By Adam Knoll
Sports correspondent
In a make or break week, the Whitewater High School boys basketball team could not defeat either of its conference foes, and now stands little chance of reaching .500 by the end of the season.
Against conference leading Edgerton, Whitewater’s defense unraveled a bit and the offense could not keep up either, losing 67-44 and dropping the squad to 7-6 in conference, and back down in the standings. Reverting back to their old ways from the beginning of the season, the Whippets surrendered the lead early and by halftime they were in catch up mode. That loss moved Whitewater to 8-11 on the year.
In the game against Evansville, the Whippets played much better, but allowed a poor third quarter to doom them against another conference rival. Both Brett Harms and John Nast scored 16 points; the first game this season in which the guards led the team in scoring. Joe Michaels added 8 points and usual top scorer Scott Gorsuch had only 3 points on the night.
Brennen Banks spearheaded the Evansville attack, scoring 26 points, helping to outscore Whitewater by 16 points in the second and third quarters. The Whippets led by 9 after the first period, but the defense couldn’t hold back Evansville.
Moving forward, the Whippets find themselves at 7-7 in conference and in danger of being the only Rock Valley North team with a losing record in conference.
After a difficult, up and down season, the 2013-14 team has still been leaps and bounds better than last year. For example, in games determined by six points or less, Whitewater is 5-4. When the squad is able to keep games close, they have a good chance of winning. Unfortunately, fate leaned the other way this season.
With three games remaining in the season, Whitewater stands at 8-12. They will have to win out and then hope to get into an invitational to try and finish the season with an even record.
The Whippets will make a trip to Big Foot Saturday, Feb. 22 with tip-off set for 4 p.m.
