Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WAWASEE AT FAIRFIELD
Tip-off: 6:15 p.m. today in Goshen
Coaches: Robb Berger (Wawasee), Scott Miller (Fairfield)
Records: Wawasee 0-0, Fairfield 0-0
1998-1999 Records: Wawasee 1-21, Fairfield 18-6
Last year: Fairfield 65, Wawasee 60
Matchup: Wawasee is hoping to forget last year's 1-21 season when the only Warrior victory came in their first-round sectional game. However, this year Wawasee has a new coach, Robb Berger, at the helm. The Warriors have six lettermen returning from last year's squad. Jeremy High, a 6-2 senior, averaged 8.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game last year and returns to lead this year's squad. Also returning are R.J. Wilson, Brian Adkins, Drew Gradle, Andrew Packer and Cameron Beer. High, Wilson, Adkins, Gradle and Packer will be the starting five for the Warriors. Farifield is coming off an 18-6 season last year. Ryan Thwaits, the top Falcon player, returns after a successful season last year. Thwaits averaged 16.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. Chad Garber, Matt Schultz, Ben Bernaert and Josh Walter all return for the Fairfield squad and are expected to start with Thwaits for the Falcons.
Berger: "Fairfield has one of the top players in the area in Ryan Twaits. They are an experienced team that is scrappy and plays hard. We want to play our game and dictate the tempo offensively and defensively. We want to get open shots and take them."
Miller: "We are expecting to see a lot of full-court press and fast breaks from Wawasee. They will use a lot of man-to-man and screen techniques, and we are trying to prepare for that. The key will be not making mistakes. It is the first game of the season and there will be mistakes. I think the team that makes the least mistakes will be the team that comes out with the win."
WARSAW AT TIPPECANOE VALLEY
Tip-off: 6:15 p.m. Wednesday in Akron
Coaches: Al Rhodes (Warsaw), Bill Patrick (Valley)
Records: Warsaw 0-0; Valley 0-0
1998-1999 records: Warsaw 18-4, Tippecanoe Valley 14-7
Last year: Warsaw 75, Tippecanoe Valley 57
Matchup: Many coaches in the area feel this is the best team for Warsaw in recent years. The Warsaw Tigers return four of five starters from last year. Three of those starters, Steve Siebenmorgen, Chris Wiggins and Zach Nelson, averaged in double figures. Seibenmorgen added 14.7 to the offense while Wiggins added 14.1 and Nelson 11.1 points per game. The fourth returning senior, Ross Kesler, will not be starting the first few games for Warsaw because of a back injury. The slated starting five for the Tigers will be Siebenmorgen, Nelson, Wiggins, Chris Rhodes and Brad Seiss. Tippecanoe Valley will be looking to pull a team together after injuries and graduation claimed several players from last season's team. Craig Kuhn was expected to start at the center position until he injured his knee playing football this fall. Valley junior forward Cody New is suspended and will not play this game. Brandon Eaton will be returning after averaging 16.3 points per game and 3.5 rebounds per game last year. Look to Eaton and Dax Snyder to be the starting forwards, while Noah Silveus and Anthony Domenico will play the guard positions. Justin Ross will start at center for the Vikings.
Rhodes: "I think we always start with the great coaching job (Bill) Patrick does with his teams. They have not played any games, so that makes scouting them difficult. We are basically looking at what Patrick's teams have done in the past. It is early in the season, and we are going to worry about our own team. We are going to try to do the right things and get it done offensively and defensively."
Patrick: "Obviously, Warsaw is a very good team. They have four of their starters back from last year. They have everything they need for a great basketball team: size, experience and probably one of the best coaches in the state. This is one of the best teams Warsaw has had in years. They will probably compete in the state championship, and they should win it based on talent. They will be by far the best team we will play all season."
COLUMBIA CITY AT WHITKO
Tip-off: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in South Whitley
Coaches: Chris Benedict (Columbia City), Steve Pickett (Whitko)
Records: Columbia City 0-0, Whitko 0-0
1998-1999 records: Columbia City 8-12, Whitko 6-15
Last year: Columbia City 61, Whitko 47
Matchup: Columbia City has four lettermen returning from last year. Mike Schumaker, who averaged 9.0 points per game last year, returns along with Tim Schmitt, Sean Boylan and Lewis Fuller. Expect to see Schumaker, Schmitt, Fuller, Boylan and Joe Roth as the starting five. With new coach Steve Pickett, Whitko is hoping to turn around last year's 6-15 record. Ben Ryan, a 6-4 junior, and Shane Henderson, a 6-2 senior, return from last year's varsity squad. Ryan averaged 9.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, while Henderson averaged 6.0 points per game for the Wildcats. Joining Ryan and Henderson on the starting five will be Bryan Howard, J.R. Manuel and Brandon Waller.
Pickett: "First of all, I know Columbia City is a well-coached team. This is Coach (Chris) Benedict's fourth year, and the guys know what he expects and what to do to meet those expectations. At first they are going to push the ball up and down the court and try to get some easy baskets for some quick scores. Then they will be patient. They will screen and rescreen and get the best shots they can. We are an inexperienced team, and any time you are inexperienced, you have to work to overcome that."
Benedict: "When it's early in the season, you really play against yourself. We are figuring out what works for us and putting practice to work. Now it's a game situation where we get to play someone else. We will work on improving ourselves. Whitko has two guys returning, Ryan and Henderson, who got a lot of varsity play. With a coaching change, they will probably come in upbeat with enthusiasm. They will be ready to play tough. This is a big county rivalry, and it should be a good game."
