Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
MANCHESTER AT WAWASEE
Tipoff: 6:15 p.m. Saturday
Coaches: Gary Goshert (Manchester), Robb Berger (Wawasee)
Record: Manchester 6-8, Wawasee 3-10
Last Game: T. Valley 55, Manchester 44; Wawasee 55, East Noble 52
Last Year: Manchester 57, Wawasee 39
Matchup: Manchester coach Gary Goshert is 2-1 against the school he coached at for 10 years. The Squires are trying to snap a five-game skid. At one point, Manchester was 6-3. Lee Shafer spearheads the Manchester offensive attack with his 13.6 points per game average. David Bazzoni and Anthony Frieden add 10.6 and 8.8 points, respectively, per contest. Senior Jeremy High leads the Warriors with 14.4 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. Five other Warriors average between 5.0 and 6.0 points.
Goshert: "They have some tendencies, every team has tendencies, and theirs is full-court pressure and half-court zone. The thing they've improved the most on is the offensive end of the floor. Taking care of the ball will be important. We have to be able to handle the ball against their pressure. Defensively, we have to know where R.J. Wilson is, and Jeremy High is a good shooter who is good at working with his back to the basket. Their guards are getting better and better all the time. Their kids are stepping forward and they go eight or nine deep. That's all very important in the way they play."
Berger: "They are a very well-coached team. They're very multiple. They can do a lot of things offensively and defensively. Sometimes we don't play real well with teams that change defenses. We have to come back and play well after a big conference game."
LAKELAND AT No. 7 (3A) NORTHWOOD
Tipoff: 6:15 p.m. Saturday in NorthWood
Coaches: Tim Sirk (Lakeland), Dan Gunn (NorthWood)
Records: Lakeland 14-2, NorthWood 10-3
Last Game: Lakeland 71, Central Noble 39
Last Year: Lakeland 67, NorthWood 62
Matchup: This is could be just the first meeting of these teams this season. NorthWood is ranked No. 7 in 3A, while Lakeland is No. 11. These teams play in the same sectional, and depending on the draw, could meet again in the tournament. Senior Charlie Roeder paces the Panther offense with nearly 18 points per contest. He also pulls down 6.5 boards per game. Senior Brock Doty chips in with 15.4 points per contest. The Lakers are led in the scoring column by twin brothers Josh and Jerod Weimer. Josh averages 15.9 points per game, while Jarod adds 12.5. Mitch Todd chips in with 10.5 points per contest. Jerod and Nathan Romer average 4.0 rebounds per game each.
Sirk: "I just think they are big and strong and rebound so well. They're very agressive on offense and very agressive on defense. They run their sets well. They are a very good team. They are a very good team at home. All these things add up to them being a very good team. But I think we're a good team too. I think we're a good team on the road and we'll be ready to play them."
Gunn: "Lakeland is a very good team. They're unique in the fact that all five of their starters are scorers and they've had a tremendous season so far. They're a future sectional opponent."
