CROFF-MATIC
Junior guard scores 19, Mustangs beat Washington Townsip for sectional title
It was touch-and-go early for Kouts.
Cole Wireman, the team’s leading scorer, left the game with 10 seconds left in the first quarter after picking up his third foul.
Washington Township scored the first eight points of the game, and the Senators weren’t feeling intimidated whatsoever by the No. 3 team in Class A.
Postseason intensity and strange circumstances can elevate unknown players.
In Saturday night’s championship game of the Kouts Sectional, it was Connor Croff who took a bow in the Mustangs’ 67-53 victory over the Senators.
Croff, a 5-foot-11 junior guard, finished with a career-high 19 points for Kouts (27-2). Tyler Hachey led Washington Township (16-7) with 24 points while James Hernandez had 11.
Croff was the leading scorer for Kouts’ junior varsity team. His varsity career consisted of playing in mop-up duty after the Mustangs had the game in control.
He said he played only six seconds Friday in an 85-56 semifinal victory over Morgan Township, but it was one of those nights where someone had to figure it out.
“I played tonight probably as much as I played in every game (total) this season,” Croff said.
He didn’t have time to be nervous.
The Senators lost to Kouts by 41 points in the regular season.
This was a different team.
Washington Township led 10-7 after one quarter and 25-22 at halftime. Hernandez opened the third quarter with a basket to make it 27-22.
Then Cale Wireman, Cole’s twin brother, took over for about 30 seconds. It was a minute that changed the arc of the game.
Cale Wireman hit a 3-pointer. He then stole consecutive passes and converted those into layups.
His last layup in the burst made it 29-28 with 6:34 left in the third quarter.
It was the first time Kouts led. The Mustangs didn’t trail from there, going on to outscore Washington Township 14-2 in their run.
Cale Wireman, who finished with 15 points, said having his brother Cole back in the game freed him up to make some plays.
Twin brothers Parker and Hunter Kneifel also scored 11 points apiece for Kouts.
Cole Wireman returned to the lineup at the start of the third quarter after sitting out the entire second quarter.
Trying not to pick up his fourth foul, he didn’t play super aggressively, either.
“They were focused on me when Cole wasn’t in there,” Cale Wireman said. “I was able to get open when he returned.”
In the fourth quarter, it was mostly Croff who did the scoring, contributing 11 points.
He had the advantage of being a player not listed on the scouting report.
He capitalized on it.
“I just wanted to do whatever I could to help,” Croff said. “It was critical at that point to build the lead.”
The sectional title was a welcome relief.
Kouts had lost the last two sectional championship games to 21st Century. The Cougars, however, were upset Friday by Washington Township.
Kouts coach Kevin Duzan was happy for his kids.
“It’s been a long time coming,” he said.