Zolman Alright With Tough Sectional Draw
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Anthony [email protected]
“If you win it, it’s a good draw," he said. “If you lose it, it’s a terrible draw.”
Playing the sectional at NorthWood High School, Wawasee (2-16) begins play Wednesday against the host NorthWood Lady Panthers (16-5), who have won the past two sectional titles.
During the regular season, NorthWood dominated Wawasee on Jan. 11 in Nappanee, winning 72-31.
That victory was NorthWood’s fourth-straight over Wawasee since the Lady Warriors defeated NorthWood in the 2011 sectional title game at Columbia City, 24-23.
During the four-game stretch, NorthWood has been defeating Wawasee by an average of 32.3 points per game.
Despite the odds, Zolman is giving his squad a puncher’s chance.
“It’s the postseason and you just never know how kids are going to respond,” Zolman said. “We’ve been on both ends. We’ve been on the end where we were favored to win and got upset and we’ve been on the end where we weren’t supposed to do anything and upset them. That’s what the tournament presents to you. We don’t have to be as good as they are. We just have to be better one night.”
Experience will give NorthWood a major edge in the matchup, as they feature three seniors, including star guard Taylor Fielstra and stellar center Morgan Olson, while Wawasee has no seniors and just two juniors.
“Their experience is the No. 1 thing,” Zolman said. “With the team we have, experience has been our Achilles’ heel all year long. It’s a lack of experience, a lack of knowing what this all means. A lack of what knowing what each possession means. That experience factor just means a lot. We don’t have that and they have a tremendous amount of experience coming back.”
One of Wawasee’s most experienced players is sophomore Kylee Rostochak, who’s averaging 12.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game.
Also for Wawasee, freshman center Aubrey Schmeltz has averaged 6.4 points and 5.3 rebounds, while junior point guard is putting up 6.3 points, 2.8 assists and 2.6 steals per game.
With so much youth, Wawasee’s gotten just two wins this year, defeating South Bend Career Academy and Warsaw, and takes a 10-game losing streak into the sectional.
Those losses can carry some negative weight, but Zolman doesn’t want his girls to think it’s normal.
“We just hope this year is one where they don’t get used to losing,” he said. “I don’t want them to think this is just the way it is. I just want them to learn and get better with each game so next year is different.”
Losing is something that the NorthWood program definitely hasn't gotten used to, as head coach Steve Neff has had just one losing season in his 37 years at the helm of the team, that being a 9-12 squad in 1983.
Neff has 650 career wins going into the tournament, which will be his last as he’s stepping down once NorthWood’s postseason run is over.
“I’m sure they have a lot of motivation with the seniors and (Neff) going around for the last time,” Zolman said. “There’s a lot of motivation going for them, but at the same time, there’s a big weight on their backs too. That’s a lot of pressure to put on kids. It’s kind of a double-edged sword, but they have a lot going for them.”
Whoever wins the NorthWood/Wawasee game will face of the winner Wednesday’s 6 p.m. game between Fairfield and Tippecanoe Valley in Friday’s second semifinal game, scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
The top half of the bracket pits West Noble against Whitko on Tuesday, with the winner of that advancing to Friday’s 6 p.m. semifinal against Lakeland.
The championship game will then be Saturday at 7:30 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]
“If you win it, it’s a good draw," he said. “If you lose it, it’s a terrible draw.”
Playing the sectional at NorthWood High School, Wawasee (2-16) begins play Wednesday against the host NorthWood Lady Panthers (16-5), who have won the past two sectional titles.
During the regular season, NorthWood dominated Wawasee on Jan. 11 in Nappanee, winning 72-31.
That victory was NorthWood’s fourth-straight over Wawasee since the Lady Warriors defeated NorthWood in the 2011 sectional title game at Columbia City, 24-23.
During the four-game stretch, NorthWood has been defeating Wawasee by an average of 32.3 points per game.
Despite the odds, Zolman is giving his squad a puncher’s chance.
“It’s the postseason and you just never know how kids are going to respond,” Zolman said. “We’ve been on both ends. We’ve been on the end where we were favored to win and got upset and we’ve been on the end where we weren’t supposed to do anything and upset them. That’s what the tournament presents to you. We don’t have to be as good as they are. We just have to be better one night.”
Experience will give NorthWood a major edge in the matchup, as they feature three seniors, including star guard Taylor Fielstra and stellar center Morgan Olson, while Wawasee has no seniors and just two juniors.
“Their experience is the No. 1 thing,” Zolman said. “With the team we have, experience has been our Achilles’ heel all year long. It’s a lack of experience, a lack of knowing what this all means. A lack of what knowing what each possession means. That experience factor just means a lot. We don’t have that and they have a tremendous amount of experience coming back.”
One of Wawasee’s most experienced players is sophomore Kylee Rostochak, who’s averaging 12.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game.
Also for Wawasee, freshman center Aubrey Schmeltz has averaged 6.4 points and 5.3 rebounds, while junior point guard is putting up 6.3 points, 2.8 assists and 2.6 steals per game.
With so much youth, Wawasee’s gotten just two wins this year, defeating South Bend Career Academy and Warsaw, and takes a 10-game losing streak into the sectional.
Those losses can carry some negative weight, but Zolman doesn’t want his girls to think it’s normal.
“We just hope this year is one where they don’t get used to losing,” he said. “I don’t want them to think this is just the way it is. I just want them to learn and get better with each game so next year is different.”
Losing is something that the NorthWood program definitely hasn't gotten used to, as head coach Steve Neff has had just one losing season in his 37 years at the helm of the team, that being a 9-12 squad in 1983.
Neff has 650 career wins going into the tournament, which will be his last as he’s stepping down once NorthWood’s postseason run is over.
“I’m sure they have a lot of motivation with the seniors and (Neff) going around for the last time,” Zolman said. “There’s a lot of motivation going for them, but at the same time, there’s a big weight on their backs too. That’s a lot of pressure to put on kids. It’s kind of a double-edged sword, but they have a lot going for them.”
Whoever wins the NorthWood/Wawasee game will face of the winner Wednesday’s 6 p.m. game between Fairfield and Tippecanoe Valley in Friday’s second semifinal game, scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
The top half of the bracket pits West Noble against Whitko on Tuesday, with the winner of that advancing to Friday’s 6 p.m. semifinal against Lakeland.
The championship game will then be Saturday at 7:30 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]
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