West Branch wins tourney tune-up over Hoover

Despite not controlling the tempo, the Warriors still prevailed.
& lt;a href=mailto:bassetti@vindy.com & gt;By JOHN BASSETTI & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BELOIT -- West Branch High made most of the last basketball game in its gym.
"We didn't want to go out losers after all of these years and I think our girls took a lot of pride in that," coach Chuck Campbell said following the Warriors' 71-60 victory over North Canton Hoover on Wednesday.
The win was the 19th in 20 games, as West Branch concluded a highly successful regular season. The Warriors were ranked No. 3 in the final Division II state poll.
Warriors' leader
Tori Arndt, a 6-foot-2 junior center, had 22 points in her battle with Sahar Nussiebeh, who had an equal amount for North Canton (13-7).
The Vikings were West Branch's second straight Division I opponent as the Warriors prepare for the Div. II tournament next week.
While the 6-2 Nussiebeh had no other teammate in double figures, Arndt got help from Evelyn Woods with 19 points and Ashley Armstrong with 15.
It wasn't the first time Woods showed that she can substantially exceed her 11-point average.
"She had 28 earlier, so she's capable of being a high scorer," Campbell said. "A lot of people say, 'You've got to stop Armstrong, you've got to stop Arndt.' If a team is going to play man-to-man and put their third-best player on her, then there are a lot of times Evelyn is going to come up big."
West Branch never trailed in the game in which the Warriors made 61 percent of their field goals (26-of-41) and forced 21 turnovers.
West Branch made 14-of-23 shots in the first half when it took a 37-33 lead.
Getting defensive
Although Campbell wasn't especially pleased that Hoover dictated the tempo of the game, he was satisfied with his defense.
"In the second half, I thought we did a nice job defensively, especially on their perimeter people. They had 14 second-half turnovers, so that means we did an exceptional job," he said.
Of West Branch's 28 rebounds, Woods grabbed 10 and Arndt eight. Woods also had five of her team's 11 steals. The Warriors also dropped in 16-of-24 free throws.
Unlike most of its other games this season, Campbell didn't think his Warriors were able to control the tempo.
"But it was a plus for us because they were in our face the whole time," he said. "I thought we looked a little ragged and tired in a few cases. We built our lead in the first half, then they made their run to get within four points. But that was their run, then we played like we're capable of."
Armstrong, Crystal Bryte and Ellie Geiger were the seniors playing in the gym for the last time.
Impact player
Armstrong, who's committed to the University of Dayton, is the Warriors' playmaker.
"Against an aggressive team," Campbell said, "we know Ashley has to have the ball in her hands as much as possible."
Armstrong said that Wednesday's opponent was another reason the game was special.
"It's because of their tradition and our rivalry with them," she said. "We were looking to control the tempo more so than we did. That was definitely our downfall tonight."
She said West Branch prefers to keep the flow slow, run its offense and execute.
"With a 6-2 center, obviously, you're going to look in and hope she has the open shot," she said of Arndt. "That's our first option. But, depending on what they do to attack us, she can kick it out."
Hoover also did well from the field, making 24-of-43 shots, but coach Paul Wackerly said he wasn't surprised by the outcome.
"I don't think we hustled that hard, but sometimes good teams make you look a little sluggish," he said.
A new gymnasium at West Branch will be dedicated Friday night before the Warriors' boys team plays Carrollton.
& lt;a href=mailto:bassetti@vindy.com & gt;bassetti@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;