By Daniel Schoettler
Correspondent
The Whippets boys basketball team was able to stop a losing streak with a win in overtime against Clinton.
Whitewater and Clinton for most of the first half of the game on Feb. 7.
“I am glad we were able to hang on,” head coach Dan Gnatzig said. “(There were) some real good things and some things got us in trouble.”
Gnatzig said that his team got into foul trouble early and that they had to take guys out because of it.
Clinton grabbed a four-point lead at 9-5 after a Cole Ciochan free throw. The Whippets later grabbed the lead back and pushed it up to four after a Daniel Fuller three pointer.
The game was later tied at 18 after a Ben Kloskey free throw for the Whippets. The Whippets later pushed it to 22-18 on a Bryce Parrish basket before taking a 22-20 at the half.
“I’m proud of the way Tyler Niemuth played and I was proud of the way Kloskey played,” Gnatzig said. “Sometimes when you get a chance, you are hungry for your chance and they did a nice job of that.”
In the second half, the Whippets extended the lead to double digits at 38-27 after a three-point play from Bryce Parrish. The Whippets had a 52-45 lead late before three straight turnovers and three straight baskets tied it at 52 to force the overtime period.
Free throws from Daniel Fuller, James Diedrich, and Connor Laue along with a basket from Bryce Parrish helped regrab the lead for the Whippets as they grabbed a 58-52 lead to start the overtime period. Cole Ciochon cut the Whippets lead to four twice with a basket and a pair of free throws to make it 60-56.
James Diedrich and Connor Laue hit three free throws to help push the lead to seven at 63-56 before Ciochan hit a basket late as the Whippets got the 63-58 win.
Whippets put up fight at Edgerton
The Whippets continued play on Feb. 10 at Edgerton, but came up short of getting their second straight win.
After being down only by four at halftime at 26-22, Whitewater was able to stay in the game. However, it proved to not be enough with being outscored in the second 30-26.
The Whippets were led by Logan Rasmussen with 13 and Bryce Parrish with 12.
Whitewater continues play this Friday, Feb. 17 at 7:15 p.m. against Rock Valley Conference North rival Jefferson.
