STONE COLE
Wireman scores 29 points as Kouts reaches Class A state title game for the first time
Confetti rained as Kouts celebrated its first trip to a state championship game.
Behind the Wireman twins, the Mustangs topped Southwood 86-70 in Saturday’s Class A Lafayette Jefferson Semistate.
Senior guard Cole Wireman scored 29 points and senior guard Cale Wireman added 26 to spark the sharp performance by Kouts (29-2).
“It’s like a dream,” Cale Wireman said. “That’s the only way you can put it. It’s like a dream come true. I’m like a kid walking into Disneyland.”
The Wiremans and the Kneifel twins, senior guard/forwards Hunter and Parker, long have envisioned making this type of run.
They delivered as Kouts, ranked No. 3 in Associated Press Class A poll and coming off its first regional title since 2001, pulled away from Southwood (17-11).
“It’s been a goal forever,” Cole Wireman said. “Me, Cale and the Kneifels, freshman year, we set a goal of state our senior year. It’s just another step. We’re going to state — that’s all you can say.”
Hunter Kneifel scored 11 points and sophomore guard Matthew Baker contributed 10 off the bench.
Kouts coach Kevin Duzan appreciated his team’s collective effort. The Mustangs thrived in the fast-paced game and effectively handled Southwood’s press.
“I don’t want to be cocky and I want to be humble, but this was our goal,” Duzan said. “This was our goal, to get to Indianapolis and have a chance to win a state title for our community. These kids are a big part of that community.
“You saw the fans (Saturday) — we’re playing for them. Trust me, I’m so thrilled for these seniors. All the work they’ve put in, to see it pay off and go down there on the biggest stage and show who we are from Kouts, I couldn’t be prouder.”
Kouts will play for a state title on April 3 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse against No. 1 Barr-Reeve (28-2), which beat Tindley 72-25 in the Washington Semistate.
The Mustangs actually started slowly against Southwood. They trailed 4-0 in less than a minute and 8-2 after a pair of free throws with 6:15 left in the first quarter.
But Kouts gained its footing.
“It was jitters,” Cole Wireman said. “You’re here at semistate. We never played this team. We were a little frustrated in the beginning. I told the guys, ‘We’re in this, just settle down.’ We really settled down and finished strong.”
Kouts took its first lead at 16-15 with 2:26 left in the first quarter on Hunter Kneifel’s 3-point play. The Mustangs took the lead for good at 31-30 with less than six minutes left in the second quarter on Cole Wireman’s basket.
Southwood, which received 30 points from senior guard Carson Rich and 20 from sophomore forward Cole Winer, hung in the game. But Cale Wireman’s free throw stretched Kouts’ advantage to 74-58 with 4:19 left.
“He gets way less credit than he deserves,” Cole Wireman said of Cale. “He kept us consistent the whole game, handling the ball. He really kept us together as a team. He always does that.
“He deserves more credit than I get. He’s the glue that holds us together.”
Duzan praised the duo. “We ride those guys a lot,” he said. “You have to have a driver and you have to have passengers. Cale’s our driver and he gets the ball to the passengers where they need it. Big games, big-time players step up and show who they are.”
Cale Wireman quipped “the whole town was shut down” for this semistate appearance. He anticipated a repeat in two weeks.
“Our goal has always been to get to state,” Cale Wireman said. “Every year we fall short in sectionals. To get that achievement that’s been on your mind, it’s crazy.
“It’s hard work. It means a lot to see it pay off.”