Wawasee Frontcourt Keys Win Over Fairfield
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
SYRACUSE - Imagine having to face a team with the leading scorer in the state.
Imagine having to face that team when that player's teammates start to pour in the points.
Fairfield girls basketball coach Brent Miller doesn't have to imagine. He lived through the nightmare Saturday as Wawasee's girls basketball team drubbed Fairfield 79-42. Wawasee improves to 3-0, while Fairfield drops to 1-2.
Miller had exactly what he wanted.
Wawasee junior star Shanna Zolman, the state's leading scorer the last two years, had a modest 11 points at halftime of Saturday's game.
Problem is, Wawasee no longer is a one-player team. While Zolman didn't go off in the first half, her teammates, especially those in the frontcourt, did.
Wawasee 6-foot sophomore post players Jocelyn Higginbotham and Jessica Leach combined for 18 first-half points and finished with 34. Higginbotham hit 9 of 9 field goals and a free throw for 19 points, while Leach hit 5 of 10 field goals and 5 of 6 free throws for 15 points.
"(Wawasee's frontcourt) certainly hurt us in the first half," Miller said. "I thought we did a nice job on Shanna, but then we kind of forgot about their inside girls.
"When they got their chances, they knocked them down. We had scouted Wawasee's first two games, and their inside players didn't play like they did tonight. Their inside play is much improved."
Leach is averaging 15 points per game, but Higginbotham scored just 10 points in the first two games combined.
Zolman finished as the game's top scorer with 26 points to go along with seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. Zolman averages 33 points per game, and after their performances against Fairfield, Higginbotham and Leach are combining for 25 points per game.
Fairfield kept Zolman reasonably contained by using a 2-3 zone and having two players chase her each time she touched the ball. But even in the zone, the Falcons could not contain Wawasee's frontcourt.
"This time was more like the defenses we had been seeing (last year) against Shanna," Kem Zolman said. "There's a lot open when teams play that kind of defense."
The Warriors took control in the first quarter behind Higginbotham.
Higginbotham scored eight of Wawasee's first 10 points as the Warriors jumped ahead 10-2 and built the lead to 21-10 at the end of the quarter.
"Jocelyn got into a nice rhythm and did a nice job," Kem Zolman said. "She can score like that when she gets into a rhythm. We've seen it in practice. I thought Jessica did a nice job."
Leach and Higginbotham opened the second quarter with baskets in the paint to up the lead to 25-10 as the rout was on. After scoring just three points in the first quarter, Shanna Zolman came alive with eight second-quarter points as Wawasee built its lead to 44-22 at the half.
While Higginbotham and Leach had big games, they did so against a small Fairfield team. Fairfield 5-10 junior Lydia Rosedo was the only Falcon taller than 5-7.
"This is the first time this year our other girls were able to step forward and show what they have," Kem Zolman said. "They did a nice job. This was our first total team effort in a long, long time."
Wawasee dominated the game inside on the offensive end, racking up 17 offensive rebounds to Fairfield's four. Many of Wawasee's offensive boards turned into putbacks by Higginbotham and Leach.
While the scoreboard showed the Warriors won by 37, what it did not show was Kem Zolman's displeasure with their defense. He felt his team allowed too much penetration and too often let the Falcons get the ball where they wanted it to go.
Fairfield guard Stacy Lemler finished with six assists, and guard Brooke Clayton led the Falcons with 12 points.
"Tonight was not a very good night for our defense," Kem Zolman said. "Give Fairfield credit, though. They took it right at us. But we have to contain the basketball better on the perimeter.
"If the guard will not head to the basket, you can put pressure on her. If the guard will head to the basket, you have to back off defensively and give a step, or otherwise, she'll be right by you.
"I would rather the girls put pressure on at first then back off if they have to rather than back off at the beginning and then try to put pressure on."
The Warriors have won their first three games by scores of 72-28, 94-47 and now 79-42, beating up on the likes of Westview, Elkhart Memorial and now Fairfield. Kem Zolman admitted a close game for his team would not necessarily be a bad thing.
"In past years, we've been OK in our first three games, but these teams have always been much closer," Kem Zolman said. "I always like blowouts, but it's harder to make points with your kids in practice when (your wins) look easy. I'm still concerned about the defensive end."
Knowing his team's challenging Northern Lakes Conference schedule, he added, "The games will start getting close soon enough."
