Published: February 14, 2008 10:16 am         

Westview on the warpath

The Westview Warriors are coming to town and, surely, a bunch of their loyal fans.

Westview, 17-1 and ranked No. 2 in Class 2A, visits the 10-7 Goshen Redskins in a non-conference high school boys basketball special Friday night at the GHS gym.

The Warriors have won 16 straight since a 61-52 overtime loss at Northridge and Goshen is fresh from its most impressive outing in weeks, a 71-54 triumph at East Noble in Kendallville.

Redskin coach Brian Bechtel said, “Westview is the smallest school on our schedule, but probably the most basketball tradition-rich school we play when you look at all their championships.

“Basketball ranks right behind family and faith in what’s important at Westview. As an admirer of the game and someone who loves the sport, I can appreciate that.”

Warrior coach Rob Yoder said, “Our kids are unselfish and play good together. We are not a very big team, but our players understand how to play and they try very hard.

“Goshen is a really good team right now with a lot of players similar to ours. It’s a good things for us to play a team like Goshen so close to sectional time.”

Westview is led by 5-11 senior sharpshooter Justin Yoder, dynamic 5-8 junior point guard Adam Christner, talented 6-2 senior Ryan Sindle and 6-3 senior Taylor Aspy.

Among Warrior victims, who have also played Goshen, are NorthWood 64-51, East Noble 66-58, Fairfield 60-45 and 68-52 and Wawasee 67-52.

“I’m happy for Coach Yoder to see the type of season they are having,” said Bechtel. “It looks like the kind of group which would be a joy to coach, as unselfish as they are. That’s how I feel about my own team too.

“There are a ton of good kids on both sides and they will play extremely hard. Whoever makes the few mistakes will probably win.”

A replay of the Warrior-Redskin clash may be seen on TV-Channel 46 at 11 p.m. Friday or 9 a.m. Saturday.

“Like everyone else, we’re just trying to improve every game,” said Yoder. “These kids have been through it before. Our seniors were in the (Class 2A) Final Four as sophomores and we had just one senior last year.

“I see Goshen as a team with guys who can shoot the ball and also penetrate to the basket. They seem to have a lot of togetherness among some solid players.”

Bechtel said, “We are going up against the best passing team on our schedule. It might come down to which team plays the best defensive game. Westview does a great job pressuring the ball and getting into passing lanes.

“I think the matchups are good, along with rebounding and shooting. It will probably come down to who takes better care of the ball. We can’t allow Westview to get a bunch more shots than we do.

“I like the way we have been practicing. It seems everyone is clicking on all cylinders. We shot the ball well last week, but still had too many turnovers except in the second half at East Noble when we cleaned it up a bit.

“After (junior) Marshall Crawford got hurt (had knee surgery Friday), it took some time for everyone to find themselves in our new rotation.

“We are trying to build momentum before sectional. Playing Westview and then another ranked team (South Bend St. Joseph’s at home next Tuesday), we just want to sit down after each game and say we got better.

“Our top goal right now is to have a winning season and we are sniffing it. It should be a great atmosphere with Westview playing in our gym on a Friday night.”

The Redskins home finale with St. Joseph’s next Tuesday will be GHS “Senior Night.” Goshen closes the regular season Friday, Feb. 22, at West Noble in Ligonier.