Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SOUTH WHITLEY - Whitko senior Ben Mohr led the Whitko Wildcats over Central Noble 42-36 Saturday in an overtime thriller.
No, that's not a misprint or a halftime score. The final score after overtime was 42-36.
Ben Ryan started the Wildcats off with a bang as he sank a three-pointer with just 15 seconds off the clock.
The Wildcats then held the Cougars to just three points in the first quarter to jump out to a 10-3 lead as they headed into the second frame.
In the second quarter, Central Noble reduced Whitko's lead to four with 2:30 remaining in the half, but Whitko answered with a basket of its own 30 seconds later to make the score 17-11.
The final two minutes of the half were scoreless, and Whitko went into the locker room with a 17-11 lead.
"Central Noble is a well coached team," said Whitko coach Fred Fields. "They are fun to play against and fun to watch."
The Cougars kicked off the third quarter ready to play, and with 2:34 left on the clock, Central Noble had cut Whitko's lead to four points on a free throw by Nick Grawcock.
With 1:40, Central Noble's Grawcock scored another basket to bring the Cougars to within one point of the Wildcats, 22-21.
After outscoring the Wildcats in the third frame 12-7, the Cougars were fired up and ready for some fourth quarter action.
The Wildcats held their slim lead through the first two minutes of the fourth frame, but with 5:14 left in the fourth quarter, Brandon Shishler sank a two-point shot to tie the score at 28.
Shishler had an opportunity to give Central Noble its first lead of the game when he shot a free throw after being fouled on the play. He missed the shot, but Tyson Parker grabbed a rebound and nailed a two-point goal to give the Cougars their first lead of the game, 30-28.
Mohr returned the favor and scored a two-point goal on the next Whitko possession to tie the score at 30.
The Cougars then answered with a basket of their own to take a 32-30 lead.
With 2:30 left in the game, Michael Waybright hit a three-pointer to put Whitko ahead 33-32.
With one minute left in the game, the score stood at 34-34, and by the end of the fourth quarter, the score was tied at 36.
Whitko stepped on the court for four minutes of overtime play ready for action.
"Our guys did a nice job of not giving up," said Davis. "They just kept plugging away. In fact, when the score was tied after the fourth, four of our five playes had smiles on their faces. They were happy to be playing four more minutes."
Mohr scored the first basket of overtime to put the Wildcats up 38-36.
Whitko held Central Noble scoreless throughout the overtime period, and in the end came out with a 42-36 victory.
Mohr led the Wildcats with 21 points, five rebounds, three steals and one assist.
"Ben Mohr played a good basketball game," said Fields. "He picked his opportunities much better tonight than last night against Northfield, and Central Noble's defense was unable to stop his jump shot."
Waybright nailed two three-point shots, adding 10 points and a steal.
The Wildcats will travel to Tippecanoe Valley to face the Vikings and former coach Bill Patrick Friday in a much anticipated matchup.
