Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Winners of eleven straight after an early season loss, the Whitko girls basketball team headed into Wednesday night’s game against Wabash playing extremely well. Playing in front of a home crowd, The Lady ‘Cats turned it up a notch in this one, setting a new season high in points in a dominant 87-25 win to keep the team on top of the Three Rivers Conference.
The Lady ‘Cats wasted absolutely no time putting points on the scoreboard, scoring eight in the first 60 seconds of the game. Reese Stonebraker, who was honored before the game for recently scoring her 1,000th point, had four of these early points, while her younger sister Jayma added a basket of her own as well as an assist.
Whitko’s defense was the main reason they were able to put these points on the board in such a hurry. The home side was putting on a suffocating press that Wabash just could not shake. Four of the Lady ‘Cats’ first five baskets came directly off of turnovers.
Things didn’t get much better for the visitors after the early onslaught, as threes on back to back possessions by Kyra Lowe and Hazel Leffers extended the game-opening run to 18-0 before a pair of free throws on the other end finally put it to an end.
The hot-handed Whitko side seemed to make every shot it took as the first eight minutes winded down, dismantling their opponent in every facet of the game. What was most impressive was how balanced the attack was. It never felt as if one player was taking over, rather the entire team was playing incredibly efficiently as a unit.
Wabash did end up making its first field goal of the game as the buzzer sounded at the end of the first quarter. However, it did very little to chip away at the now 25-point deficit the Lady ‘Cats had handed the visitors.
A pair of triples by Jocelyn Luecke extended the lead to 30 with just under six minutes to go in the first half. It also put her in double figures, the first player in the game to reach that feat. Just under the midway point, a layup by Lowe extended the lead to 35, ensuring the second half would be expedited.
For the most part, the second quarter was more of the same from the home team. While they had lightened up on the press enough to give Wabash some more opportunities on the other end, they were still playing tenacious halfcourt defense.
By the time the halftime buzzer finally sounded, Whitko had two players in double figures, five more with at least seven points and a 43-point lead.
Junior Willow Osborn of Whiko looks to score under the basket during the second quarter...Nieter
Ally Brown used an and-one to score her 10th point of the game, giving the home side yet another boost to begin the third quarter. Even with a running clock, the Lady ‘Cat offense was operating so efficiently that the home side was still able to continue growing its lead.
Jayma’s unselfish play continued as she racked up assists as the advantage ballooned to 50. Leffers and Reese became the fourth and fifth players in double figures moments later. In an unstoppable rhythm, it felt as if Whitko was scoring on every possession. By the time the third quarter had come to an end, the team had scored 75 points, one shy of its season-high.
The only thing left to decide as the fourth quarter got rolling was just how many points the Lady ‘Cats would score. Jules Leffers and Willow Osborn were among the multiple players to get their first action of the night here, and the pair took advantage by combining for 14 points to put the finishing touches on a total team win.
Whitko (13-1, 4-0 TRC) is at home against Rochester on Saturday afternoon.
