Teamwork helps Whips net BNC win

Mike Kozenczak

Font Size

Email

Bookmark

Black Text

White Text

HAMPSHIRE -- It's safe to say that Hampshire knows how to shut down Harvard's offense.

After holding the Hornets to just 28 points two weeks ago at the Marengo Tournament, the Whip-Purs matched that number Tuesday night with a 49-28 win in each team's Big Northern Conference East Division opener.

"Defensively, we did a great job and we've done a great job all season," said Hampshire coach Bob Barnett.

Offensively, the Whips only committed six turnovers and got balanced scoring all around. Six-foot-6 freshman center Tyler Watzlawick had his way in the paint to lead all scorers with 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field. Watzlawick, a starter, attributes tough competition in the early part of the season and good teammates as big reasons why he has been effective down low.

"The competition has definitely helped," said Watzlawick, who also pulled down six rebounds. "Playing the top competition is always good for you, but my teammates helped me get some good looks tonight."

Mike Kozenczak scored all 10 of his points in the first half. Fellow senior Will Bush, usually a starter, came off the bench because of an illness earlier in the week and also tallied 10 points of 5-of-5 shooting.

Hampshire jumped out to a 10-0 lead before Harvard cut it to 14-10 by the end of the first quarter. The Hornets (3-9, 0-1) connected on three first-half 3-pointers to help keep them close.

The last one, however, came with just over four minutes left in the second quarter and was Harvard's last points of the half. The Whips then went on a 7-0 run to close out the quarter, pushing their lead to 28-15.

After a Watzlawick bucket inside to start the third quarter, junior Justin Bieber knocked down his second of two 3-pointers to blow the game open.

"This is what we do. This is how we're supposed to play basketball," said Barnett, whose team also out-rebounded Harvard 27-16. "Everybody pulling for each other and working off one another."

The Whips now stand at 6-6 overall and are looking forward to getting into the bulk of their league games.

"One thing we talked about is that it's a brand new day and a brand new year, we're starting all over," said Barnett. "Did we like being 5-6? No, but that's where we were and we can only go forward."