine came off the bench to add nine.
Warrior senior Wes Kaiser added 13 points to the cause. Kaiser continually drove to the basket to score on some easy lay ups.
Keegan Beer and Logan Hatfield both came off the bench to score six points for Wawasee.
The 7-13 Wawasee Warriors will face Lakeland in the first round of Sectional 21 at NorthWood High School Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
"We are looking forward to facing Lakeland next week. We played them tough in the game earlier in the year. It is nice to get a win before sectional play. It is always a good confidence boost for us," MIshler said.
The 4-16 Vikings will also be at Sectional 21 Wednesday, playing the NorthWood Panthers at 6 p.m.
WAWASEE 69, TIPPECANOE VALLEY 67
W 13 25 15 16 - 69
V 10 18 21 18 - 67
Wawasee - Kaiser 4 3-5 13, Beer 2 0-0 6, McKibben 2 3-6 7, Ruch 4 2-3 14, Stichter 6 5-5 17, Hatfield 2 0-0 6, Schrock 1 0-0 2, Ringler 1 2-2 4. Totals 24 15-21 69.
Valley - Rovenstine 2 4-4 9, Cooper 1 0-0 2, Owens 8 4-6 21, Burkhart 2 0-0 4, Tolson 7 0-0 15, Miller 2 0-0 4, Lukens 0 2-3 2, Vogel 3 3-4 10, Kitch 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 13-17 67.
Three-point goals - Wawasee 10 (Ruch 4, Beer 2, Kaiser 2, Hatfield 2), Valley 4 (Rovenstine, Owens, Tolson, Vogel); Rebounds - Wawasee 27 (McKibben 7, Ruch 5, Stichter 5 Ringler 5), Valley 29 (Owens 12, Burkhart 5); Turnovers - Wawasee 19, Valley 15; Team Fouls - Wawasee 20, Valley 21; Records: Wawasee 7-13, Valley 4-16
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