Whitko Too Much For Squires
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Cliff Tanner-
The Wildcats raced out to an 11-0 lead and cruised to 66-41 win over conference rival Manchester.[[In-content Ad]]If Whitko wins at Tippecanoe Valley Saturday night, the Wildcats will earn a share of the TRC title with Rochester (6-1) and possibly North Miami.
Both Whitko and North Miami are 5-1 in the TRC. North Miami finishes its TRC schedule by hosting Northfield Feb. 21.
With Thursday's win, the Wildcats improved to 11-4 overall, while the Manchester Squires fell to 2-14 overall and 0-6 in the TRC.
Whitko coach Rob Irwin started the game with seniors Todd Reed, Kaden Krull and Ryan Brumbaugh.
"I can't say enough about our seniors," said Irwin. "I have had these guys since I came here four years ago and our goal was to put Whitko back on the TRC map and win the title. We have a chance to do that."
The Wildcat defense held Manchester to 15 points in the first half, including just six points in the second quarter. Whitko went into the locker room with a 51-15 lead.
"I have to give credit to Whitko," said Manchester coach Gary Goshert. "This is the best team they have had in a long time. They play with confidence and they just take you out of your game plan."
Reed scored 13 points the final home game of his career, shooting 3 of 5 from the field and converting all six of his free throw attempts. Reed scored all of his points in the second quarter.
"Our goal was to come in and win tonight," said Irwin. "We took control of the game early and pretty much had the game won in the first half."
Logan Irwin scored the first six points for the Wildcats and finished with 17 points on a 6-of-7 effort from the field, including a 3-of-4 performance from three-point range.
Whitko played without Nick Metzger, another senior and a top scorer for the team. Metzger left the team due to differences in opinions.
Whitko's huge lead at halftime allowed Irwin to play all of his bench players. Zac VanDeWater came off the bench to score 11 points, all in the first half. VanDeWater also had two blocked shots, two steals and three rebounds.
"We are a young team and we need to learn to play as a team," said Goshert. "Whitko pretty much had the game in hand at halftime. I am proud of the guys in the second half. Defensively, we kind of corralled them a little better. We had some good spurts in the second half."
Krull finished his final home game with seven points. He also had four blocked shots and seven rebounds.
"Our seniors have been good all year," said Irwin. "Kaden came to us and could barely hit a left- or right-handed layup and now he is playing college ball next year. Todd shot the lights out tonight and he wants to play college ball and hopefully someone will pick him up. Ryan has stepped up as the vocal leader of this team. He will probably play football somewhere."
Manchester held Whitko to five points in the third quarter and just 15 in the second half.
Whitko finished the game 22 of 42 from the field.
Ryan Binkley scored 12 points for the Squires and added four rebounds in the losing cause.
Zach Lybarger came off the bench for the Squires and scored 12 points, all in the second half.
WHITKO 66, MANCHESTER 41
M 9 6 13 13 - 41
W 26 25 5 10 - 66
Manchester - Binkley 4 2-5 12, Lahman 0 1-2 1, Jenks 2 0-0 5, Baker 1 7-10 9, Dingess 1 0-0 2, Lybarger 2 6-7 12 Totals 11 16-24 41.
Whitko - Irwin 6 2-2 17, Yeager 1 0-1 3, VanDeWater 4 2-2 11, Reed 3 6-6 13, Lepper 3 0-0 6, Bumbaugh 1 2-3 4, Elder 1 2-2 4, Ka. Krull 3 1-2 7, Ko. Krull 0 0-0 0, Weigold 0 0-0 0, Busz 0 1-3 1. Totals 22 16-22 66
Three point goals - Manchester 4 (Lybarger 2, Binkley, Jenks), Whitko 5 (Irwin 3, VanDeWater, Reed). Rebounds - Manchester 24, (Baker 7), Whitko 28 (Ka. Krull 7). Turnovers - Manchester 17, Whitko 14. Total fouls - Manchester 15, Whitko 20. Fouled out - Reed. Records: Manchester 2-14, 0-6 TRC, Whitko 11-4, 5-1 TRC.
