Warriors Advance To Title Game; Down Lakers

March 7, 2020 at 5:16 a.m.
Warriors Advance To Title Game; Down Lakers
Warriors Advance To Title Game; Down Lakers

By Noah Tong-

NAPPANEE – Wawasee boys basketball, led by hot-shooting senior Austin Miller, took an early lead and never looked back, as they defeated Lakeland 56-45 in the Class 3A NorthWood boys basketball sectional Friday night.

After a timeout early in the third quarter where the Warriors led by just four points, Miller stepped up to hit two deep threes on consecutive possessions.

“That’s been all season long,” said Wawasee head coach Jon Everingham. “He’s come through in the clutch all year. Tonight on the biggest stage, as a senior at sectionals, it just doesn’t get bigger than that.”

“Those three-pointers he got were basically back-breakers for Lakeland.”

Miller went 11-of-15 from the field, and a devastating 5-of-5 from three-point land. He ended the playoff with 28 points, and was the biggest factor in Wawasee’s 12 points off turnovers.

Keaton Dukes helped overpower the Lakers with seven second-half points. Sophomore Jack Stover collected nine robounds off the glass.

Despite being underdogs on the night,  Juniors Brayden Bontrager and Bracey Shepherd  ensured the Lakers did not go away quietly. Bontrager finished the evening with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Shepherd recorded 21 points.

Kolton Taylor was the only other Laker to get on the scoresheet.

“You have to give credit to Lakeland,” said Everingham. “They’re a well-coached team, and I’ll tell you what, I did not expect their phyisicality. But I thought our kids responded well.”

The Warriors had just 10 turnovers, and they disrupted Lakeland’s bursts of momentum with careful ball-handling and backdoor passes. Starting guard Kameron Salazar had five assists.

They look to win their first sectional championship since 2010 as they face NorthWood (17-6) at 7 p.m. tonight.

“We need to be patient with the ball, and take good shots,” noted Everingham. “Their transition game is very dangerous.”

NAPPANEE – Wawasee boys basketball, led by hot-shooting senior Austin Miller, took an early lead and never looked back, as they defeated Lakeland 56-45 in the Class 3A NorthWood boys basketball sectional Friday night.

After a timeout early in the third quarter where the Warriors led by just four points, Miller stepped up to hit two deep threes on consecutive possessions.

“That’s been all season long,” said Wawasee head coach Jon Everingham. “He’s come through in the clutch all year. Tonight on the biggest stage, as a senior at sectionals, it just doesn’t get bigger than that.”

“Those three-pointers he got were basically back-breakers for Lakeland.”

Miller went 11-of-15 from the field, and a devastating 5-of-5 from three-point land. He ended the playoff with 28 points, and was the biggest factor in Wawasee’s 12 points off turnovers.

Keaton Dukes helped overpower the Lakers with seven second-half points. Sophomore Jack Stover collected nine robounds off the glass.

Despite being underdogs on the night,  Juniors Brayden Bontrager and Bracey Shepherd  ensured the Lakers did not go away quietly. Bontrager finished the evening with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Shepherd recorded 21 points.

Kolton Taylor was the only other Laker to get on the scoresheet.

“You have to give credit to Lakeland,” said Everingham. “They’re a well-coached team, and I’ll tell you what, I did not expect their phyisicality. But I thought our kids responded well.”

The Warriors had just 10 turnovers, and they disrupted Lakeland’s bursts of momentum with careful ball-handling and backdoor passes. Starting guard Kameron Salazar had five assists.

They look to win their first sectional championship since 2010 as they face NorthWood (17-6) at 7 p.m. tonight.

“We need to be patient with the ball, and take good shots,” noted Everingham. “Their transition game is very dangerous.”
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