West boys open season with two losses at tourney

Wauwatosa West first-year boys basketball coach Chad Stelse knows the 2011-12 season will be a learning experience for his young team. The opening weekend could be an example of that.

The Trojans traveled to Fort Atkinson for the Blackhawks Thanksgiving Tournament on Friday and Saturday. West dropped games to Racine Park the first night and the host Blackhawks the second.

But Stelse was happy with the 24-hour improvement.

The Trojans opened with an 86-52 loss to Racine Park, as they couldn't get the cover off the basket in the first quarter and trailed, 19-3. They then scored 14, 16 and 19 in the final three periods and did outscore the Panthers by two in the fourth quarter.

"We played hard, but ultimately our inexperience showed by committing 30 turnovers," Stelse said. "That along with poor defense led to our demise."

Park was also impressive on Saturday, beating Stevens Point, 66-44, to start the season 2-0.

One of the players Stelse is excited about this year is Andre Carroll, the younger brother of Wauwatosa East guard Anthony Carroll.

The youngster didn't disappoint him, making the all-tournament team.

Carroll scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Trojans in their season opener.

Junior guard JJ Belknapp and freshman guard Will Watkins each scored 10 points to give West three players in double figures.

The Trojans did get to the free-throw line 33 times, but only converted 18, a .545 shooting percentage.

Carroll was 7-for-12, Watkins was 5-for-9 and Belknapp finished 4-for-6.

The Panthers were led by Nashon Holliman (17), Taron Edwards (12), Devan Hall (11) and Jordan Payne (10).

The Trojans improved the next day but still lost to Fort Atkinson, 52-42. Fort had beaten Catholic Memorial, 54-52, the night before.

The Trojans were in the game through three quarters, leading, 11-10, after thr first quarter, trailing, 23-22, at halftime and being tied, 31-31, through three quarters.

Tosa West was up 20-13 at the six-minute mark of the second quarter, when Carroll picked up his second foul. With Carroll on the bench, Fort went on a 13-2 run to end the half.

But the Trojans had no answer for Fort's Jimmy Hanson down the stretch as the Blackhawks outscored them, 21-11, in the fourth quarter.

Hanson, a 6-4 forward, finished with 18 points to lead all scorers, while Alex Bakken had nine and Casey O'Brien and Travis Hartman each had eight.

Blake Harvey, a 5-11 sophomore forward, had 15 points and seven rebounds, Carroll had 10 and freshman Steffan Brown finished with eight.

Foul trouble hurt West late in the game.

Busy Schedule

The Trojans now play three games in five days, hosting South Milwaukee on Friday in a Woodland Conference game and Nicolet at 4 p.m. Saturday in a non-conference game.

They then travel to Greenfield for a 7:30 p.m. game on Tuesday.