Whitko’s Nate Walpole is among the state’s leading scorers, averaging over 27 points per game. (Photo by Mike Deak)

SOUTH WHITLEY – Coaches always stress the importance of teams playing their best at tournament time. In the constant rebuild that has been Whitko boys basketball, head coach Roger Fleetwood has been more than enthused by the progress his program has made.

Whitko, which won just one game two years ago, climbed up to six wins last season under Fleetwood. The Wildcats have more than doubled that mark this season, going 13-9, and reached one of its preseason goals by achieving a guaranteed winning record for the first time in four seasons after beating Manchester Feb. 13.

The beat of the drum for Whitko this season, as has for most of his career, has been the play of junior Nate Walpole. The guard has been scoring option number one and has put the team on his back time and again. Averaging 27.3 points per game this season through 22 games, Walpole is among the state’s top scorers and has put up some eye-popping performances.

Voted as the Subway/IBCA Player of the Week in mid-January, Walpole dropped 44 points on Northfield and came back in Whitko’s next contest and ripped Maconaquah for 40 points. Walpole shoots 80 percent from the free throw line and has dished over 100 assists, which makes him a double threat to shoot or pass.

On the receiving end of Walpole’s attention from opposing defenses is River West. A 44 percent shooter from the floor, West is averaging 15.5 points per contest this season as a sophomore. The combo of West and Walpole have hit 134 threes this season. West also pulls down over four rebounds per contest.

“Nate and River have been our scoring leaders, and that will have to continue into the sectional,” Fleetwood said. “We go as they go, but they have been doing it all season and I don’t see that changing in the tournament. But we are much more than those two.”

Devon Adkins gives Whitko another wing threat on offense, scoring 8.8 points per game, and is a decent perimeter defender.

Twin towers Tanner Gaff and Spencer Sroufe cover the interior. Gaff has had a roller coaster season on offense, but still provides six points per night but is a key defensively. Sroufe started the season in the junior ranks but slowly has worked into a major role on the varsity floor. Lanky and still very green, Sroufe’s freshman campaign has seen plenty of promise, including a 12-rebound effort against Southern Wells.

Robbie Owsley, Collin Craig and Roger Helblig all have played major roles with the varsity this season, and are impacting the varsity rotation.

“Our goal is to come into the tournament playing our best, which is obvious, but it will do wonders for these kids,” Fleetwood said. “What’s great about this team is they all understand their roles. It’s hard to get 17-year-old boys to buy into a team concept. I don’t mean everyone getting equal shots. I mean everyone having a role, and all seeing that being equally important.”

Whitko has moved from Class 3-A to Class 2-A and will take its cuts in the Westview Sectional, which will begin Tuesday, March 1, and run through Saturday, March 5. LaVille is the defending sectional champion.

Whitko opens with Bremen (4-18) in the lone game Tuesday, a 7 p.m. tip. LaVille and Prairie Heights as well as Central Noble and Fremont play Wednesday, with Westview awaiting the Whitko-Bremen winner. The championship game is set for 7 p.m. Saturday.