Whitko Falls To Columbia City In Opener
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
COLUMBIA CITY -ÊIt's the game every team has been waiting for - the season opener. Whitko traveled to county rival Columbia City Wednesday night and fell to the host Eagles 51-39.
Columbia City came out ready to play as Marcus Moore, Doug Sheckler and Wes Gardner netted the first seven points of the game.
At the 4:05 mark, Whitko's Alex Frantz ended the Wildcats scoring drought by draining a two-point basket to make the score 7-2.
However, Columbia City was not about to give in. The Eagles held Whitko to just two more points in the quarter and took a 14-4 advantage into the second half.
Columbia City's scoring runs continued in the second frame. Scott Moore and Sheckler hit the first two baskets of the second frame before Whitko junior Derrick Day nailed a three to make the score 18-7 Eagles.
Whitko's shooting stayed cold in the second quarter. After making just 1 of 4 baskets in the first period, the Wildcats made just 3 of 8 in the second period, giving Columbia City a 29-14 lead at the half.
After the halftime rest-and-regroup period, Whitko came out with new life. Frantz hit the first basket of the half, but Sheckler returned the favor with a score of his own.
Then Whitko senior Brad Walpole hit another Wildcat basket. And again Sheckler answered with a shot of his own.
The Wildcats and Eagles continued that way through the end of the third quarter, trading baskets the entire way. Whitko ended up scoring 11 points to Columbia City's nine, but the Eagles still held a 38-25 lead after three quarters of play.
Things got a bit more interesting in the fourth quarter.
Whitko's John Woods captured the first basket of the fourth frame, and Columbia City's Gardner followed up with a basket and the ensuing free throw for a three-point play. Then Walpole hit a basket and a free throw for another three-point conversion.
Sheckler scored once again, restoring the 13-point Eagle lead at 43-30, but Whitko was not ready to say die.
By the 2:33 mark, Walpole, Frantz and Day helped Whitko outscore Columbia City 9-1 and cut the Eagle lead to single digits at 44-39.
However, the Eagle offense got back on track and outscored Whitko 7-0 in the final two minutes of play to get the 51-39 season opening win.
Sheckler led all scorers with 22 points, but Whitko saw three players in double figures. Alex Frantz netted 12 points, while Walpole and Day chipped in 10 points each.
John Woods pulled down five rebounds for Whitko, while Frantz and Day nabbed three each.
The Wildcats (0-1) open their home season Saturday when they host Homestead. Columbia City (1-0) makes the trip to the Tiger Den to face off against Warsaw Saturday night.
COLUMBIA CITY 51, WHITKO 39
Whitko 4 10 11 14 - 39
Col. City 14 15 9 13 - 51
Whitko FG FT R S Pts.
Walter (G) 0-1 0-0 0 0 0
Coble (G) 1-4 0-0 2 0 2
Walpole (G) 2-5 6-7 1 1 10
Frantz (F) 5-10 2-2 3 0 12
Woods (F) 2-6 1-2 5 0 5
Day 2-5 4-5 3 1 10
Feldman 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Wendel 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Shepherd 0-0 0-0 1 0 0
Totals 12-31 13-16 15 2 39
Col. City FG FT R S Pts.
S. Moore (G) 1-6 1-3 0 2 3
Boylan (F) 3-8 1-4 5 0 8
M. Moore (G) 2-7 1-2 0 2 5
Gardner (F) 2-4 3-3 3 1 8
Sheckler (F) 9-11 4-4 5 0 22
Briggs 1-1 0-0 1 1 2
Howard 0-0 0-0 1 0 0
Shively 1-2 0-0 0 0 3
King 0-0 0-0 1 0 0
Buchanan 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Totals 17-35 10-13 16 6 51
Three-point goals - Whitko 2-10 (Walter 01, Coble 0-3, Walpole 0-1, Frantz 0-1, Woods 0-1, Day 2-3), Columbia City 3-12 (S. Moore 0-3, Boylan 1-1, M. Moore 0-2, Gardner 1-2, Shively 1-1. Fouls - Whitko 18, Columbia City 14. Fouled out - Day. Turnovers -ÊWhitko 14, Columbia City 12.
JV -ÊColumbia City 50, Whitko 39
Whitko scorers -ÊAaron Wendel 3, Jason Woods 10, Corey Spangle 13, Mike Estep 2, Nate Alspaugh 4, Dan Rupley 7 [[In-content Ad]]
COLUMBIA CITY -ÊIt's the game every team has been waiting for - the season opener. Whitko traveled to county rival Columbia City Wednesday night and fell to the host Eagles 51-39.
