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Washington Evening Journal
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Shooting struggles plague WACO against Notre Dame
Warriors end season with loss to Nikes in 1A Region 5 second round
BURLINGTON — WACO boys basketball’s season came to a close on Thursday after a 54-40 loss to the Nikes of Notre Dame.
The Warriors did well through the first two quarters of action, but second half shooting struggles accompanied by some efficient offense from Notre Dame did them in.
WACO trailed by just three, 12-9, after the opening period. The Warriors hunkered down defensively in the second.
Through the next eight minutes, the Warriors gave up just two points, which came with just two minutes to go in the half.
Meanwhile, WACO scored 11 of its own, nine of which came from the foul line, to go up 20-14 at the half. The Warriors hit just one field goal in the second quarter.
It was a sign of things to come.
Notre Dame quickly knotted the game at 20-20 through the first minute. WACO’s first points came at the 5:30 off a free throw from Chase Waterhouse. The foul shot put the Warriors up 21-20.
Over the next minute and a half, the Warriors and Nikes exchanged the lead three times and tied twice.
After a two from Hunter Hughes tied the game at 25-25, the Warriors scored just two more points the rest of the quarter.
Notre Dame on the other hand dropped in 11, nine of which were scored from three by the Nikes Shay Stephens.
Heading into the fourth, Notre Dame held onto a 36-27 lead. WACO could never get back into it.
After a three to open the final frame put the Nikes up 12, 39-27, 10 points was as close as the Warriors would come.
“These kids have had a great run,” WACO head coach Paul Kissell said of the seniors. “This game doesn’t define their season or their career. They have set a great example and tone for our underclassmen on what it takes to be successful and what hard work does. Tonight it wasn’t our time, but we got a lot of kids that are underclassmen and ready to step up.”
WACO hit just five field goals in the fourth quarter, 11 total in the game. The Warriors shot 31.4% from the field and 15.8% from three.
Hunter Hughes led the Warriors with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Chase Waterhouse ended with nine points and Colton Leichty had eight. Reece Oswald followed with four. Isaac Rich and Noah Fried each ended with three. Clayton Miller had two.
With the loss, WACO finishes the year at 18-6.
