triplets

At the beginning of the '94-'95 season it was no secret that Mike Simons would probably be the focal point of the Wahoo offense.  Simons was the only returning full time starter and he had averaged 13 points a game as a sophomore.  The only surprise might have been the degree to which he improved on that offensive production as he managed to record a season (28.6 ppg) second only to Super-stater Jason Glock.  The Warriors had graduated 57 points of their record setting 1994 average of 94 points.  Early in the season it appeared Simons would have to make up the difference himself as he scored over thirty in eight of the first ten games.  But two of his classmates soon established themselves as able to make up for the rest.  Josh Anderson, a part-time starter for the 1994 team, became much more of a scorer as he averaged 16 points, scored in double figures in all but two games and led the team in scoring three times.  Wahoo's third best leading scorer in 1995 had played sparingly the previous season but Eric Eddie became a prolific scorer.  He averaged 15 points and his three point shooting became the third best in Wahoo history recording 67 treys for the season.  As Anderson and Eddie emerged as bona fide scoring threats, Coach Watton noted the advantage:  "It's important that other teams see we have other kids that can score besides Mike."  By the middle of the season it was obvious that Wahoo's offense would come mainly from three players as even the Wahoo Newspaper referred to them as the "three main guns" and "the big three."  After Arlington's second loss to the Warriors, the Eagles' coach Jeff Rippe commented, "Wahoo has three quality players and what makes them so good is the fact that even when you shut one down, the others are there to pick up the slack."

While any concerns about the offense for the 1995 team were quickly answered by the production of "the big three," there were questions about the other facets of the game.  On paper, the Warriors looked vulnerable on the inside as they had no player over 6'3".  But Simons was one of those 6'3" players and he had led the 1994 team in rebounds.  In fact, his ability to play inside and outside made him difficult to guard.  When Simons scored 31 points in two and a half quarters of action in the Prep Holiday Classic against Palmer, Coach Steve DeNoyer said, "We put 6'6" Shaun Gee on him because he's our best defensive player, but he couldn't handle his quickness."  Simons was the 1995 team rebound leader with 276; Eddie was second with 118.  Josh Anderson led in assists with 222.  Simons was the best in steals with 89.  

While the "big three" led the 1995 team in all the statistical categories, another trio gave the Warriors a strong supporting cast.  Three juniors, Ryan Fiala, Dan Brown, and Josh Herrmann were solid role players in 1995.  They provided additional scoring when needed, helped considerably on the boards, and contributed to the signature aggressive defense of the Warriors.  Fiala and Brown were the other two starters, while Herrmann most often came off the bench.  Ryan Fiala was the fourth highest scorer on the team, averaging six points per game, while Herrmann was not far behind at five points per game.  All three recorded double digit games, led by Fiala with five. Herrmann netted 12 points against Arlington and Aquinas; Fiala scored 14 vs. Neumann, and Brown had 10 against Conestoga.  All three contributed significant rebounding with Herrmann grabbing 95 for the season, Fiala 94, and Brown 89.  Tim Bohaty came off the bench and made significant contributions with 52 rebounds and had a season high 11 points against Valley.

Still, the team was mostly dependent on Simons, Anderson, and Eddie.  When the Warriors were struggling in their final regular season game against Schuyler, the trio scored all but two of Wahoo's 52 points in a narrow 52 – 46 win.  The 1995 triplets not only led the team, but produced some of the best Warrior performances all time. Simons' rebound mark ranked  #3 in the Wahoo record book. Josh Anderson became Wahoo's all-time assist leader for a single season with 222.  Simons' 89 steals placed him seventh best at the time, while Josh Anderson's 87 was eighth best.  Certainly these three needed the support of the other team members, but they were undeniably the main reason the 1995 team was able to take its place beside its predecessors as winners.