SYRACUSE – Coming off a four-win campaign, Wawasee began the 2014-15 season with goals in mind, but knowing they needed to improve offensively in order to succeed. The Warriors started the season well, winning five of their first six games to eclipse the win total from last year. But then they lost seven straight. Wawasee came back to win six of nine and finish the regular season 11-11, winning nearly three times as many games as last season. “I think they feel they’ve improved a lot,” said Wawasee head coach Steve Wiktorowski. “They’ve played a really difficult schedule this year, and that has prepared them (for the sectional). I think they’re looking forward to going out, competing and having fun, especially our seniors. The key to the bounce-back, according to Wiktorowski, is an improved offense and solid defense to lead into that improved offense. “Our offense is a lot better than what it was at the beginning of the year,” he said. “We’re shooting the ball a lot better, our turnovers are way down. The confidence level in our offense is much higher. I think our depth is really starting to show lately. We’re getting contributions off the bench, and some three-point shooting off the bench, and any time you can get that, you’re happy. “Everything starts with defense for us. That has to be a key for us. We try to keep ourselves in games and try to put ourselves in a position to win. Hopefully our offense and our execution will carry over (from the defense). “We had some struggles earlier in the year with some teams with good post players. I think that’s improved some. Our ability to pressure the ball and make it difficult for the other team to execute is the biggest thing we try to emphasize on our team. Everything on our team develops off of that, including our offense.” Senior Gage Reinhard has played through a shoulder injury to lead Wawasee by averaging 14 points a game. Classmate Alex Clark is right behind with 13.8 points per contest. Wawasee needs both players to be effective, and Wiktorowski said they made some alterations to help Reinhard be ready for sectional play. “We tried to change some things, especially with defensive assignments. (Reinhard) was guarding a lot of inside people and that shoulder was getting beat up pretty good,” he said. “He was even having trouble rebounding and raising his hand up on shooters. But it seems like he’s been getting a little bit better here lately, and he’s shooting better and his confidence has returned quite a bit. “Most of the month of January his shoulder was really bothering him and he wasn’t quite the same player. But we’re seeing a little resurgence in him, and this is a good time for that to happen.” Four other seniors on the Wawasee roster are looking to make a mark this postseason, starting with the sectional opener at West Noble against Whitko at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Stori Bright has the team lead in rebounds, pulling down more than six per game, and often against taller opponents. “Stori has definitely improved a lot. One of the biggest areas he’s improved in is really understanding and accepting his role on the team,” Wiktorowski said. “He’s a good defensive player, he’s quick and he makes up for his lack of height with his competitiveness. Nobody practices or plays harder every night than he does. He’s got great awareness of where the ball is going to go on rebounding, and for 6-2 he’s very difficult to keep off the offensive boards. He gets us a lot of second chance opportunities.” Seniors Aaron Voirol and Jake Hutchinson provide additional three-point threats for the Warriors, and classmate David Rocha has done most of his scoring over the last third of the season. “I think Aaron Voirol has come into his own since Christmas, and established himself as another real scoring threat,” Wiktorowski said. “I think David Rocha has really improved a lot and has given us a steady hand off the bench.” With a win Tuesday, Wawasee would move into a sectional semifinal against Tippecanoe Valley. Valley beat Wawasee 63-49 in Friday’s regular-season finale.
