Whitko Drops Season Opener To Columbia City
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
SOUTH WHITLEY - The road to Hoosier Hysteria started Wednesday at Whitko High School. The Columbia City Eagles traveled to the home of the Wildcats for the bragging rights of Whitley County in the boys season opener for both teams. The Eagles outlasted the Wildcats 63-48.
With first-year athletic director and coach Rob Irwin at the helm, the inexperienced Wildcats played good disciplined basketball. Irwin came to Whitko with 10 years of head coaching experience at Carroll High School.
"We only had two returning players tonight. We are a young basketball team," Irwin said.
The first quarter appeared as though the Eagles would run away with the game. With the Eagles going on a 7-0 run, the Wildcats battled back to keep the first quarter score at 16-12. In the quarter Brian Busz and Jeff Coats each hit a three-point basket for Whitko.
"This is only the second time our guys were able to play five-on-five basketball this year. We have not had enough players to be able to do that. We have players hurt this year so far," said Irwin.
Columbia City took advantage of Whitko's 1-of-8 shooting in the second quarter by outscoring the Wildcats 10-2 in the second. Tough defense by the Eagles kept the Wildcats from taking any good shots. The Wildcats' lone basket was scored by Cory Snep, a freshman starting his high school career.
The young Whitko team forced the Eagles to turn the ball over 11 times to keep the game close. Whitko comitted seven turnovers in the game. The Wildcats showed great patience passing the ball around several times to work for the open shot.
"I am proud of our kids tonight. They came out here ready to play with intensity. They did a great job considering that they had only two weeks with me to learn the system," said Irwin.
Camron Walter and Coats each scored four points to lead the Wildcats in the third quarter. Walter hit a three-point shot and free throw to round out his scoring. He finished with four points on the night.
Foul problems began to hurt the Wildcats in the second half. The Eagles went to the line 18 times in the half. They converted 16 of 18 free throws.
According to the Wildcat crowd, which brought down the house with a chorus of boos, some of the calls were questionable. At one point, an Eagle player threw his elbow into the throat of a Wildcat player that was missed by the officials.
The Wildcats began to use the full-court press in the third to force many of the Eagle turnovers. The press also led to many of the fouls called in the fourth quarter. Whitko commited 13 team fouls in the half. Whitko was whistled for 20 fouls in the game. Columbia City finished with 12 fouls.
Whitko cut the lead down to nine several times in the fourth. Brad Smith led the charge in the fourth, scoring eight points. He hit a three-point shot and went 5 of 5 from the stripe. Smith led all Wildcat scorers with 11 points on the night. He was perfect from the line, hitting 6 of 6.
Columbia City beat Whitko on the boards, outrebounding the Wildcats 22-16. Whitko shot 18 of 43 from the field and 8 of 10 at the line. The Eagles finished 24 of 29 from the field and connected on 17 of 20 free throw attempts.
"Columbia City has more experience than we do. They were a better team tonight. They have a good program and coach," said Irwin.
Irwin continued, "We are young team that will continue to improve as the year goes on. We have kids hurt that will be returning. Trent Rowland hasn't even played yet. We have a freshman point guard in Snep and he will have to feel his way and continue to grow. We will be a better team."
Columbia City's Kyle Rucks led all scorers with 22 points. Zach Coverstone added 15 and Tyler Shively contributed with 12 points.
Coats finished with 10 points and seven rebounds for Whitko. Other Wildcat players adding to the sore were Kaleb Swender with eight, Andre Warner with six and Walter and Snep with four points each.
"I look forward to working with these kids. Again, we are inexperienced and will improve as the year goes on," said Irwin.
COLUMBIA CITY 63, WHITKO 48
CC 16 10 15 12 - 63
W 12 2 15 19 - 48
Columbia City -ÊRucks 9 4-4 23, Preston 2 1-2 5, Zach Coverstone 7 1-2 15, Shively 3 6-6 12, Sitter 1 3-4 6, Briggs 0 2-2 2. Totals 22 17-20 63. Whitko -ÊSmith 2 6-7 11, Walter 1 1-2 4, Snep 2 0-0 4, Coats 6 1-2 15, Warner 3 0-0 6, Swender 4 0-0 8. Totals 18 8-11 48.
