Whitko Girls Win First TRC Title
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Staff Report-
In a low scoring affair, the Wildcats' varsity girls basketball team picked up a 36-26 road win over the North Miami Warriors. The win eclipses Whitko's 1994 win total of 14, leaving the the Wildcats with a 15-5 mark going into sectional sectional play.[[In-content Ad]]On top of setting a new school record for wins in a season, Whitko also claimed its first ever Three Rivers Conference title, winning the game between previously unbeaten conference teams.
"It was fitting that both milestones happened at the same time," Whitko coach Rob Bell said. "The 15 wins are an all-time high for the girls program, dating back 32 years, as was the first conference title."
In a game matching teams with 6-0 TRC records, the two sides played that way through three quarters, allowing North Miami to hold a 21-19 lead going into the fourth. But then, like they've done many times this season, the Wildcats had a big fourth quarter, outscoring the Warriors 17-5, leading to the 36-26 win.
In that fourth quarter, Whitko junior Ashley Hoopingarner scored seven of her game-high 13 points, while seniors Veronica Jersey and Jennaca Juillerat each hit four free throws.
Clutch free throw shooting down the stretch ensured all the Whitko fans who made the hour-long drive got their money's worth.
"The atmosphere was awesome," Bell said. "The girls make fun of me for saying 'awesome' all the time, but I can't think of another word for it. It was a sectional atmosphere. Our fans filled three-quarters of the gym and it was perfect for our girls. The kids fed off that."
On the season, North Miami averaged 52 points a game, so the staunch Wildcats' defense did its part. On top of leading the game in scoring, Hoopingarner also posted a team-high four steals, the same amount as Jersey. Senior Jamie Westness led Whitko with nine rebounds in the game and junior Emily Bidwell grabbed six.
During a summer retreat, Bell and his players drew out goals, with both the win total and conference title being named among them.
"I can't express how proud I am of the girls," Bell said. "They worked so hard for this."
With new regular season records set, Whitko will now turn its attention to the postseason, where they'll face a TRC team in the opening round. Whitko and Tippecanoe Valley will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the NorthWood Sectional.
WHITKO 36, N. MIAMI 26
W 6 6 7 17 - 36
NM 9 1 11 5 - 26
Whitko - Hoopingarner 5 2-2 13, Shepherd 0 0-0 0, VanHoozen 1 0-0 2, Westness 0 1-2 1, Jersey 0 4-4 4, Juillerat 3 4-4 10, Stephens 1 0-0 2, Studebaker 0 0-0 0, Bidwell 1 2-3 4. Totals 10 13-15 36.
North Miami - Burrus 4 1-1 11, Morris 0 1-2 1, A. Mathias 4 0-2 9, Weisend 1 0-1 3, B. Mathias 1 0-0 2, Miller 0 0-0 0, Worden 0 0-2 0, Kraning 0 0-0 0. Totals 10 2-8 26.
3-point goals - Whitko 1 (Hoopingarner), North Miami 4 (Burrus 2, A. Mathias, Weisend). Team Fouls - Whitko 11, North Miami 12. Turnovers - Whitko 11. Rebounds - Whitko 23 (Westness 9, Bidwell 6). Assists - Whitko 9 (Westness 3, Jersey 3). Steals - Whitko 13 (Hoopingarner 4, Jersey 4). Records - Whitko 15-5 (7-0 TRC), North Miami 15-3 (6-1 TRC).
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In a low scoring affair, the Wildcats' varsity girls basketball team picked up a 36-26 road win over the North Miami Warriors. The win eclipses Whitko's 1994 win total of 14, leaving the the Wildcats with a 15-5 mark going into sectional sectional play.[[In-content Ad]]On top of setting a new school record for wins in a season, Whitko also claimed its first ever Three Rivers Conference title, winning the game between previously unbeaten conference teams.
"It was fitting that both milestones happened at the same time," Whitko coach Rob Bell said. "The 15 wins are an all-time high for the girls program, dating back 32 years, as was the first conference title."
In a game matching teams with 6-0 TRC records, the two sides played that way through three quarters, allowing North Miami to hold a 21-19 lead going into the fourth. But then, like they've done many times this season, the Wildcats had a big fourth quarter, outscoring the Warriors 17-5, leading to the 36-26 win.
In that fourth quarter, Whitko junior Ashley Hoopingarner scored seven of her game-high 13 points, while seniors Veronica Jersey and Jennaca Juillerat each hit four free throws.
Clutch free throw shooting down the stretch ensured all the Whitko fans who made the hour-long drive got their money's worth.
"The atmosphere was awesome," Bell said. "The girls make fun of me for saying 'awesome' all the time, but I can't think of another word for it. It was a sectional atmosphere. Our fans filled three-quarters of the gym and it was perfect for our girls. The kids fed off that."
On the season, North Miami averaged 52 points a game, so the staunch Wildcats' defense did its part. On top of leading the game in scoring, Hoopingarner also posted a team-high four steals, the same amount as Jersey. Senior Jamie Westness led Whitko with nine rebounds in the game and junior Emily Bidwell grabbed six.
During a summer retreat, Bell and his players drew out goals, with both the win total and conference title being named among them.
"I can't express how proud I am of the girls," Bell said. "They worked so hard for this."
With new regular season records set, Whitko will now turn its attention to the postseason, where they'll face a TRC team in the opening round. Whitko and Tippecanoe Valley will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the NorthWood Sectional.
WHITKO 36, N. MIAMI 26
W 6 6 7 17 - 36
NM 9 1 11 5 - 26
Whitko - Hoopingarner 5 2-2 13, Shepherd 0 0-0 0, VanHoozen 1 0-0 2, Westness 0 1-2 1, Jersey 0 4-4 4, Juillerat 3 4-4 10, Stephens 1 0-0 2, Studebaker 0 0-0 0, Bidwell 1 2-3 4. Totals 10 13-15 36.
North Miami - Burrus 4 1-1 11, Morris 0 1-2 1, A. Mathias 4 0-2 9, Weisend 1 0-1 3, B. Mathias 1 0-0 2, Miller 0 0-0 0, Worden 0 0-2 0, Kraning 0 0-0 0. Totals 10 2-8 26.
3-point goals - Whitko 1 (Hoopingarner), North Miami 4 (Burrus 2, A. Mathias, Weisend). Team Fouls - Whitko 11, North Miami 12. Turnovers - Whitko 11. Rebounds - Whitko 23 (Westness 9, Bidwell 6). Assists - Whitko 9 (Westness 3, Jersey 3). Steals - Whitko 13 (Hoopingarner 4, Jersey 4). Records - Whitko 15-5 (7-0 TRC), North Miami 15-3 (6-1 TRC).
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