By Daniel Schoettler
Correspondent
After starting the season 5-1, the Whitewater Whippets boys basketball team went on a three-game losing streak after losing to two Rock Valley Conference foes on the road.
After losing at Monroe on Dec. 22, the Whippets traveled to Evansville on Dec. 22. The Whippets trailed by eight at the half before being outscored 47-33 in the second half in the loss.
“It was a tight game for about three quarters of the game,” head coach Dan Gnatzig said. “A couple turnovers and big shots for Evansville blew the game open.”
The Whippets were unable to climb back into the game and lost to Evansville 81-59.
Whitewater was led in scoring by Connor Laue with 18 points. Bryce Parrish also had 11 points, while Daniel Fuller had 12 in the loss.
Hayden Reese was the leading scorer for Evansville with 20, while Brennen Banks had 19. Zach Mielke had 15 in the win for Evansville.
Whippets lose close one at Jefferson
On Jan. 6, the Whippets were defeated in a nail-biter at Jefferson.
Whitewater trailed early 19-8, before making a 15-5 run to the end the half as Fuller hit a buzzer-beating three to take them into the break down only 24-23.
“It was big to give us momentum,” Gnatzig said. “The game plan was to run our offense and work on getting the ball inside if we could and defensive pressure sped us up a little bit.”
In the second half, the Whippets got a four-point lead early after two Bryce Parrish baskets helped get them the lead. Jefferson regained the lead after a Zach Peterson three-pointer.
Jefferson pushed its lead up to ten after a basket and a free throw from Ryan Brost to make it 43-33. Logan Rasmussen, Daniel Fuller and Bryce Parrish helped the Whippets get back in the game with a 10-2 run late, but couldn’t tie or get the game-winning shot to go at the buzzer.
Whitewater lost to Jefferson 45-43.
In the win for Jefferson, Ryan Brost was the leading scorer for the Eagles with 17. Zach Peterson had 14 points, while Evan Anfang had seven in the win.
Logan Rasmussen and Bryce Parrish led the way for the Whippets with 13 points each. Junior Daniel Fuller also was in double digits for the Whippets with 11.
Whitewater fell to 5-4 after the three consecutive losses. This week’s games will be included in a story in the Jan. 19 Whitewater Register.
