Titans continue rolling toward postseason, handle Suns for second time this season

WARSAW, Ill. — Southeastern boys basketball coach Brandon Gooding was honest in his assessment.

Brutally honest.

“If we’d play a great team like West Hancock 100 times, they’d probably win all 100,” Gooding said. “But we’re trying to emphasize to our kids go out there and be a puncher, play as hard as you can.”

West Hancock had little trouble dispatching Southeastern on Friday night. The Titans settled for a 63-27 victory that saw four West Hancock players score in double figures.

The win was West Hancock’s fifth in a row over Southeastern and second this season. The Titans completely dominated Southeastern (9-18) back in mid-January 96-40 in a Hancock County Tournament game.

From the outset of the rematch, it was obvious Southeastern had no plans to run with West Hancock, preferring a more workmanlike pace in an effort to try and keep the game close.

“We had to try and slow it down, and I feel we did a good job,” Gooding said. “I feel we’ve made a lot of progress this season. We’ve grown a lot.”

West Hancock coach Jeff Dahl had nothing but praise for what Southeastern tried to do.

“They had a great game plan,” he said. “Southeastern did everything it could.”

Nolan Gooding, a 6-foot-2 senior who is West Hancock’s unofficial muscle inside when play in the paint gets physical, said the Titans were well aware the game would not be played at the frenetic pace they enjoy most.

“We knew they were going to try and slow it down on us,” said Nolan Gooding, who led the Titans with 13 points, including nine in the second half.

Nolan Gooding and teammate Gavin Grothaus, who scored 12 points, both admitted Southeastern’s continued effort to slow the game was frustrating. The slower tempo may have indirectly affected the Titans’ rhythm, both players felt.

“There were times tonight I could feel we just weren’t clicking,” Nolan Gooding said after the Titans won their 12th straight game and improved to 26-4. “We only made one 3-pointer tonight, and that’s not us.”

In the first meeting between the schools, West Hancock buried 13 3-point field goals.

“It seemed like they were trying to stall, but they didn’t stop us,” Grothaus said. “We’re used to playing at a faster pace, it’s the only way we know. I think that’s what the fans and players like the most.”

During West Hancock’s current win streak, seven of the victories have been by 30 or more points and five by 45 or more points.

“It’s hard, at times, to play some of the games when you’re expected to win,” Dahl said. “But we want our kids to always attack.”

Grothaus said not to worry about any late-season rough edges.

“We’ll be at our best come the postseason,” he said.

Cooper Knowles, the 6-foot-9 junior center for West Hancock, scored all 10 of his points in the first half when the Titans built a 32-14 advantage by the half. West Hancock led after three quarters 51-23 before substitutes and a running clock took over for most of the fourth period. West Hancock has now held five opponents below 30 points.

Knowles also led the Titans in rebounding with six, plus blocking seven shots and recorded one dunk.

Lewis Siegfried, one of three West Hancock senior players honored prior to the game, also tossed in 10 points. 

“Each game someone new seems to emerge for us,” Dahl said. “We have six guys capable of double figures every night.”

Aiden Akers’ 14 points and eight rebounds paced Southeastern.

West Hancock’s regular season ends with a Tuesday night game at Quincy Notre Dame. QND has won the two most recent meetings between the schools, including a 68-64 verdict a year ago.