SELMA, Ind – Even though the Wapahani Raiders have been a good shooting team to start the 2024-25 season, tonight’s 74-35 victory over Mid-Eastern Conference (MEC) foe Wes-Del still surprised Raiders’ junior guard Camden Bell.
“I know every night when we come in and we do what we do, it's always a little bit surprising,” Bell said.
While the team finished with 15 3-pointers, Bell himself added to the total as he hit six shots – and led with 24 total points – from beyond the ark. Senior Nate Luce followed with 16 points and four 3-pointers of his own.
“When your alpha guy like Bell is willing to give the ball up to people, it makes everyone else around him better,” Wapahani head coach Matt Luce said.
The Raiders’ shots were falling early as the red and white jumped out to a 21-5 lead in the first quarter. At halftime, they led Wes-Del 39-11.
“Those guys have won a lot of games throughout their high school career and they're continuing that this season,” Wes-Del head coach Josh Burkett said. “...They've played really good opponents and are just a good team.”
Wapahani senior Nate Luce looks to pass Dec. 20 against Wes-Del at Wapahani High School. Luce finished with 16 points. Zach Carter, DN.
While the Warriors could never match the Raiders’ intensity, senior Josiah Love found success with the ball as he led the black and maroon with 20 points. Throughout the game, Bell guarded Love and knew the type of player he had matched up with.
“He's really good at getting into the middle of the lane and using his body,” Bell said. “...I knew I had to stay down with my feet and not jump because that's what he wants you to do.
I love guarding the other team’s best player.”
The Raiders have started the season 6-0 and are ranked the No. 1 team in Class 2A. Luce said the team hasn’t looked into the success and is just worrying about playing team basketball.
“We just wanna win and those top five guys, they've just been around me so long,” Luce said. “Whether it’s in the locker room, in the bleachers when they're watching me coach.. they're just excited to be good and excited to finally get their turn together.”
With the experience the team has had the last two seasons – which include two semi-state appearances and last year's Class 2A State Finals runner-up finish – Luce thinks this team knows how to play as a team.
“It's the teamwork and the unselfish [play],” Luce said. “They just want to play together and again, they're just trying to enjoy this time because one day it will be over.”
The Raiders will return to the court tomorrow as they head to Alexandria for a contest with the Tigers. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. For the Warriors, Burkett wants to see his team wake up with a fresh mindset as they host another MEC opponent in Daleville tomorrow night at home. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. as well.
“Tomorrow's a new day and it's gonna be awful tonight, but tomorrow morning is a new day and we can't approach tomorrow's game like we did today,” Burkett said. “Or it's gonna be a close one and they might come out on top and that's the thing we don’t want heading into a Christmas break.”
Contact Zach Carter at zachary.carter@bsu.edu or via X @ZachCarter85.
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