GOSHEN —
Two big back-to-back wins have coach Brian Bechtel and his Goshen Redskins feeling pretty good about themselves as the final few games of the 2012-13 regular season approach.
The Redskins closed out the NLC season on a winning note last Thursday night with a 66-27 win over Wawasee. That victory was a milestone for the Redskins, as it wrapped up a second consecutive winning conference record for Goshen at 4-3.
It also gave the Redskins a share of second place in the NLC. The Redskins share that spot with Plymouth and Elkhart Memorial.
And then on Saturday, the Redskins hosted a struggling East Noble squad that came to Goshen just 2-16. Goshen won that game convincingly also, vanquishing the Knights, 69-35.
Bechtel said his team was the better squad entering both contests. But being better on paper is pretty meaningless.
“You still have to go out and execute and hit your shots,” Bechtel said.
Both games, Bechtel said, provided a chance for the Redskins to get some quality playing time for younger players. And while that may not help that much in the upcoming sectional tournament, it will go a long way toward setting a foundation for next season.
“We’re going to be losing four seniors (Austin Henke, Sam Stegelmann, Cristian Barron and Jesse Good), so we will need some of these younger guys to step up,” Bechtel said.
The focus for the final few games of 2012-13 will be getting ready for the upcoming Class 4A Sectional tournament at NorthSide Gym in Elkhart.
The Redskins have a good chance to do that against a quality Class 2A opponent this week when they hit the road to face Westview. The Warriors are 17-1 after a 47-29 win over Wawasee Tuesday night. Westview’s lone blemish on the season is a 63-54 loss to NorthWood early in the season.
Bechtel said his team will have to be at the top of its game to beat the Warriors — especially on the road at the Warrior Dome, one of the toughest places to play in the area.
“It’s a great atmosphere for Indiana high school basketball,” Bechtel said.
“Our guys realize that, and we are going to have to try and match them bucket-for-bucket. We can’t afford to let them get out on any big runs to start the game.”
The series has been about as evenly matched as a series could be over the past 15 years: Goshen holds a slight 8-7 edge. The Redskins prevailed over the Warriors, 52-47 in Goshen last Feb. 17.
Sports
Related Photos
-
Goshen's Austin Woolett puts up a shot over Mishawaka's Cody Childress (33) and Dan Mitchell (10) during a game earlier this season. SAM HOUSEHOLDER | THE GOSHEN NEWS
PREP BASKETBALL PREVIEW: Redskins on roll
Goshen looks to keep up momentum this week
- Sports
-
-
PREP GIRLS SOFTBALL: Repeat Raiders
In a near repeat of the two regular season meetings, the No. 2 ranked Northridge Raiders and the unranked Concord Minutemen locked up in a close championship contest of the Class 4A high school girls softball sectional Friday night at Warsaw.
-
PREP BASEBALL: Raiders, Blue Blazers advance
Northridge and Elkhart Central notching victories was not surprising.
-
2013 INDY 500: Munoz, Daly take different paths to Indy
Carlos Munoz’s initiation to Indianapolis went relatively smoothly.
-
PREP BOYS TRACK AND FIELD: State tickets punched
The Goshen Redskins made the long trip to Kokomo on Thursday night for the IHSAA boys track and field regional and brought home a regional championship and a runner-up finish.
-
PREP SOFTBALL: Falcons win first sectional title
With two of the area’s top pitchers squaring off Thursday night in the championship game of the Class 3A Lakeland Sectional between Lakeland and Fairfield, the margin for error figured to be very small.
-
NBA PLAYOFFS: LeBron saves Heat at buzzer of Game 1
LeBron James made a layup as time expired in overtime, and the Miami Heat found a way to beat the Indiana Pacers 103-102 in a wild Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals Wednesday night.
-
PREP SOFTBALL: Raiders, Minutemen in 4A final
Considering that all the teams in the Class 4A Warsaw sectional are members of the NLC, except for one, it’s not a great surprise that a pair of league teams will square off for the championship of the high school girls softball sectional.
-
PREP GIRLS TENNIS: Raiders dominate
The suspense at Wednesday’s Northridge Regional girls tennis finals didn’t last very long.
-
NFL: Bears LB Urlacher announces his retirement
Brian Urlacher wasn't sure how dominant he could be any longer, so he's calling it a career after 13 seasons with the Chicago Bears.
-
PREP GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD: On to the state meet
Concord, led by double winner junior Jessica O’Connell, finished fourth in the team standings in the IHSAA girls track and field regional Tuesday night at Warsaw.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Raw: Trucker Bumps I-5 Bridge Before Collapse
Raw: Texas Deputy Shot by Colo. Suspect Honored
Major Detours Following Wash. Bridge Collapse
American Held in Grisly Czech Murders
Raw: Jersey Shore Reopens for Summer
UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested
Officials: Tsarnaev Friend Linked to Slaying
Obama:Sexual Assault Threatens Trust in Military
Bridge Collapse Survivor: 'Rough Day'
Jersey Shore Open for Business
Raw: Memorial Day Flags Placed at Arlington
New Wheelchair Lift Promises More Access
First Person: Mom Discusses Famous Tornado Photo
Raw Video: Washington State Bridge Collapse
Boy Scouts Approve Plan to Accept Gay Boys
