Trojans impressive in opener

The Whitehall High School boys basketball team made a strong statement to open the 2017-18 season with an impressive 71-52 home win Saturday over Manhattan Christian.

"Overall with the first game, we couldn't be happier. They did a great job playing together," head coach Zach McLean said.

Whitehall would take a 18-9 lead after the first quarter, and a strong second quarter pushed the lead to 41-23 at half.

McLean said he thought the team defense in the first half was great and they did a great job keeping active. He was also pleased with the way to the team rebounded the ball in the second quarter saying limiting them to one shot was key.

Whitehall would balloon the lead to as many as 25 in the third quarter, and led 59-36 at the end of three.

McLean said in the fourth his team may have been a little tired and were exposed a little defensively.

Whitehall was led in scoring by Wyatt Alexander who had a game high 32 points.

"He played incredible. That's the Wyatt we had this summer. He's a special player and a special athlete. He can do a lot of different things and he is a matchup nightmare," McLean said.

Junior Max Feight also had a huge game for the Trojans with 25 points. Ryan Murphy had six points, Sawyer Keener and Cade Briggs each had three, and Braden Smith added two points.

Whitehall will play Ennis Friday, December 8 at 1:30 p.m.. The game will be played at Manhattan High School. The team will face Conrad, December 9 at 1 pm. at Manhattan Christian High School.

Mclean said the goal will be to get better every week, but his team did make a statement with their opening game.

"I think maybe we woke some people up with the way we played against a really good Manhattan Christian team," he said.

McLean would like to see less isolation and more moving without the basketball on offense.