OSSIAN — The Whitko boys basketball team punched its ticket into the semifinals of Class 3A Sectional 23 Tuesday night. Playing after host Norwell downed Eastbrook 97-72, the Whitko Wildcats then defeated Bellmont 41-35 in the nightcap. With the win, Whitko (6-15) will take on Heritage (8-13) Friday night, following the 6 p.m. game between Mississinewa (8-12) and Norwell (15-6). After scoring four points in the first half, trailing 16-4, the Wildcats outscored Bellmont 19-2 in the third, helping them take a 23-18 lead into the fourth. In the final quarter, the two squads played tight, but Whitko outscored Bellmont 18-17, resulting in the 41-35 victory. Senior Trey Weber led Whitko with 14 points, followed by senior Stephen Bennett’s 10 points and four steals. Also for Whitko, junior Dylan Cumberland had a team-high five assists and senior Gabe Powell posted six points and six rebounds.
