Raiders start slow, finish big against Fairfield

Williamsburg kicked things into drive in the second quarter Monday, Jan. 22, and defeated Fairfield, 65-44, in a non-conference tilt in Williamsburg.

The Raiders had a modest 13-11 lead after one quarter, but then went on 15-2 run, fueled by defensive pressure, including a bit of pressure.

“We haven’t pressed much, but tonight we tried to do it on the fly,” Williamsburg Coach Brad Knoop said. “That helped get us going.”

Williamsburg ended up winning the second quarter, 25-8.

“We played a lot better,” senior Derek Weisskopf said. “It was good to come out and see that we can use defensive pressure and get turnovers, and pass the ball in trasition.”

In addition to the press, the Raiders frustrated the Trojans with their man defense.

“We’re man to man pretty much all the time,” Knoop said. “I’ve never been a big zone guy.”

The Raiders led by 19 at half, and ended up winning by 21.

Weisskopf paced the offense with 23 points. Clayten Steckly added 13 and Kellen Cockrell added nine points and eight rebounds off the bench.

Williamsburg followed that Monday win with a 71-54 victory over Benton Community Tuesday, Jan. 23, then a Friday, Jan. 26, loss at WaMaC West leader Grinnell, 44-42.

After a 5-0 start to the season and a state ranking, the Raiders have gone 4-4.

Still ahead are games at No. 4 Solon and against No. 8 Marion. Plus some rematches against conference foes.

“I don’t think we’ve peaked, yet,” Weisskopf said. “We’ve got a lot to work on. We can’t average 17 turnovers once we get to the postseason.”

Knoop see a few bad minutes in most losses.

“A lot of that stuff we can clean up,” Knoop said. “We’ve got to eventually, play our best game. Hopefully that’s the tournament run.”

Stats

Raiders 65, Trojans 44

FAIRFIELD (44) - Ethan Bbisgard 2-3 1-3 6, Riley Perkins 7-17 0-0 19, Luke Konczal 2-4 3-6 7, Sam Weaton 1-10 1-3 3, Ben Boatright 2-2 0-0 6, Voss Richardson 0-0 0-0 0, Andrew Myers 0-0 0-0 0, Cooper Polonsky 1-4 0-0 3, Ryan Giberson 0-2 0-0 0, Axi Starr 0-1 0-0 0, Eli Zillman 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 15-45 5-12 44.

WILLIAMSBURG (65) - Clayten Steckly 4-8 3-4 13, Grant Hocker 1-1 4-4 6, Derek Weisskopf 7-13 8-11 23, Braden Plotz 0-2 0-2 0, Braysen Doehrmann 0-1 0-0 0, Simeon Armbrecht 2-4 1-2 5, Logan Hummer 0-1 0-0 0, Grady Wetjen 0-0 0-0 0, Bryson Wetjen 0-1 0-0 0, Logan Rethwisch 1-4 2-2 5, Cael Steckly 0-0 0-0 0, Dylan Weisskopf 0-0 0-0 0, John Eichhorn 1-2 0-0 2, PJ Carey 0-0 0-0 0, Griffin Becker 1-1 0-0 2, Kellen Cockrell 3-4 3-4 9. Totals 20-42 21-29 65

3-point goals - F 9-19 (Bisgard 1-2, Perkins 5-9, Weaton 0-4, Boatright 2-2, Polonsky 1-2), W 4-14 (Steckly 2-3, D.Weisskopf 1-5, Doehrmann 0-1, B.Wetjen 0-1, Rethwisch 1-4). Rebounds - F 15, W 32 (Cockrell 8). Assists - F 8 (Weaton 3), W 15 (Hocker 4). Turnovers - F 17, W 9. Total fouls - F 18, W 11. Fouled out - Konczal.

Raiders 71, Bobcats 54

WILLIAMSBURG (71) - Clayten Steckly 2-4 0-0 4, Grant Hocker 5-9 1-2 13, Derek Weisskopf 12-21 7-7 33, Braden Plotz 3-6 0-0 6, Kellen Cockrell 1-4 0-2 3, Braysen Doehrmann 0-0 0-0 0, Simeon Armbrecht 3-3 3-4 10, Bryson Wetjen 0-1 0-0 0, Logan Rethwisch 0-0 0-0 0, John Eichhorn 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 27-51 11-15 71.

BENTON (54) - Stats were not available.

Williamsburg 17 26 14 14 -- 71

Benton 12 14 13 15 -- 54

3-point goals - W 6-13 (Steckly 0-1, Hocker 2-2, Weisskopf 2-6, Cockrell 1-2, Armbrecht 1-1, Wetjen 0-1). Rebounds - W 33 (Weisskopf 10). Assists - W 17 (Weisskopf 6). Turnovers - W 8.. Total fouls - W 16.

Tigers 44, Raiders 42

WILLIAMSBURG (42) -- Stats were not available.

GRINNELL (44) -- Jack Hoopes 1-3 1-3 3, Ryan McIlrath 3-4 0-0 7, Carson Penyich 3-8 0-0 6, Cole Blackford 4-13 0-0 9, Derek Doty 5-10 0-0 12, Braden Johnson 2-5 3-6 7, Trenton Scheck 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-43 4-9 44.

Williamsburg 8 15 7 12 -- 42

Grinnell 12 13 7 12 -- 44

3-point goals - G 4-11 (McIlrath 1-2, Penyich 0-1, Blackford 1-3, Doty 2-5). Rebounds - G 22 (Penyich 7). Assists - G 13 (Blackford 5). Turnovers - G 12. Total fouls - G 18. Fouled out - McIlrath, Johnson.