Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - Wawasee got some much needed help on Friday night in the form of senior guard Narron Graves. After starting the season 0-4, the Warriors put Graves in the lineup for the first time this year as a starter, and he responded with 15 points and six steals as the Warriors defeated Tippecanoe Valley 66-52.
Graves' 15 points came on 7 of 8 shooting, including a three-pointer. He created havoc on the Valley guards all night, batting and stealing balls the entire game. Along with Jay Haugh and Jared Mahnensmith, the threesome made for a potent guard combination that kept the Vikings at bay for most of the game.
"It's nice to get (the first win) out of the way," Wawasee head coach Jerry Davis said. "Our kids worked real hard this week in practice. We got some easy baskets tonight which is something we haven't gotten lately."
Wawasee put the game away in the last half of the third quarter with 12 straight points. After a JayDee Parker layup cut the Wawasee lead to 39-33 with 3:40 to play, the guards took over.
Haugh scored six points on a field goal and four free throws, and Mahnensmith added a layup as the lead ballooned to 18 points at 51-33. Valley's Maurice Looman scored on a field goal to finish the third quarter scoring and make it 51-35.
In the fourth quarter, Wawasee jumped out to a 20-point lead at 57-37 before one last Valley comeback attempt. The Vikings scored nine consecutive points to get to within 11 points, but the Warriors made their free throws down the stretch to hold on for the win.
Brody Stipp had 11 points and six rebounds inside for the Warriors. Wawasee sizzled from the field, shooting 56 percent for the game.
Brandon Eaton had a solid game for Valley with 17 points, 14 in the fourth quarter, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals. He was 5 of 9 from the field and made all six of his free throw attempts.
Parker put together another good game for the Vikings with 15 points on 7 of 11 shooting and six rebounds. Outside of those two players, Valley shot a measly 29 percent from the field.
Turnovers were costly for Valley again. The Vikings had 24 and forced just 16 for the game.
"We have inexperienced ball handlers," Valley head coach Gregg Sciarra said. "Whether they're sophomores or seniors, they're inexperienced ball handlers. We miss those people last year handling the ball - (Brian) Lenfestey and Darren Parker. That's the story of our season, and I didn't see anyone who really wanted to handle it. We turned a big game that could have been fairly close into a fiasco for us."
In the first quarter, Wawasee jumped out to a 7-2 lead, but Parker hit a layup and Eric Love knocked down a three-pointer to tie the game early. Another Love three-pointer later in the quarter gave the Vikings a 12-11 lead. However, Wawasee scored five straight to end the quarter to take a four-point advantage into the second quarter.
Wawasee built a 32-23 halftime lead as Graves and Bender each tallied six points in the second frame.
In the third quarter, Valley began to chip away at the lead and closed to 39-33 until the 12 point run that sealed the deal.
Wawasee (1-4, 0-1) will host South Bend Riley today. Valley (1-4, 1-1) will play in the Plymouth Tournament on Monday against Rochester.
