Wildcats Seek Revenge, Get Revenge

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By Jen Gibson, Times-Union Sports Writer-

NORTH MANCHESTER - Going into Thursday night's girls basketball game, Manchester and Whitko had similar records and the desire to win.

The 3-1 Squires were looking to improve their record and earn bragging rights over their Three Rivers Conference rival.

The 3-2 Wildcats were also looking to improve their record, but they felt they had something to prove to the Squires, who defeated them last year 56-52.

In the end, Whitko landed on top, beating Manchester 74-62 in a rough and physical basketball game.

"This is a bit of revenge for the loss last year," said Whitko coach Ray Davis.

A physical game from the first whistle, as six fouls were called in the first three minutes of play.

After the officials had set the tone for the game, both teams settled down for battle.

Manchester started the first quarter with a bang, taking a 4-0 lead with just over six minutes left in the quarter.

Success for the Squires was short-lived as BrieAnn Starkweather and Aly Frantz teamed up to score 17 points in the first frame as Whitko took an early 22-13 lead.

Behind 10 more points from Starkweather, Whitko then outscored Manchester in the second quarter 20-15 to give the Wildcats a 14-point lead at the half.

"In the first half we ran the floor well and got some easy buckets inside," said Davis.

As the teams hit the court after the half, the Squires were pumped and ready to play as they outscored the Wildcats 18-15 behind 12 points from sophomore forward Jessica Hicks.

With 2:16 left in the quarter, Stephanie Warner converted a three-point play after a basket and a foul.

Just 12 seconds later, Manchester's Ann Harms had the opportunity to convert for a three-point play but missed the free throw, making the score 55-40 with 2:04 to play.

Manchester then scored six more unanswered unanswered points to cut Whitko's lead to nine, but Whitko nailed a basket at the end of the quarter to make the score 57-46 in Whitko's favor going into the final frame.

"When we stopped running the ball, Manchester came back in the game," said Davis.

With 5:33 left in the game, Manchester cut Whitko's lead as the Squires scored two baskets in a row.

Megan Eckert was fouled as the second field goal fell through the next and had an opportunity to convert a three-point play. After the shot from the charity stripe went in and out of the basket, Manchester had cut the Whitko lead to seven.

Unfortunately for the Squires, they were unable to stop the Wildcat offense, and by the end of the game were behind by 12 points.

"We were inconsistent," said said Keri Nichols, Manchester's head coach. "We played well at times.

"At other times our defense lacked in effort."

As the final buzzer sounded, Whitko had defeated Manchester 74-62.

"We got into a hole that we couldn't get out of," said Nichols. "We went on a run, but it was too little, too late."

The Wildcats were led by Starkweather who was 3-4 from the charity stripe with 29 points.

Stephanie Warner came off the Whitko bench to score nine Wildcat points.

"I'm happy with Stephanie's performance tonight," said Davis. "She did quite a job on defense and boards tonight."

Jessica Hicks led the Manchester offensive attack with 27 points. Megan Eckert, Manchester's regular leading scorer, added 25 Squire points.

"Coming in, we knew Eckert was going to score points, there's no stopping her," said Davis. "We didn't want her to shoot over our 5'8 guard. We wanted to contain her as much as possible, and for the most part, we did that."

Whitko 74 Manchester 62

Whitko 22 20 15 17 - 74

Manchester 13 15 18 16 - 62

Whitko FG FT Pts.

*Osborn 0-1 1-2 1

*Sta. Warner 2-6 0-0 4

*Rowland 5-9 1-2 13

*Frantz 6-17 1-2 13

*Starkweather 13-18 3-4 29

Ste. Warner 3-4 3-5 9

Sands 0-0 0-0 0

Hoffman 1-2 0-0 2

Meadows 0-1 1-2 1

Badskey 0-0 0-0 0

Walter 0-0 0-0 0

Metzger 0-0 0-0 0

Manchester FG FT Pts.

*Wagoner 0-7 0-0 0

*Sell 0-2 1-2 1

*C. White 0-0 1-2 1

*Eckert 9-21 4-7 25

*Hicks 11-15 5-6 27

Harms 1-3 3-5 5

Brown 0-2 1-2 1

Terflinger 0-0 0-0 0

Keffaber 0-0 0-0 0

Jester 0-5 1-2 1

E. White 0-1 0-0 0

* = starters

Three-point goals - Whitko 2 (Rowland 2), Manchester 1 (Eckert). Rebounds -ÊNA. Assists - NA. Turnovers - NA. Fouls - Whitko 18, Manchester 19. Fouled out - Osborn, Sell. Technical Fouls - None.

