West still seeks a complete performance

The Wauwatosa West boys basketball team continued to have problems putting together an entire four quarters of good basketball again last week.

As a result, they lost two Woodland Conference games and saw their losing streak increase to seven games, six in conference play.

The Trojans (2-12 overall, 2-7 Woodland) lost to first-place Whitnall (12-1, 8-1) on Friday, 82-57, on the road after losing, 67-52, on Jan. 10 at home to St. Thomas More.

"Until we put together four quarters, we won't beat anyone," Tosa West coach Chad Stelse said.

The Trojans have their conference bye this Friday, so they are off for two weeks, then face New Berlin Eisenhower (10-3, 8-2) Jan. 27. The time off to practice could be a good thing for the young Trojans.

WHITNALL

The Black Division leader blitzed the Trojans from the opening tip and used a hot-shooting first quarter to bury them early with a 28-5 lead and led 49-18 at halftime. The Trojans played better in the second half with a 39-33 advantage as the Falcons cleared their bench along the way.

West battled, but couldn't overcome the miserable first quarter.

The Trojans were led by the hot shooting of junior Austin Jones, who finished with 19 points on 3-for-3 shooting from the 3-point line. Freshman Steffan Brown also added 13 points and four assists.

Freshman Will Watkins just missed double digits with nine points.

It didn't help the Trojans that sophomore guard Blake Harvey (9.6 points) was out with the flu.

"I like the way we battled, but in the first quarter Whitnall couldn't miss," Stelse said. "But that being said, our guys have to do a better job of closing out on shooters.

"We told our guys that they were a very balanced team and all of their players could beat you. You give a talented squad like that open looks, and it's going to be a long night."

Ian Ray, who has a 9.3 average, led the Falcons with 22 points, including five 3-pointers, while leading scorer Luke Mentkowski added 16. Star guard Stephen Pelkofer (12.9 points) missed the game with an injured back.

ST. THOMAS MORE

Tosa West had two good quarters in a 67-52 loss to St. Thomas More on Jan. 3.

The Trojans played well in the opening and closing quarters, but the game was decided in the middle two periods.

A hot start was sparked by Harvey had the Trojans leading, 21-15, after the first quarter.

The Trojans led 21-16 after one period, but then the Blue Division-leading Cavaliers (9-3, 6-1) scored 18 of 25 points in the second quarter to take a 33-28 lead into halftime.

But the game was officially decided in the third quarter when the Cavs came out and went on a 15-2 run to coast into the final quarter with a 48-30 advantage.

"We had an outstanding first quarter," Stelse said. "But for the second and third quarter we had trouble scoring. The Trojans got into serious foul trouble as JJ Belknapp, Austin Jones and Sam Clough all fouled out and St. Thomas More converted 23-of-39 (only .589 percent) at the free-throw line. Tosa West managed to get to the line 16 times, but could only convert seven times (.437).

Blake led all scorers with 15 points. Andre Carroll had 11 points and seven rebounds and Clough had five points and seven boards.

Trevor Wattawa, a 6-foot-6 inch senior forward led the way with 30 points - 10 more than his league-leading average.

Daymeann Stewart added 11 and Justin Shervey had 10.

"Thomas More showed why they are in first place," Stelse said. "Trevor Wattawa proved to be too much for us to handle. We had no answer for Wattawa. We have had a hard time all season containing our opponents' leading scorer and (this) was no different."

LANDERS DONE

West sophomore Ricky Landers, who missed four games early in the year because of an athletic code violation, is now done for the season for the same reason.

A 6-foot-7 inch sophomore, who has averaged 8.8 points per game this year, has only seen action in five of 14 games.