The Mail-Journal, Volume 22, Number 49, Milford, Kosciusko County, 4 December 1985 — Page 20

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VARSITY WARRIORS — Pictured are members of the 1985-8 S Wawasee boys’ varsity basketball team. In front, from left to right, are Dave Kistler, Jeff Taylor, Travis Reiff, Nathan Rhoades, Darin Atwood, Tim Mangas and Chris Cotton.

Host Concord Friday— Wysong's Warriors prepare for tough tests

By DAVE STRAUB Sports Editor John Wysong usually knows what he has two days before the season home-opener. This year, the Wawasee boys’ basketball coach is faced with a different situation. Due to all of the football success, Wysong does not have a complete picture of the 1985-86 Warriors since he anticipates some of those players to fill spots on the roster. As for now, “We just have to do the best with what we have,” said Wysong. Presently, Wawasee has an inexperienced club. Key losses from last year’s 14-8 team include Brooks Koble, an all-Northern Lakes Conference pick; Seth Swihart, a good role player; John Jones, who gave the Warriors good inside play and John Hapner.

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“We sort of have a funny team,” said Wysong. “Some players have experience and some don’t. But right now, we’re working on some of the basic skills, passing and handling the ball better as well as shooting. ” Hopefully, Wawasee will be ready to take on Concord this coming Friday, which will be the home opener. The JV game will start at 6:15 p.m. The Minutemen sport a 2-0 record with a recent double-overtime win over Warsaw, 67-62. Concord is a very strong and well-seasoned opponent with skill, experience and talent. Wysong is worried, and with good reason. The Minutemen feature one of the nation’s most sought after players, 6-9 Sophomore Forward Shawn Kemp, who scored 42 points against Warsaw. “He can shoot from the outside, hurt you inside and he has all of the skills for such a young

In back are Assistant Coach Neal Frantz, Jon Frasure, Eric Jones, Bryan Rensberger, Jon Evans, Fred Steffen, BiU Hutchinson, Ben Beer, Mike Eastman and Head Coach John Wysong.

player,” Wysong said. “He’s awesome and is certainly one of the greatest players in the history of this area.” Concord also has balance. “People don’t realize that there are four other pretty good players who are busting their tales besides Kemp,” said Wysong. “I see this game as a great opportunity for us to improve and grow from. Playing a team of this caliber has got to help us right now and we’re going to give it the best we have.” Wawasee has a good nucleus of guards returning. Senior Dave Kistler and Junior Tim Mangas possess good shooting and ballhandling skills. Top forwards include seniors BiU Hutchinson (5-11) and Jon Evans (6-2). “These two are very smart players,” said Wysong. “They’re skilled and experienced.” However, the Warriors lack size. “We’re not very tall,” the coach said. “But we have to get an inside game going. Wediave to penetrate to be successful. When Brooks was here, he gave us that and now we have to do it some other way.” Wysong also mentioned that the Warriors will continue to play various man-to-man defenses as well as look for the best shot on the offensive end of the court. “Our purposes will be better met if we play man-to-man. I don’t think we have enough size to go

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with a zone defense,” he reasoned. As for post play, Sophomore Fred Steffen will carry. the burden. “He can be a real good post player,” said Wysong. “He jumps real well and he has a lot of skills. But he has to develop mentaUy.” Two more sophomores may also see plenty of action. Guard Bryan Rensberger “has pretty good instincts for a sophomore.” Darin Atwood, another guard, “plays good defense, but needs to better understand the team concept.” And the team concept is to be patient, work hard and get better. “By February, I want this team to play the best possible basketball it can play, regardless of the record,” said Wysong. The Warriors will their best efforts to duplicate last year’s 5-2 NLC second place finish. Wysong realizes that this will be another tough conference campaign, one he sees as being loaded with good teams. “Os course, you have Warsaw,” he said. “Concord, Plymouth and Bremen will look pretty tough and Goshen should be a lot better. Rochester will be good, too. Nobody is going to be down. But that’s the competition we have to play. It also happens to be the best competition around.” “We have tradition going for us

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because we’ve been successful in the past,” Wysong added. “But we have to play hard. Teamwork is going to be the key around her because if you look at us individually, we won’t impress you. Last year, we only had two key lettermen back and we had sue-' cess. But this year, it’s hard to tell what type of team we’re going to be. Tradition gives us that pride factor, but our young players are going to have to learn a lot of things,” he said. Following the Concord game, the Warriors will travel to Prairie Heights Saturday night. “That will test our leadership after the big game with Concord,” said Wysong. “If our leadership does not come through, we will not win this game. We have to be ready.” Wawasee was ready for Fairfield last Tuesday, defeating the hosts, 66-60. Mangas led a shorthanded squad with 29 points while Evans chipped in 16. “That game helped the players a lot,” said Wysong. “It helped them go after some people and it was something for them to go on. But we’re still in a touchy situation because with some of the football players back, our roster isn’t completely jelled yet.” Football players recently joining the squad are Nathan Rhoades, Jeff Taylor, Travis Rieff, Chris Cotton, Eric Jones, Ben Beer and Mike Eastman.