JV Score - Whitko 38, Manchester 29 [[In-content Ad]]

NORTH MANCHESTER - Going into Thursday night's girls basketball game, Manchester and Whitko had similar records and the desire to win.

The 3-1 Squires were looking to improve their record and earn bragging rights over their Three Rivers Conference rival.

The 3-2 Wildcats were also looking to improve their record, but they felt they had something to prove to the Squires, who defeated them last year 56-52.

In the end, Whitko landed on top, beating Manchester 74-62 in a rough and physical basketball game.

"This is a bit of revenge for the loss last year," said Whitko coach Ray Davis.

A physical game from the first whistle, as six fouls were called in the first three minutes of play.

After the officials had set the tone for the game, both teams settled down for battle.

Manchester started the first quarter with a bang, taking a 4-0 lead with just over six minutes left in the quarter.

Success for the Squires was short-lived as BrieAnn Starkweather and Aly Frantz teamed up to score 17 points in the first frame as Whitko took an early 22-13 lead.

Behind 10 more points from Starkweather, Whitko then outscored Manchester in the second quarter 20-15 to give the Wildcats a 14-point lead at the half.

"In the first half we ran the floor well and got some easy buckets inside," said Davis.

As the teams hit the court after the half, the Squires were pumped and ready to play as they outscored the Wildcats 18-15 behind 12 points from sophomore forward Jessica Hicks.

With 2:16 left in the quarter, Stephanie Warner converted a three-point play after a basket and a foul.

Just 12 seconds later, Manchester's Ann Harms had the opportunity to convert for a three-point play but missed the free throw, making the score 55-40 with 2:04 to play.

Manchester then scored six more unanswered unanswered points to cut Whitko's lead to nine, but Whitko nailed a basket at the end of the quarter to make the score 57-46 in Whitko's favor going into the final frame.

"When we stopped running the ball, Manchester came back in the game," said Davis.

With 5:33 left in the game, Manchester cut Whitko's lead as the Squires scored two baskets in a row.

Megan Eckert was fouled as the second field goal fell through the next and had an opportunity to convert a three-point play. After the shot from the charity stripe went in and out of the basket, Manchester had cut the Whitko lead to seven.

Unfortunately for the Squires, they were unable to stop the Wildcat offense, and by the end of the game were behind by 12 points.

"We were inconsistent," said said Keri Nichols, Manchester's head coach. "We played well at times.

"At other times our defense lacked in effort."

As the final buzzer sounded, Whitko had defeated Manchester 74-62.

"We got into a hole that we couldn't get out of," said Nichols. "We went on a run, but it was too little, too late."

The Wildcats were led by Starkweather who was 3-4 from the charity stripe with 29 points.

Stephanie Warner came off the Whitko bench to score nine Wildcat points.

"I'm happy with Stephanie's performance tonight," said Davis. "She did quite a job on defense and boards tonight."

Jessica Hicks led the Manchester offensive attack with 27 points. Megan Eckert, Manchester's regular leading scorer, added 25 Squire points.

"Coming in, we knew Eckert was going to score points, there's no stopping her," said Davis. "We didn't want her to shoot over our 5'8 guard. We wanted to contain her as much as possible, and for the most part, we did that."

Whitko 74 Manchester 62

Whitko 22 20 15 17 - 74

Manchester 13 15 18 16 - 62

Whitko FG FT Pts.

*Osborn 0-1 1-2 1

*Sta. Warner 2-6 0-0 4

*Rowland 5-9 1-2 13

*Frantz 6-17 1-2 13

*Starkweather 13-18 3-4 29

Ste. Warner 3-4 3-5 9

Sands 0-0 0-0 0

Hoffman 1-2 0-0 2

Meadows 0-1 1-2 1

Badskey 0-0 0-0 0

Walter 0-0 0-0 0

Metzger 0-0 0-0 0

Manchester FG FT Pts.

*Wagoner 0-7 0-0 0

*Sell 0-2 1-2 1

*C. White 0-0 1-2 1

*Eckert 9-21 4-7 25

*Hicks 11-15 5-6 27

Harms 1-3 3-5 5

Brown 0-2 1-2 1

Terflinger 0-0 0-0 0

Keffaber 0-0 0-0 0

Jester 0-5 1-2 1

E. White 0-1 0-0 0

* = starters

Three-point goals - Whitko 2 (Rowland 2), Manchester 1 (Eckert). Rebounds -ÊNA. Assists - NA. Turnovers - NA. Fouls - Whitko 18, Manchester 19. Fouled out - Osborn, Sell. Technical Fouls - None.

JV Score - Whitko 38, Manchester 29 [[In-content Ad]]

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