The Wildcats raced out to an 11-0 lead and cruised to 66-41 win over conference rival Manchester.[[In-content Ad]]If Whitko wins at Tippecanoe Valley Saturday night, the Wildcats will earn a share of the TRC title with Rochester (6-1) and possibly North Miami.
Both Whitko and North Miami are 5-1 in the TRC. North Miami finishes its TRC schedule by hosting Northfield Feb. 21.
With Thursday's win, the Wildcats improved to 11-4 overall, while the Manchester Squires fell to 2-14 overall and 0-6 in the TRC.
Whitko coach Rob Irwin started the game with seniors Todd Reed, Kaden Krull and Ryan Brumbaugh.
"I can't say enough about our seniors," said Irwin. "I have had these guys since I came here four years ago and our goal was to put Whitko back on the TRC map and win the title. We have a chance to do that."
The Wildcat defense held Manchester to 15 points in the first half, including just six points in the second quarter. Whitko went into the locker room with a 51-15 lead.
"I have to give credit to Whitko," said Manchester coach Gary Goshert. "This is the best team they have had in a long time. They play with confidence and they just take you out of your game plan."
Reed scored 13 points the final home game of his career, shooting 3 of 5 from the field and converting all six of his free throw attempts. Reed scored all of his points in the second quarter.
"Our goal was to come in and win tonight," said Irwin. "We took control of the game early and pretty much had the game won in the first half."
Logan Irwin scored the first six points for the Wildcats and finished with 17 points on a 6-of-7 effort from the field, including a 3-of-4 performance from three-point range.
Whitko played without Nick Metzger, another senior and a top scorer for the team. Metzger left the team due to differences in opinions.
Whitko's huge lead at halftime allowed Irwin to play all of his bench players. Zac VanDeWater came off the bench to score 11 points, all in the first half. VanDeWater also had two blocked shots, two steals and three rebounds.
"We are a young team and we need to learn to play as a team," said Goshert. "Whitko pretty much had the game in hand at halftime. I am proud of the guys in the second half. Defensively, we kind of corralled them a little better. We had some good spurts in the second half."
Krull finished his final home game with seven points. He also had four blocked shots and seven rebounds.
"Our seniors have been good all year," said Irwin. "Kaden came to us and could barely hit a left- or right-handed layup and now he is playing college ball next year. Todd shot the lights out tonight and he wants to play college ball and hopefully someone will pick him up. Ryan has stepped up as the vocal leader of this team. He will probably play football somewhere."
Manchester held Whitko to five points in the third quarter and just 15 in the second half.
Whitko finished the game 22 of 42 from the field.
Ryan Binkley scored 12 points for the Squires and added four rebounds in the losing cause.
Zach Lybarger came off the bench for the Squires and scored 12 points, all in the second half.
WHITKO 66, MANCHESTER 41
M 9 6 13 13 - 41
W 26 25 5 10 - 66
Manchester - Binkley 4 2-5 12, Lahman 0 1-2 1, Jenks 2 0-0 5, Baker 1 7-10 9, Dingess 1 0-0 2, Lybarger 2 6-7 12 Totals 11 16-24 41.
Whitko - Irwin 6 2-2 17, Yeager 1 0-1 3, VanDeWater 4 2-2 11, Reed 3 6-6 13, Lepper 3 0-0 6, Bumbaugh 1 2-3 4, Elder 1 2-2 4, Ka. Krull 3 1-2 7, Ko. Krull 0 0-0 0, Weigold 0 0-0 0, Busz 0 1-3 1. Totals 22 16-22 66
Three point goals - Manchester 4 (Lybarger 2, Binkley, Jenks), Whitko 5 (Irwin 3, VanDeWater, Reed). Rebounds - Manchester 24, (Baker 7), Whitko 28 (Ka. Krull 7). Turnovers - Manchester 17, Whitko 14. Total fouls - Manchester 15, Whitko 20. Fouled out - Reed. Records: Manchester 2-14, 0-6 TRC, Whitko 11-4, 5-1 TRC.
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