Wildcats Top Tigers In OT
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Anthony [email protected]
In 2002, the Warsaw Tigers throttled the Whitko Wildcats 76-19, so Friday's 65-58 Whitko win in overtime was more than gratifying for the girls from South Whitley.[[In-content Ad]]A series that dates back to 1976, the Wildcats now have just three caree wins over Warsaw.
"This is the payoff of their hard work," second-year Whitko coach Rob Bell said. "Warsaw's a good program. They've been a good program, and to come into this place and pull this win off is huge."
After jumping out to an 8-0 lead in the first quarter, Whitko allowed Warsaw to come back, leading to a 44-32 deficit in the fourth. But down by 12, the Wildcats didn't give up, rallying to make a 9-0 run, eventually forcing an overtime period.
"Down 12 in the fourth quarter, they didn't give up," Bell said. "They put their heads down and played their defense. We said at the beginning of the year, we were going to be led by defense. And they did. I can not say how proud I am of them."
On defense, the Wildcats forced 19 turnovers, many helping the Wildcats score 21 fourth-quarter points, while Warsaw managed just 10 in the final stanza of regulation.
"We didn't do a good job of being strong with the ball, and at times, girls didn't come back for the ball either," Warsaw coach John Snyder said.
"We knew Whitko would be physical, and that caused us problems."
The most physical of the Wildcats may have been Ashley Hoopingarner. The junior applied pressure to the Warsaw backcourt all night, never allowing an inch, recording three steals to go with her 11 points.
"She had knee surgery (Nov. 14), and we missed her tremendously," Bell said of Whitko losses to Elmurst and Elkhart Memorial in her absence. "She's the point of our press and front of our pressure, as well as running our offense. She's got so much guts and heart. I didn't think there was any way she'd play this many minutes. When you look in her eyes, she's not gonna let you take her out."
Whitko was led in scoring by Amber Stephen's 14, with Jennaca Juillerat scoring 13 and Jamie Westness netting 10. Emily Bidwell also had 11 points and seven rebounds, playing limited minutes due to foul trouble.
"It just took us out of our comfort zone," Bell said of playing without Bidwell through the second and third quarters. "We're not using to not having her. We had people playing in different spots. So it was big to get Bidwell back in. Just to get her back in for them to worry about."
With Bidwell in the game, Whitko finally had someone to contend with Warsaw senior Kate Denlinger on the boards.
On the season, Denlinger is averaging 11.4 boards a game, and 17 against Whitko only helped that average.
"She was also guarding Westness, to go along with those rebounds," Snyder said of Denlinger's defense. "We just need to find someone else to step up for us and get rebounds."
To start the game, the visiting team appeared to be in total control, as Warsaw shot 0 for 9 from the field until junior Alex Glenn hit a shot at the 7:43 mark in the second quarter, scoring two of her game-high 17, the same as sophomore teammate Kelci Freds. From there, Warsaw found its groove, outscoring Whitko 41-24 in the second and third quarters. But up 43-32 going into fourth quarter, Whitko appeared to have a bigger sense of urgency.
"We had a chance to slam the door, but we just left it open," Snyder said.
And Whitko kicked that door down. Hoopingarner led the Wildcats in the fourth, scoring five of her team's 21 fourth-quarter points, eventually forcing overtime.
"Last year, had we been in that position, we probably would have folded, because we didn't have that maturity," Bell said of Whitko's comeback. "Our seniors came back and stepped up. All of the kids did. They had the confidence, and they knew they had worked too hard to let this slip away."
In overtime, Whitko didn't even need to hit a field goal, converting 12 of 15 free throws to take the win.
"Whitko's a very nice team," Snyder said. "Their girls really stepped up when the game was on the line. They did a real good job of fighting back, and I give them a lot of credit."
As well as being proud of his team, Bell also credited the Wildcat faithful with his team's success. Facing a double-digit deficit in the fourth, the Whitko fans seemed to claim the Tiger Den as their own, letting their girls know they were there.
"We have the best fans in the state," the Whitko coach said. "I'll put them up against anyone. Anywhere we go, we have as big a crowd, if not bigger, than the home team. And they're so loud. That was what led us to coming back. Their excitement led us."
