Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SOUTH WHITLEY - The Wawasee boy's basketball team traveled to Whitko to face the Wildcats Saturday. The undefeated Warriors held off a fourth quarter challenge by the Wildcats to come away with a 61-44 win.
The Warriors, sparked by an early 7-2 run, jumped out to an 18-11 first quarter lead.
Joe Leach of Wawasee led all scorers by scoring ten points in the quarter. Brandon Gieger added five. A full court press was installed by the Warriors from the start, leading to turnovers by the Wildcats.
Whitko battled back a number of times in the first to keep the score close.
Cory Snep finished the first by going 2 of 2 from beyond the three point stripe. Camron Walter also added a three-point shot to keep the Warriors from running away with the game early.
"We have to stop spotting our opponents so many points to open the game," said first-year Whitko coach Rob Irwin. "We have proved that we can play with anybody so far this year, we just have to stop starting in a hole."
Wawasee coach Phil Mishler agreed.
"Coach Irwin has done a great job with these guys," Mishler said. "You have to believe in yourself to be able to play the way they did. They are coming along."
With the help of Andrew Mock, the Warriors increased the lead to 14 points at halftime.
Mock scored 11 of the team's 17 points in the second quarter. He was 4 of 6 from the field, including two three-pointers and was 1 of 2 from the line.
The Wildcats' Brad Smith overcame 0-of-5 shooting in the first quarter to lead the Whitko scorers with three points in the second with a three-point shot. Jeff Coats also added a three-point shot, with Snep and Trent Rowland each adding a field goal to the cause.
The third quarter for the Wilcats became an exciting one for the fans and players. Late in the third quarter, the Wildcats went on a run to pull the game to within 12 at 47-35. The Wildcats out scored the Warriors 14-12 in the quarter.
Smith led the Wildcat charge with two three-point field goals. He finished the third on 3-of-4 shooting for eight points. Others contributing two points were Coats, Walter and Andrew Warner.
Michael Conrad of Wawasee led the third-quarter scoring with seven points. He was 2 of 4 from the floor, including a three-pointer and was 2 of 2 from the charity stripe.
The Wildcats' Smith hit a three-point shot to pull them to within 10 with 6:32 left in the game, but Whitko never got any closer. With the teams trading baskets, and turnovers by Whitko, time was running out, forcing the Wildcats to foul.
"It seemed like we were within 10 points forever. As time was running off the clock we had to foul and they pulled away. We just could not capitalize on the opportunities when we had a chance," Irwin said.
Wawasee scored their final six points from the free throw line, coming away with the victory. Leach was 4 of 4 from the line to lead the Warriors. Mock and Conrad were 2 of 2 from the line down the stretch. Ten of the Warriors' final 14 points came from the charity stripe.
"We didn't do anything stupid or take any bad shots during their run. They just showed character and continued to play well," Mishler said.
Mishler continued, "It was nice the way the guys responded to a little adversity and came through in the end. The ball didn't seem to bounce our way or the calls go our way and they were hitting their shots."
Mock led all scorers with 15 points for the Warriors. Mock also had four steals to lead Wawasee. Leach contributed with three steals, six rebounds and 14 points. Conrad added 13 points and four steals. Gieger led all players with seven rebounds, while adding nine points.
"Our guys continued to play steady and didn't lose the patience and eventually it evened back out. A lot of times a young tem doesn't understand that and that is where our leadership came through tonight," said Mishler.
Whitko was led by Smith, who finished with 14 points, six rebounds and two steals. Snep added 10 points, including his two threes, and had two rebounds. Coats added seven points and Walter added five points to the total.
"I am proud of the kids, they come playing hard. We practiced with eight kids all week long. I told them tonight that they have to believe they can play with anybody, and once they figure that out we will play better. They continue to get better as time goes on. I think we will need to beat a couple of teams that maybe we shouldn't and that will help our confidence level," Irwin said.
"I give a lot of credit to our captains Andrew Mock and Michael Conrad in their leadership. Our fifth man, Andrew Gieger, really came in and has been hampered by some knee problems. He came in and played pretty well tonight for us," Mishler said.
Whitko hosts West Noble Tuesday, while Wawasee plays at rival Warsaw Friday in the Northern Lakes Conference opener.
WAWASEE 61, WHITKO 44
Waw 17 18 12 14 - 61
Whi 11 10 14 9 - 44
Wawasee -ÊMock 5 4-4 1, Conrad 3 4-6 11, Leach 4 6-6 14, Adams 1 0-0 2, Geiger 3 4-5 10, Zimmerman 4 0-0 8. Totals 17 18-21 61.
Whitko -ÊWalter 2 0-0 5, Smith 5 0-1 14, Rowland 2 0-0 4, Snep 3 2-2 10, Warner 1 0-0 2, Coats 4 0-0 9. Totals 17 2-3 44.
Three-point goals - Wawasee 3 (Mock 2, Conrad 1), Whitko 8 (Smith 4, Snep 2, Walter 1, Coats 1). Team fouls - Wawasee 10, Whitko 17.
JV - Wawasee 37, Whitko 33
