Warriors Struggle In Season-Opening Loss To Fairfield
Posted
-
SYRACUSE – Multiple runs hindered Wawasee at home Tuesday.
The Warriors basketball team gave up 11-0 and 9-0 runs midway through the game to ultimately lose 51-40 in their season opener against Fairfield.
“Tonight, we weren’t able to take anything away from them,” said Wawasee coach Jon Everingham. “Usually you’d like to take one thing away.”
The Warriors (0-1) held a 12-11 lead when Fairfield ripped off an 11-0 run.
Wawasee responded with a 7-0 stretch of its own to cut the Falcons’ lead to three.
Following a Warriors timeout, Fairfield’s Skylar Mast hit a three-pointer to close out the half.
The Falcons (1-0) started the second half strong with another bucket by Mast, who finished with 13 points. Cordell Hofer sank two free throws, and a Cade Gall bucket capped a 9-0 run that put Fairfield up 31-19.
“The 9-0 run actually really, really hurt us right there,” Everingham said.
From there, Wawasee never came within nine points.
“We certainly have to give (the Falcons) credit,” Everingham said. “They really played to their strengths.”
Aaron Evans had a team-high 14 points for the Warriors, while Austin Miller added 12.
Hofer was 8 of 9 from the stripe.
“Cordell did a great job of drawing fouls and getting to the free throw line,” Everingham said. “That’s what he’s supposed to do.”
The Warriors played a large chunk of the game without forward Josh Slabaugh, who sat much of the second half in foul trouble.
“He’s kind of the glue that holds everything together,” Everingham said. “He’s our best defender. Having him not on the floor certainly was a big deal tonight for us.”
Wawasee was out-rebounded 27-14, and Fairfield made 18 of 28 shots from the floor.
“We had an attacking mindset,” said Fairfield coach Troy Beachy. “We talked about wanting to get to the basket early on.”
Wawasee will play Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Angola.
