Defending state champion girls team extends win streak
By Kevin Cunningham
Sports Correspondent
The Whitewater boys basketball team saw a couple games of action this past week, playing two games on the road, against East Troy and Delavan-Darien. The two games didn’t play out the way the Whippets wanted them to, as they lost to both teams by double-digits.
On Friday at East Troy, Whitewater was out-scored by five points in the first half, and then seven points in the second half, leading to the 72-60 defeat. Brodie Runez led the team with 15 points, while East Troy had two scorers get 21 and 22 points, respectively.
The Whippets made 9-of-11 free throws and four 3-pointers in the game. In its next contest, against Delavan-Darien, on Jan. 26, the two teams played to an even half, entering the locker rooms tied at 29.
The Comets would then go on to score 51 second half points, en route to its 80-69 victory. Whitewater got 23 points from Bryce Parrish in the loss, while Daniel Fuller was the only other Whippet to score in double-figures, with 15.
The Comets out-shot the Whippets from the line, going 19-of-24 compared to 11-of-15 and from behind the arc, making nine 3-pointers compared to the Whippets’ six.
The team’s next game begins at 7:15 p.m. on Thursday against Palmyra-Eagle at home. The Whippets will enter with a 4-9 record, while Palmyra-Eagle possesses a 5-10 record on the season.
Girls hoops now 14-1
The Whippets entered last week with a 12-1 record and had two games on its slate, just like the boys team. With its two games however, the Whippets got two more victories, pushing its overall record to 14-1 and are still the No. 1-ranked team in the state for Division 3.
On Jan. 21, the team hit the road to face Palmyra-Eagle and displayed its dominance early. Entering halftime, Whitewater held a 38-10 lead. The Whippets would cruise from there, and eventually win, 67-25.
Ten different Whippets scored in the game, and Myriama Smith-Traore led all players with 16. She went 8-of-13 from the field, recorded nine blocks and had three steals and three blocked shots as well.
Whippets head coach Judy Harms said, “The girls did an excellent job taking care of the ball tonight, and dominating the boards.”
On Jan. 26, the team hosted Beloit Turner and won, 70-51, thanks to a 39-16 lead going into the second half.
Again in this game, 10 different Whippets scored, and Smith-Traore had a 20-point, 15-rebound, eight-blocked shots game. Whitewater’s next game is slated to start at 7:15 p.m. on Friday against Jefferson at home for Parent’s Night.