WAWASEE 79, FAIRFIELD 42
Fairfield (1-2) 10 12 12 8 - 42
Wawasee (3-0) 21 23 20 15 - 79
Wawasee FG FT A S R Pts
Zolman (G) 8-19 7-8 4 2 7 26
Higginbotham (C) 9-9 1-3 1 0 7 19
Leach (F) 5-10 5-6 0 2 12 15
Wallen (F) 3-9 1-3 5 3 5 7
Fawley (G) 2-6 0-0 1 2 4 4
Henderson 2-7 0-0 1 0 0 4
Sorenson 1-4 0-1 2 2 0 2
Bender 1-1 0-0 0 0 0 2
Bradford 0-4 0-0 1 0 0 0
Auer 0-1 0-0 1 0 1 0
Lamb 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Team 2
Totals 31-70 14-21 16 11 38 79
Fairfield FG FT A S R Pts
Troyer (F) 6-10 2-2 1 0 2 14
Clayton (G) 5-12 0-0 2 1 1 12
Rosedo (C) 4-8 0-0 0 0 10 8
Lemler (G) 3-5 0-0 6 2 5 6
Rink (F) 0-3 0-0 1 1 2 0
Setterberg 1-6 0-0 0 0 2 2
Lambright 0-1 0-0 0 0 2 0
Wysong 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Garber 0-1 0-0 0 0 2 0
Gangloff 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Team 2
Totals 19-46 2-2 10 4 28 42
Three-point goals -ÊWawasee 3-14 (Zolman 3-7, Wallen 0-4, Fawley 0-2, Henderson 0-1), Fairfield 2-5 (Clayton 2-5). Turnovers - Wawasee 8,Fairfield 23. Total fouls - Wawasee 10, Fairfield 17. Fouled out - None.
JV: Wawasee 52, Fairfield 16
Wawasee (2-1) scoring - Stephanie Sorenson 11, Amanda Schmucker 10, Kayla Auer 9, Jennifer Bradford 7, Annette Lamb 4, Jodi Beer 3, Kelsey Bender 2, Heidi Shock 2, Mistie Hershberger 2, Sue Camire 2
Fairfield scoring - Jessie Beard 5, Brittany Gangloff 4, Tiffany Miller 2, Stacey Garber 2, Christine Lewis 2, Nicole Hymer 1 [[In-content Ad]]
SYRACUSE - Imagine having to face a team with the leading scorer in the state.
Imagine having to face that team when that player's teammates start to pour in the points.
Fairfield girls basketball coach Brent Miller doesn't have to imagine. He lived through the nightmare Saturday as Wawasee's girls basketball team drubbed Fairfield 79-42. Wawasee improves to 3-0, while Fairfield drops to 1-2.
Miller had exactly what he wanted.
Wawasee junior star Shanna Zolman, the state's leading scorer the last two years, had a modest 11 points at halftime of Saturday's game.
Problem is, Wawasee no longer is a one-player team. While Zolman didn't go off in the first half, her teammates, especially those in the frontcourt, did.
Wawasee 6-foot sophomore post players Jocelyn Higginbotham and Jessica Leach combined for 18 first-half points and finished with 34. Higginbotham hit 9 of 9 field goals and a free throw for 19 points, while Leach hit 5 of 10 field goals and 5 of 6 free throws for 15 points.
"(Wawasee's frontcourt) certainly hurt us in the first half," Miller said. "I thought we did a nice job on Shanna, but then we kind of forgot about their inside girls.
"When they got their chances, they knocked them down. We had scouted Wawasee's first two games, and their inside players didn't play like they did tonight. Their inside play is much improved."
Leach is averaging 15 points per game, but Higginbotham scored just 10 points in the first two games combined.
Zolman finished as the game's top scorer with 26 points to go along with seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. Zolman averages 33 points per game, and after their performances against Fairfield, Higginbotham and Leach are combining for 25 points per game.
Fairfield kept Zolman reasonably contained by using a 2-3 zone and having two players chase her each time she touched the ball. But even in the zone, the Falcons could not contain Wawasee's frontcourt.
"This time was more like the defenses we had been seeing (last year) against Shanna," Kem Zolman said. "There's a lot open when teams play that kind of defense."
The Warriors took control in the first quarter behind Higginbotham.
Higginbotham scored eight of Wawasee's first 10 points as the Warriors jumped ahead 10-2 and built the lead to 21-10 at the end of the quarter.
"Jocelyn got into a nice rhythm and did a nice job," Kem Zolman said. "She can score like that when she gets into a rhythm. We've seen it in practice. I thought Jessica did a nice job."