In 2002, the Warsaw Tigers throttled the Whitko Wildcats 76-19, so Friday's 65-58 Whitko win in overtime was more than gratifying for the girls from South Whitley.[[In-content Ad]]A series that dates back to 1976, the Wildcats now have just three caree wins over Warsaw.
"This is the payoff of their hard work," second-year Whitko coach Rob Bell said. "Warsaw's a good program. They've been a good program, and to come into this place and pull this win off is huge."
After jumping out to an 8-0 lead in the first quarter, Whitko allowed Warsaw to come back, leading to a 44-32 deficit in the fourth. But down by 12, the Wildcats didn't give up, rallying to make a 9-0 run, eventually forcing an overtime period.
"Down 12 in the fourth quarter, they didn't give up," Bell said. "They put their heads down and played their defense. We said at the beginning of the year, we were going to be led by defense. And they did. I can not say how proud I am of them."
On defense, the Wildcats forced 19 turnovers, many helping the Wildcats score 21 fourth-quarter points, while Warsaw managed just 10 in the final stanza of regulation.
"We didn't do a good job of being strong with the ball, and at times, girls didn't come back for the ball either," Warsaw coach John Snyder said.
"We knew Whitko would be physical, and that caused us problems."
The most physical of the Wildcats may have been Ashley Hoopingarner. The junior applied pressure to the Warsaw backcourt all night, never allowing an inch, recording three steals to go with her 11 points.
"She had knee surgery (Nov. 14), and we missed her tremendously," Bell said of Whitko losses to Elmurst and Elkhart Memorial in her absence. "She's the point of our press and front of our pressure, as well as running our offense. She's got so much guts and heart. I didn't think there was any way she'd play this many minutes. When you look in her eyes, she's not gonna let you take her out."
Whitko was led in scoring by Amber Stephen's 14, with Jennaca Juillerat scoring 13 and Jamie Westness netting 10. Emily Bidwell also had 11 points and seven rebounds, playing limited minutes due to foul trouble.
"It just took us out of our comfort zone," Bell said of playing without Bidwell through the second and third quarters. "We're not using to not having her. We had people playing in different spots. So it was big to get Bidwell back in. Just to get her back in for them to worry about."
With Bidwell in the game, Whitko finally had someone to contend with Warsaw senior Kate Denlinger on the boards.
On the season, Denlinger is averaging 11.4 boards a game, and 17 against Whitko only helped that average.
"She was also guarding Westness, to go along with those rebounds," Snyder said of Denlinger's defense. "We just need to find someone else to step up for us and get rebounds."
To start the game, the visiting team appeared to be in total control, as Warsaw shot 0 for 9 from the field until junior Alex Glenn hit a shot at the 7:43 mark in the second quarter, scoring two of her game-high 17, the same as sophomore teammate Kelci Freds. From there, Warsaw found its groove, outscoring Whitko 41-24 in the second and third quarters. But up 43-32 going into fourth quarter, Whitko appeared to have a bigger sense of urgency.
"We had a chance to slam the door, but we just left it open," Snyder said.
And Whitko kicked that door down. Hoopingarner led the Wildcats in the fourth, scoring five of her team's 21 fourth-quarter points, eventually forcing overtime.
"Last year, had we been in that position, we probably would have folded, because we didn't have that maturity," Bell said of Whitko's comeback. "Our seniors came back and stepped up. All of the kids did. They had the confidence, and they knew they had worked too hard to let this slip away."
In overtime, Whitko didn't even need to hit a field goal, converting 12 of 15 free throws to take the win.
"Whitko's a very nice team," Snyder said. "Their girls really stepped up when the game was on the line. They did a real good job of fighting back, and I give them a lot of credit."
As well as being proud of his team, Bell also credited the Wildcat faithful with his team's success. Facing a double-digit deficit in the fourth, the Whitko fans seemed to claim the Tiger Den as their own, letting their girls know they were there.
"We have the best fans in the state," the Whitko coach said. "I'll put them up against anyone. Anywhere we go, we have as big a crowd, if not bigger, than the home team. And they're so loud. That was what led us to coming back. Their excitement led us."
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