SYRACUSE – With each team missing an important player, Whitko had the more experienced player step up and make the difference in its 37-33 win over Wawasee in Class 3A Sectional 21 semifinal action Friday night. Whitko had to overcome a fast Wawasee start, as the Lady Warriors took an early 8-0 lead when Aubrey Schmeltz, starting in place of the injured Seaquinn Bright, scored five quick points. Brianna Cumberland, one of Whitko’s top two scorers, watched the game in street clothes after injuring her right knee in Wednesday’s opening-round win. Aly Reiff, the Lady Wildcats’ other leading scorer, was held to four points in the first three quarters before getting 12 in the final period. Reiff took on ball handling responsibilities and hit 7 of 8 free throws in the last four minutes to salt away the win. “Even yesterday in practice, (Reiff) did a nice job of recognizing the tone, and trying to put more weight on her shoulders,” said Whitko head coach Brandon Bradley. “For a 16-year-old to take that weight and play in the moment like that, it’s pretty strong. “But, you have to admit, all the girls made adjustments. They calmed down after they gave up the 8-0 run to start the game, and I thought from there we started getting stops. We made that basket (for Whitko’s first lead) and it was like ‘whew,’” Jennifer Reiff had eight points to go with five rebounds for Whitko. Maddie Gawthrop added four points and five boards in the win. “I told them that was the biggest display of heart and guts that we’ve seen this year, and I couldn’t be more proud of them,” Bradley said. Whitko made up the early deficit when Wawasee went into another cold shooting streak, something the team has been infamous for this season. While the defense kept things close, the Lady Warriors went eight minutes between field goals in the first half. “I thought we played really good defense except for one or two possessions, which ended up being the game,” Wawasee head coach Kem Zolman said. “But except for those one or two possessions, they were focused on what we needed to do. Down the stretch they hit free throws, and we didn’t hit shots.” Zolman said his injured player wanted to go, but instead helped Schmeltz perform at a higher level. “Seaquinn has been playing very well for us, and she had as much to do with how Aubrey played tonight as (the coaches) did,” Zolman said. “She felt like she let us down, and I had to explain she wasn’t letting me down. It just happens in athletics, and I was just disappointed I couldn’t see her play. “We challenged Seaquinn ‘if you want to help this team, you tell Aubrey she’s starting tonight, and make sure she accepts the challenges of going after rebounds and picking it up for you.’ “So I thought the way Aubrey played was every bit as much Seaquinn’s doing as ours.” Wawasee’s season ends with a 7-17 record, but also with a sectional win for the first time in three seasons. Now 16-8, Whitko goes for its first-ever sectional championship against Three Rivers Conference foe Tippecanoe Valley today at 7:30 p.m.
