Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SOUTH WHITLEY - Whitko's varsity girls basketball team played host to North Miami in both teams' Three Rivers Conference opener.
Whitko came from behind in the fourth quarter, sparked by Emily Bidwell's 10 points in the frame to beat the Warriors 60-50.
Bidwell finished the game with 12 points and five rebounds.
"I made a coaching mistake by not going inside throughout the game. Our game is to go inside when we have the advantage," said first-year Whitko coach Rob Bell.
North Miami began the game with a full-court pressure defense and Whitko's Jennaca Juillerat picked up two quick fouls that landed her on the bench for most of the first half.
It appeared as though the Wildcats had the game in control in the first half, leading 24-18 at the break.
"We keep having longer stretches where we play well and together. I am really proud of the way the played tonight," said Bell.
North Miami caught fire in the third period.
Coupled with the full-court pressure and missed shots by Whitko, the Warriors scored the last seven points of the third quarter to take a 39-38 lead.
Alicia Burris of North Miami scored the go-ahead basket. With less than a second on the clock Burris shot a long three pointer.
With Whiko's only senior on the bench, the momentum for North Miami appeared to increase and the Wildcats' Jill Wendel picked up her fourth foul early in the second half.
"Even though Jennaca and Jill were on the bench with foul trouble most of the game I am proud of our reserves. They came in and did a great job of picking up the slack," said Bell.
Jamie Westness helped spark a run for Whitko when she rebounded a missed free throw by teammte Nikki Shepherd and scored the go-ahead basket. On the next Warrior possession, Westness stole a Warrior pass and went coast-to-coast to put Whitko up 46-41.
Westness led the Wildcats in scoring with 18 points. She also pulled down 12 rebounds and madee three steals.
Westness and Bidwell combined for 18 of the 22 Whtko points in the final quarter. Whitko was 8 of 11 in the fourth quarter.
"When we were down the team did not panic. We just adjusted and did what we had to do to get the win," said Bell.
Amy Mathias, who scored all of the Warriors' first-quarter points, led all scorers with 19 points before fouling out midway through the fourth quarter. Burris added 12 points, all on three-point shots. Stephanie Morris contributed nine.
Ashley Hoopingarner finished with 12 points for the Wildcats. Juillerat and Veronica Jersey each added seven points.
The win improved the Wildcats to 4-3 overall and 1-0 in conference play. The Wildcats are in action again Friday at TRC foe Manchester.
"Our goal every year is to win our first conference game. We will celebrate until Monday and we will be 0-0 again," said Bell.
WHITKO 60, N. MIAMI 50
N. Miami 6 12 21 11 - 50
Whitko 12 12 14 22 - 60
N. Miami FG FT R S Pts.
* Burrris 4-13 0-1 2 1 12
* Morris 3-6 2-5 1 1 9
*A. Mathias 6-9 7-8 5 1 19
*B Mathias 1-3 3-4 5 1 5
* Malott 1-5 0-0 4 0 2
Weisand 1-9 0-0 5 2 3
Miller 0-0 0-4 1 1 0
Totals 16-45 12-22 23 7 50
Whitko FG FT R S Pts.
*Hpngrnr 5-16 0-0 1 1 12
* Wendel 0-2 0-2 1 0 0
* Westness 7-13 4-5 12 3 18
* Jersey 2-5 3-6 8 1 7
* Juillerat 3-7 0-2 5 0 7
Bidwell 4-5 4-5 5 0 12
Shepard 1-2 0-0 3 0 2
VanHoozen 1-2 0-1 4 0 2
Winger 0-1 0-0 0 0 0
Totals 23-53 11-21 39 5 60
Three-point goals - N. Miami 6-20 (Burris 4-7, Weisand 1-9, Morris 1-3, B. Mathias 0-1, Malott 0-1), Whitko 3-12 (Hoopingarner 2-8, Juillerat 1-2, VanHoozen 0-1, Westness 0-1). Turnovers - N. Miami 13, Whitko 12. Fouls - N. Miami 16, Whitko 19. Fouled out - A. Mathias.
