Wheeling finds comfort zone

Wheeling's inexperienced varsity boys basketball team will need some time to work get comfortable playing together.

The host Wildcats started getting there after they were held scoreless for the first four minutes and 20 seconds of their season. They gradually gained more confidence and pulled away to a 47-27 victory over Northside Prep on Monday in Maine West's inaugural Warrior Classic.

"We played pretty good for playing our first time together," said Wheeling junior Riley Harvey. "We're starting to bond as a team right now. By the end of the season we'll be pretty decent as we get to know each other."

Harvey, the Wildcats' most experienced varsity returnee, scored a career-high 16 points as he went 9-for-9 at the free-throw line.

Harvey's 3-pointer with 4:46 left in the third quarter and assists to Billy Jaimie for a jumper and Ryan McClellan (8 points) for a 3 started a 21-5 blitz after Northside Prep got within 20-16.

"We got a little more confident with their zone defense," said Wheeling coach Lou Wool, "and started to move the ball around better and get better shots out of it."

Wool also believes Wheeling's depth and equality in ability will make everyone uncomfortable in a good way. Junior Kyle Batiz came off the bench late in the first quarter and provided a spark at both ends as he scored 7 first-half points.

"I have to say without question this is the deepest team I've had here," Wool said. "With that kind of depth it makes practices more competitive and during games it makes them sharper."

Wheeling scored 15 points off 20 turnovers and had a 25-14 rebound advantage.

"It was a little shaky to start for the first game but 27 points is pretty good to let up for the whole game," Harvey said after the Wildcats held an opponent to less than 30 points for the first time in at least two decades. "The defense did pretty well and we finally started finding our offensive groove."