Three-point goals - Columbia City 2 (Sitter 1, Rucks 1), Whitko 4 (Coats 2, Walter 1, Smith 1). Team fouls -ÊColumbia City 12, Whitko 16. [[In-content Ad]]
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SOUTH WHITLEY - The road to Hoosier Hysteria started Wednesday at Whitko High School. The Columbia City Eagles traveled to the home of the Wildcats for the bragging rights of Whitley County in the boys season opener for both teams. The Eagles outlasted the Wildcats 63-48.
With first-year athletic director and coach Rob Irwin at the helm, the inexperienced Wildcats played good disciplined basketball. Irwin came to Whitko with 10 years of head coaching experience at Carroll High School.
"We only had two returning players tonight. We are a young basketball team," Irwin said.
The first quarter appeared as though the Eagles would run away with the game. With the Eagles going on a 7-0 run, the Wildcats battled back to keep the first quarter score at 16-12. In the quarter Brian Busz and Jeff Coats each hit a three-point basket for Whitko.
"This is only the second time our guys were able to play five-on-five basketball this year. We have not had enough players to be able to do that. We have players hurt this year so far," said Irwin.
Columbia City took advantage of Whitko's 1-of-8 shooting in the second quarter by outscoring the Wildcats 10-2 in the second. Tough defense by the Eagles kept the Wildcats from taking any good shots. The Wildcats' lone basket was scored by Cory Snep, a freshman starting his high school career.
The young Whitko team forced the Eagles to turn the ball over 11 times to keep the game close. Whitko comitted seven turnovers in the game. The Wildcats showed great patience passing the ball around several times to work for the open shot.
"I am proud of our kids tonight. They came out here ready to play with intensity. They did a great job considering that they had only two weeks with me to learn the system," said Irwin.
Camron Walter and Coats each scored four points to lead the Wildcats in the third quarter. Walter hit a three-point shot and free throw to round out his scoring. He finished with four points on the night.
Foul problems began to hurt the Wildcats in the second half. The Eagles went to the line 18 times in the half. They converted 16 of 18 free throws.
According to the Wildcat crowd, which brought down the house with a chorus of boos, some of the calls were questionable. At one point, an Eagle player threw his elbow into the throat of a Wildcat player that was missed by the officials.
The Wildcats began to use the full-court press in the third to force many of the Eagle turnovers. The press also led to many of the fouls called in the fourth quarter. Whitko commited 13 team fouls in the half. Whitko was whistled for 20 fouls in the game. Columbia City finished with 12 fouls.
Whitko cut the lead down to nine several times in the fourth. Brad Smith led the charge in the fourth, scoring eight points. He hit a three-point shot and went 5 of 5 from the stripe. Smith led all Wildcat scorers with 11 points on the night. He was perfect from the line, hitting 6 of 6.
Columbia City beat Whitko on the boards, outrebounding the Wildcats 22-16. Whitko shot 18 of 43 from the field and 8 of 10 at the line. The Eagles finished 24 of 29 from the field and connected on 17 of 20 free throw attempts.
"Columbia City has more experience than we do. They were a better team tonight. They have a good program and coach," said Irwin.
Irwin continued, "We are young team that will continue to improve as the year goes on. We have kids hurt that will be returning. Trent Rowland hasn't even played yet. We have a freshman point guard in Snep and he will have to feel his way and continue to grow. We will be a better team."
Columbia City's Kyle Rucks led all scorers with 22 points. Zach Coverstone added 15 and Tyler Shively contributed with 12 points.
Coats finished with 10 points and seven rebounds for Whitko. Other Wildcat players adding to the sore were Kaleb Swender with eight, Andre Warner with six and Walter and Snep with four points each.
"I look forward to working with these kids. Again, we are inexperienced and will improve as the year goes on," said Irwin.
COLUMBIA CITY 63, WHITKO 48
CC 16 10 15 12 - 63
W 12 2 15 19 - 48
Columbia City -ÊRucks 9 4-4 23, Preston 2 1-2 5, Zach Coverstone 7 1-2 15, Shively 3 6-6 12, Sitter 1 3-4 6, Briggs 0 2-2 2. Totals 22 17-20 63. Whitko -ÊSmith 2 6-7 11, Walter 1 1-2 4, Snep 2 0-0 4, Coats 6 1-2 15, Warner 3 0-0 6, Swender 4 0-0 8. Totals 18 8-11 48.
Three-point goals - Columbia City 2 (Sitter 1, Rucks 1), Whitko 4 (Coats 2, Walter 1, Smith 1). Team fouls -ÊColumbia City 12, Whitko 16. [[In-content Ad]]