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THE YEAR

Wahoo opponent half time scores 1987 - 1995
YEAR opponent opponent score half
1992 Ogallala 42
1995 Ashland 40
1994 Near North IL 39
1994 Grand Island Central Catholic 39
1995 Omaha Roncalli 39
1989 Yutan 37
1991 York 36
1992 David City Aquinas 36
1995 Bennington 36
1995 Ashland 35

"I told the kids at the half that we had given up too many points. We figured Ashland would shoot better, but because of the pressure we put on them, I don't think we allowed them to." -- Coach Watton

BIG GAME WARRIORS

rivalry ... prep classic ... rehearsal 1 ... rehearsal 2 ... rehearsal 3 ... slippage

rehearsal - act 2

Ashland had played Wahoo tougher than any previous opponent in the Conference Tournament championship game, so the Blue Jays had no qualms about facing the Warriors again a week later.  There would be two major differences: 1) the game would be played on Ashland's home court, and 2) Wahoo might be a little short handed as Josh Anderson had suffered an injury late in the championship game and had not practiced until the Thursday before the game.  Ashland's Coach Kent Kingston was looking forward to the rematch:  "Our kids believe they can play with Wahoo.  The kids will be ready for them again on Friday."

A capacity crowd was on hand in Ashland's gym in anticipation of a competitive game between the top ranked Warriors and the #4 Blue Jays.  The fans were not disappointed as the teams battled through twelve lead changes in the first half.  Josh Anderson's injury showed no effect as the Wahoo guard put up 19 first half points.  But in spite of a 37 point half, the Warriors couldn't pull away.  Wahoo's "junk" defense focusing on Ashland's Matt Johnson proved ineffective as Johnson nearly matched Anderson with 17 first half points – the Warriors had held Ashland's top scorer to six points the previous week. 

A layup by Wahoo's Josh Herrmann gave Wahoo a 37-35 half time lead and the Warriors never trailed again as Wahoo opened the third quarter with a 10 – 3 run.  Wahoo abandoned the "junk" defense and went back to their traditional 1-3-1.  The Warriors also unleashed a full court press which forced Ashland into turnovers and the Warriors quickly took advantage.  By the end of the third period, Wahoo had a 60-51 lead.  Coach Watton commented, "Our guards did a nice job of pressing them and we came up with three or four steals that were critical."  The Blue Jays made a run in the fourth quarter as Johnson netted 11 points in the period, but Eric Eddie responded with a pair of three's and pushed Wahoo's lead back to ten at 69-59.  Ashland then succumbed as Wahoo ran off the final nine points of the game to produce an 83 – 61 victory.

An "injured" Josh Anderson led the Warriors in scoring with 27 points.  Mike Simons contributed 25 along with 13 rebounds.  Eric Eddie was 4-8 on three pointers in adding 18 points.  The win was Wahoo's 40th in a row and kept them on top of the C1 rankings for at least another day when they would face #2, Grand Island Central Catholic.  Coach Watton noted "This is just like the state tournament where you get no rest."  Act one and two of the rehearsal had ended with Warrior victories – act three would be perhaps the biggest game of the season.

  Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Wahoo 19 18 23 21 81
Ashland 15 20 16 12 63
view Ashland Game Summary