By Adam Knoll
Sports correspondent
When a team’s defense holds true, and the offense wakes up, it is a hard combination to beat, just ask the Whippets after a stellar 3-0 week that might just turn their season around.
Going into last Monday, the team had dropped their last two games not because of their sleeping offense, but because the defense could not hold opponents the way they had earlier in the season. That all changed against Palmyra-Eagle as Whitewater took a 27-12 lead into the half and never looked back, winning 49-35 on the road.
Shockingly, no Whippet player scored in double figures while 11 total players contributed points. Josh Nast and Joe Michaels led the way with nine points, Scott Gorsuch added eight as the Whippets improved to 4-7 on the year.
A second victory
Brett Harms hit 10 points and led the way as Whitewater took out Brodhead on Friday night 43-27. Only five players from Brodhead scored on the night.
Once again, the Whippets took a lead into halftime (6 points) and proceeded to dominate the third quarter. Whitewater only allowed two points during the third period, increasing their lead to 15. That was all it took as the two battled to an even fourth quarter, and a second Whippet win in a row. Josh Nast and Scott Gorsuch both scored nine points on the night while again the team enjoyed an even effort from the reserves.
All of a sudden, Whitewater’s playoff chances no longer seemed like such a stretch.
It’s a week of sweeps
Nothing has been simple for the Whippets this season, and it would make sense that after finding themselves and getting on a minor roll, the teams would have to play it’s first back to back of the season. In hosting Monona Grove, the Whippets were tired and looked it on defense, yet in this case, the offense came to the rescue.
The game started out well enough for Whitewater, who took a 21-10 lead into the second period. This early lead dissipated quickly however as the squad suffered from a brutal quarter in which neither it’s offense or defense seemed to work, losing the frame 16-4. Coming out of the half down by one, the Whippets evened the score with a 13-12 period to set up a classic fourth quarter.
The two teams traded haymakers for much of the final frame, one that would feature several lead changes as well as some tense moments at the foul line. In the end, the Whippets did just enough to steal the game away 54-53 and earn their third victory in a row.
Scott Gorsuch and Joe Michaels both scored 17 points to lead the team. No other Whippet scored over seven points (Anthony Juoni). While the Whippets were able to contain the rest of the team, Monona was led by Mark Nelson, Jr. who had 24 points; Nate Hepp chipped in 11 in the losing effort.
Evansville stops streak
The Whippets string of wins ran out Monday night when they fell to Evansville 51-42 though the game was close with several lead changes until the fourth quarter when, tied at 33, things began to unravel for Whitewater.
The following five minutes saw the Blue Devils go on a 10-0 scoring run while the Whippets struggled to make good passes, hit basket and get called for several fouls. In the game, Gorsuch led Whitewater with 16 points including two 3-pointers.
More information about Monday’s game will appear in next week’s issue but setting aside the downfall at the end against Evansville, the three consecutive wins last week could change the course of the Whippets season.
At 6-8 overall and 5-4 in conference, following Monday’s loss to Evansville, there is no doubt that this team has improved mightily since last season, and they now know their tactics can work if used properly.