Columbia City came out ready to play as Marcus Moore, Doug Sheckler and Wes Gardner netted the first seven points of the game.
At the 4:05 mark, Whitko's Alex Frantz ended the Wildcats scoring drought by draining a two-point basket to make the score 7-2.
However, Columbia City was not about to give in. The Eagles held Whitko to just two more points in the quarter and took a 14-4 advantage into the second half.
Columbia City's scoring runs continued in the second frame. Scott Moore and Sheckler hit the first two baskets of the second frame before Whitko junior Derrick Day nailed a three to make the score 18-7 Eagles.
Whitko's shooting stayed cold in the second quarter. After making just 1 of 4 baskets in the first period, the Wildcats made just 3 of 8 in the second period, giving Columbia City a 29-14 lead at the half.
After the halftime rest-and-regroup period, Whitko came out with new life. Frantz hit the first basket of the half, but Sheckler returned the favor with a score of his own.
Then Whitko senior Brad Walpole hit another Wildcat basket. And again Sheckler answered with a shot of his own.
The Wildcats and Eagles continued that way through the end of the third quarter, trading baskets the entire way. Whitko ended up scoring 11 points to Columbia City's nine, but the Eagles still held a 38-25 lead after three quarters of play.
Things got a bit more interesting in the fourth quarter.
Whitko's John Woods captured the first basket of the fourth frame, and Columbia City's Gardner followed up with a basket and the ensuing free throw for a three-point play. Then Walpole hit a basket and a free throw for another three-point conversion.
Sheckler scored once again, restoring the 13-point Eagle lead at 43-30, but Whitko was not ready to say die.
By the 2:33 mark, Walpole, Frantz and Day helped Whitko outscore Columbia City 9-1 and cut the Eagle lead to single digits at 44-39.
However, the Eagle offense got back on track and outscored Whitko 7-0 in the final two minutes of play to get the 51-39 season opening win.
Sheckler led all scorers with 22 points, but Whitko saw three players in double figures. Alex Frantz netted 12 points, while Walpole and Day chipped in 10 points each.
John Woods pulled down five rebounds for Whitko, while Frantz and Day nabbed three each.
The Wildcats (0-1) open their home season Saturday when they host Homestead. Columbia City (1-0) makes the trip to the Tiger Den to face off against Warsaw Saturday night.
COLUMBIA CITY 51, WHITKO 39
Whitko 4 10 11 14 - 39
Col. City 14 15 9 13 - 51
Whitko FG FT R S Pts.
Walter (G) 0-1 0-0 0 0 0
Coble (G) 1-4 0-0 2 0 2
Walpole (G) 2-5 6-7 1 1 10
Frantz (F) 5-10 2-2 3 0 12
Woods (F) 2-6 1-2 5 0 5
Day 2-5 4-5 3 1 10
Feldman 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Wendel 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Shepherd 0-0 0-0 1 0 0
Totals 12-31 13-16 15 2 39
Col. City FG FT R S Pts.
S. Moore (G) 1-6 1-3 0 2 3
Boylan (F) 3-8 1-4 5 0 8
M. Moore (G) 2-7 1-2 0 2 5
Gardner (F) 2-4 3-3 3 1 8
Sheckler (F) 9-11 4-4 5 0 22
Briggs 1-1 0-0 1 1 2
Howard 0-0 0-0 1 0 0
Shively 1-2 0-0 0 0 3
King 0-0 0-0 1 0 0
Buchanan 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Totals 17-35 10-13 16 6 51
Three-point goals - Whitko 2-10 (Walter 01, Coble 0-3, Walpole 0-1, Frantz 0-1, Woods 0-1, Day 2-3), Columbia City 3-12 (S. Moore 0-3, Boylan 1-1, M. Moore 0-2, Gardner 1-2, Shively 1-1. Fouls - Whitko 18, Columbia City 14. Fouled out - Day. Turnovers -ÊWhitko 14, Columbia City 12.
JV -ÊColumbia City 50, Whitko 39
Whitko scorers -ÊAaron Wendel 3, Jason Woods 10, Corey Spangle 13, Mike Estep 2, Nate Alspaugh 4, Dan Rupley 7 [[In-content Ad]]