Leach and Higginbotham opened the second quarter with baskets in the paint to up the lead to 25-10 as the rout was on. After scoring just three points in the first quarter, Shanna Zolman came alive with eight second-quarter points as Wawasee built its lead to 44-22 at the half.
While Higginbotham and Leach had big games, they did so against a small Fairfield team. Fairfield 5-10 junior Lydia Rosedo was the only Falcon taller than 5-7.
"This is the first time this year our other girls were able to step forward and show what they have," Kem Zolman said. "They did a nice job. This was our first total team effort in a long, long time."
Wawasee dominated the game inside on the offensive end, racking up 17 offensive rebounds to Fairfield's four. Many of Wawasee's offensive boards turned into putbacks by Higginbotham and Leach.
While the scoreboard showed the Warriors won by 37, what it did not show was Kem Zolman's displeasure with their defense. He felt his team allowed too much penetration and too often let the Falcons get the ball where they wanted it to go.
Fairfield guard Stacy Lemler finished with six assists, and guard Brooke Clayton led the Falcons with 12 points.
"Tonight was not a very good night for our defense," Kem Zolman said. "Give Fairfield credit, though. They took it right at us. But we have to contain the basketball better on the perimeter.
"If the guard will not head to the basket, you can put pressure on her. If the guard will head to the basket, you have to back off defensively and give a step, or otherwise, she'll be right by you.
"I would rather the girls put pressure on at first then back off if they have to rather than back off at the beginning and then try to put pressure on."
The Warriors have won their first three games by scores of 72-28, 94-47 and now 79-42, beating up on the likes of Westview, Elkhart Memorial and now Fairfield. Kem Zolman admitted a close game for his team would not necessarily be a bad thing.
"In past years, we've been OK in our first three games, but these teams have always been much closer," Kem Zolman said. "I always like blowouts, but it's harder to make points with your kids in practice when (your wins) look easy. I'm still concerned about the defensive end."
Knowing his team's challenging Northern Lakes Conference schedule, he added, "The games will start getting close soon enough."
WAWASEE 79, FAIRFIELD 42
Fairfield (1-2) 10 12 12 8 - 42
Wawasee (3-0) 21 23 20 15 - 79
Wawasee FG FT A S R Pts
Zolman (G) 8-19 7-8 4 2 7 26
Higginbotham (C) 9-9 1-3 1 0 7 19
Leach (F) 5-10 5-6 0 2 12 15
Wallen (F) 3-9 1-3 5 3 5 7
Fawley (G) 2-6 0-0 1 2 4 4
Henderson 2-7 0-0 1 0 0 4
Sorenson 1-4 0-1 2 2 0 2
Bender 1-1 0-0 0 0 0 2
Bradford 0-4 0-0 1 0 0 0
Auer 0-1 0-0 1 0 1 0
Lamb 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Team 2
Totals 31-70 14-21 16 11 38 79
Fairfield FG FT A S R Pts
Troyer (F) 6-10 2-2 1 0 2 14
Clayton (G) 5-12 0-0 2 1 1 12
Rosedo (C) 4-8 0-0 0 0 10 8
Lemler (G) 3-5 0-0 6 2 5 6
Rink (F) 0-3 0-0 1 1 2 0
Setterberg 1-6 0-0 0 0 2 2
Lambright 0-1 0-0 0 0 2 0
Wysong 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Garber 0-1 0-0 0 0 2 0
Gangloff 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Team 2
Totals 19-46 2-2 10 4 28 42
Three-point goals -ÊWawasee 3-14 (Zolman 3-7, Wallen 0-4, Fawley 0-2, Henderson 0-1), Fairfield 2-5 (Clayton 2-5). Turnovers - Wawasee 8,Fairfield 23. Total fouls - Wawasee 10, Fairfield 17. Fouled out - None.
JV: Wawasee 52, Fairfield 16
Wawasee (2-1) scoring - Stephanie Sorenson 11, Amanda Schmucker 10, Kayla Auer 9, Jennifer Bradford 7, Annette Lamb 4, Jodi Beer 3, Kelsey Bender 2, Heidi Shock 2, Mistie Hershberger 2, Sue Camire 2
Fairfield scoring - Jessie Beard 5, Brittany Gangloff 4, Tiffany Miller 2, Stacey Garber 2, Christine Lewis 2, Nicole Hymer 1 [[In-content Ad]]