Warrior Freshmen Lose To Northridge [VIDEO]
SYRACUSE – Hopes were high for the Wawasee freshmen basketball team on Monday night.
The Warriors welcomed in a very talented Northridge team to the Hardwood Tee Pee and, despite a good start and strong finish, Wawasee would fall to its Northern Lakes Conference rival 37-25. The Warriors came out with a lot of intensity and determination and took an early lead in the first quarter.
The two teams exchanged baskets for most of the quarter, but it was Wawasee that held a 9-8 advantage going into the second frame. Wawasee never seemed to find its rhythm in the second quarter, turning the ball over on several possessions, a theme that became all too common for the Warriors the rest of the game.
While many of Wawasee turnovers were mental mistakes from the Warriors, solid defense from the Raiders played a key factor in the mishaps by Wawasee as well. “I think our defense has been an important part of what we’ve been able to do all year,” stated Northridge head coach Rich Toth. “Tonight our defense was able to force a few turnovers and we were able to use contributions from a lot of our kids to help put this one away.”
Northridge took an 18-13 lead into the locker room and continued to control the game in the third quarter. The Raiders increased their lead by getting the Warriors to force shots.
“We were really impatient on offense tonight,” said Vince Rhodes, Wawasee’s head coach. “We got down a few points and then our guys got into the mindset that they had to get the ball up right off the bat. That just comes with being inexperienced and being freshmen.”
After finding themselves down by double-digits in the fourth quarter, the Warriors suddenly produced a wave of defensive prowess that led to some offensive production. Wawasee forced two turnovers and turned both into baskets to close the gap to just five points at 28-23.
Carter Jones got the Warriors feeling confident again after a big three-point play but, unfortunately, the turnover bug came back and bit Wawasee yet again in the closing minutes. The Warriors prevented themselves from ever regaining the lead from the Raiders with three key turnovers in the final three minutes of the game. Jones would finish as the leading scorer for Wawasee with nine points.
“Turnovers hurt us, but I don’t think our defense played as well as it could’ve tonight,” said Rhodes. “The officials were letting us play tonight and I don’t think we played tough enough. That is one thing we are going to work on as well as handling the ball out front.”
One Achilles Heel for the Warriors defense was Joe Smith. The younger brother of Northridge varsity star, Pete Smith, led all scorers with 12 points tonight. Rounding out the scoring for Wawasee was Spencer Prescott with seven points, Tim Coney with five and Bryce Woody and Adrian Crabb with two points each.
Wawasee (6-6) suits up for its final home game on Thursday night when the freshmen welcome in Plymouth for a 6:30 p.m. tip. Northridge (11-2) play at home against Elkhart Memorial tomorrow night at 7:15 p.m.