By Adam Knoll
Sports correspondent
The Whitewater High School boys’ basketball team suffered a difficult 18-point loss last Saturday night in a non-conference battle against Stoughton. Every game offers a little bit of insight into the dynamics of a team, in this one it was insight into some of the difficulties that a tooth and nail team must face. The Whippets did not play poorly, they simply played their brand of basketball and on that particular night, it did not work.
After playing in a tight first quarter, the Whippets could not keep pace and entered halftime with a nine-point deficit. This proved to be too much to counter as Whitewater continued to fall behind, eventually giving out with a 54-36 loss.
This is now the fifth game in which the squad has faced a sizeable disadvantage midway through the game. Additionally, Whitewater’s struggles from the foul line continue, which leaves valuable points off the board for a team looking to keep the score low.
Stoughton played at an even pace and never scored less than 11 points in any quarter. Comparatively, the Whippets only scored over 11 points in one quarter and did not win a single period.
Nick McGlynn scored 22 for Stoughton while Joe Michaels led Whitewater with 13. The Whippets have not had two double figure scorers in any game this season, and they have not had the games highest scorer in any match either.
With the type of team that Whitewater has, games are going to go in one of two directions: a defensive battle in which each team struggles to score, or a game in which Whitewater cannot contain a team and it ends roughly. The Whippets are not going to score a ton of points though Saturday night was their season low with their highest output of 53 coming in the first game of the year.
None of this is to say the Whippets have a poor team, just the opposite in fact. Whitewater knows exactly who they are already in this young season and they have committed to it, something that will only serve to help them as they try to battle for a playoff spot later in the season.
Whitewater will take to the court next against Oregon on Friday, Jan. 3 before hosting East Troy on Thursday, Jan. 9 in a very big conference matchup.
