Whitko Blessed With Experience
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Anthony [email protected]
"We've got a lot of juniors and seniors," Whitko coach Rob Irwin said about this year's squad, which returns 12 players. "Last year, we had no seniors. We didn't have a lot of experience, with two sophomores and a freshman starting, but we were still beaten on the final shot (in the opening game of sectionals) by a team that reached the regional final."[[In-content Ad]]The team that got the sectional win was Wawasee, who defeated a one-man Whitko show, as Logan Irwin netted 44 of the Wildcats' 59 points in a 60-59 loss.
Averaging 26.3 points a game as a sophomore, Irwin has already scored 1,003 points in his two years at Whitko, and according to his father, he's only getting better.
"Now, he's stepping up and drilling the three," Rob Irwin said about Logan, who shot 31.9 percent from three-point land a year ago. "From last year, it's night and day. He's gained experience and confidence. Now, when he misses, its an accident. Each year, he's gotten a little better at one thing."
If Logan Irwin is Whitko's Batman, 6-foot-5 senior Zac VanDeWater fits the Robin role, averaging 16.5 points and 5.6 rebounds a game as a junior.
The Indiana Wesleyan-bound VanDeWater has been starting for Whitko since he was a freshman, and seems to found a knack for scoring inside the three-point arc after leading the team in attempts with 90 last year, connecting on 32.
"He's learning where to score," the Whitko coach said about VanDeWater.
Logan Irwin and VanDeWater accounted for 68 percent of the Wildcats offense last season. With that kind of ratio, Rob Irwin is hopeful that can change.
"Each player we have has shown improvement," Rob Irwin said. "Logan has added a three-point shot, Zac is scoring inside, (sophomore) Alex Stoddard has gotten better, (junior) Derek Snep has grown an inch and put on about 20 pounds and (senior) Max Elder has played the most I've seen him play this summer."
Along with those returning starters, Rob Irwin is also eager to see seniors Kory Wood, Mitch Yeager and Scott Skiles contribute this season.
The coach is also looking for 6-foot-8, 210-pound junior Kolten Krull to take a step forward this year and he also welcomes 6-1, 165-pound junior transfer Lucky Winters in the backcourt.
"We're so deep, there's players I'd usually be playing on the varsity, but I have to put them on the 'B' team," Rob Irwin said.
On top of the depth, Whitko also has size with six players listed at at least 6-4 on the roster.
"We're bigger and stronger," Rob Irwin said. "We weren't that strong last year. It's all going to depend on how well we defend."
With expectations high at Whitko, the Wildcats are taking on all comers, including a tough three-game stretch, which begins Wednesday at Columbia City. Following the season-opener, the Wildcats travel to the State Farm Tournament of Champions Classic in Washington, Ill. on Nov. 26 before returning home to play Leo the following night.
After the busy opening week, the Wildcats also take on Wawasee (Dec. 11), Plymouth (Dec. 22), Carroll (Feb. 1) and NorthWood (Feb. 25) in out-of-conference play.
"We're trying to make sure we see all types of teams," Rob Irwin said.
In preparing for the postseason, with the sectional being played at Wawasee this year, the Wildcats play six of their last seven games on the road.
"We're only going to get better with the schedule," Rob Irwin said. "We may get beat sometimes, but we'll get better."
"We've got a lot of juniors and seniors," Whitko coach Rob Irwin said about this year's squad, which returns 12 players. "Last year, we had no seniors. We didn't have a lot of experience, with two sophomores and a freshman starting, but we were still beaten on the final shot (in the opening game of sectionals) by a team that reached the regional final."[[In-content Ad]]The team that got the sectional win was Wawasee, who defeated a one-man Whitko show, as Logan Irwin netted 44 of the Wildcats' 59 points in a 60-59 loss.
Averaging 26.3 points a game as a sophomore, Irwin has already scored 1,003 points in his two years at Whitko, and according to his father, he's only getting better.
"Now, he's stepping up and drilling the three," Rob Irwin said about Logan, who shot 31.9 percent from three-point land a year ago. "From last year, it's night and day. He's gained experience and confidence. Now, when he misses, its an accident. Each year, he's gotten a little better at one thing."
If Logan Irwin is Whitko's Batman, 6-foot-5 senior Zac VanDeWater fits the Robin role, averaging 16.5 points and 5.6 rebounds a game as a junior.
The Indiana Wesleyan-bound VanDeWater has been starting for Whitko since he was a freshman, and seems to found a knack for scoring inside the three-point arc after leading the team in attempts with 90 last year, connecting on 32.
"He's learning where to score," the Whitko coach said about VanDeWater.
Logan Irwin and VanDeWater accounted for 68 percent of the Wildcats offense last season. With that kind of ratio, Rob Irwin is hopeful that can change.
"Each player we have has shown improvement," Rob Irwin said. "Logan has added a three-point shot, Zac is scoring inside, (sophomore) Alex Stoddard has gotten better, (junior) Derek Snep has grown an inch and put on about 20 pounds and (senior) Max Elder has played the most I've seen him play this summer."
Along with those returning starters, Rob Irwin is also eager to see seniors Kory Wood, Mitch Yeager and Scott Skiles contribute this season.
The coach is also looking for 6-foot-8, 210-pound junior Kolten Krull to take a step forward this year and he also welcomes 6-1, 165-pound junior transfer Lucky Winters in the backcourt.
"We're so deep, there's players I'd usually be playing on the varsity, but I have to put them on the 'B' team," Rob Irwin said.
On top of the depth, Whitko also has size with six players listed at at least 6-4 on the roster.
"We're bigger and stronger," Rob Irwin said. "We weren't that strong last year. It's all going to depend on how well we defend."
With expectations high at Whitko, the Wildcats are taking on all comers, including a tough three-game stretch, which begins Wednesday at Columbia City. Following the season-opener, the Wildcats travel to the State Farm Tournament of Champions Classic in Washington, Ill. on Nov. 26 before returning home to play Leo the following night.
After the busy opening week, the Wildcats also take on Wawasee (Dec. 11), Plymouth (Dec. 22), Carroll (Feb. 1) and NorthWood (Feb. 25) in out-of-conference play.
"We're trying to make sure we see all types of teams," Rob Irwin said.
In preparing for the postseason, with the sectional being played at Wawasee this year, the Wildcats play six of their last seven games on the road.
"We're only going to get better with the schedule," Rob Irwin said. "We may get beat sometimes, but we'll get better."
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