The Warsaw Lady Tigers more than held their own on the road against the state’s third-ranked team in 3A Tuesday night.

Norwell, undefeated at 8-0 coming into the game was forced to withstand a furious fourth quarter comeback by the Lady Tigers to escape with a 55-47 win.

Warsaw, 9-2 and averaging 54 ppg, was down by 21 points at one point during the game. The Lady Knights outscored Warsaw 38-14 in the 2nd and 3rd quarters.

The Lady Tigers led 12-7 at the end of the 1st quarter with senior forward Audrey Grimm accounting for half that total.

In the 2nd, both teams traded baskets for a while before Norwell went on a run and outscored Warsaw 11-2 to end the half leading 26-17.

The wheels came off for the Lady Tigers in a disastrous 3rd quarter as Norwell shot the lights out and went up by 21.

Said Warsaw head coach Lenny Krebs:?“I was more concerned about how we played rather than the ultimate result. We played hard, and I’m very proud of our team for that. It wasnt an effort deal, it was an execution deal.

“We let frustration set it and we have to learn from this and learn to weather the storm. we couldn't make some adjustments the way we needed to, and credit Norwell for that. They’re a very solid team and it’s easy to see why they are undefeated.”

Warsaw had success in the 1st quarter, attacking successfully in the paint on drives by Abby Sanner and Audrey Grimm and Kensie Ryman.

In the 2nd quarter, Norwell began to show why they are so highly regarded among the state’s 3A teams.

It wasn’t until Wayne scored on a driving layup finally got Warsaw on board two minutes into the 2nd stanza and after two free throws by Norwell put the Lady Knights ahead 15-14 Norwell went on to dominate both the 2nd and 3rd quarters.

Both teams traded baskets initially during the 2nd  quarter but then Norwell outscored Warsaw 11-2 to end the half leading 26-17.

Warsaw started slowly in the 3rd quarter. Bailie Stephens finally scored with five mins to go in 3rd, but then Norwell immediately scored another 3 -pointer.

A Krebs 3-pointer had the score at 32-22, then 32-24 on layup by Wayne.

Another 3-pointer by Norwell made the score 35-24,  and the teams continued trading baskets to 39-26.

A ragged 3rd quarter by Warsaw combined with some hot shooting by Norwell proved to be too much for the Lady Tigers to overcome, altough they did put on a show to come within striking distance.

Coming off a 45-26 Norwell lead  at end of the 3rd quarter, Warsaw struck first and struck often in the final period.

A basket by Stephens followed by a layup, a free trow and a 3 pointer by Ryman quickly cut the lead to 11, 45-34.

Abby Sanner hit a free throw, then a rebound and putback by Grimm made the score 45-37.

Stephens hit two more free trows to cut the lead to 8, at 47-39, then 2 more by Ryman made the score 47-41 with 1:40 to play.

A?Krebs 2 pointer cut the Norwell lead to four with just over a minute to go and suddenly the Lady Tigers were still in the game.

As the clock continued to run out though, Warsaw was forced to foul and Norwell was able to convert on enough free throws to escape by a score of 55-47.

Norwell outscored the Lady Tigers 38-14 in the 2nd and 3rd quarters and were up by 21 at one point.

Warsaw was led in scoring by Kensie Ryman, Bailie Stephens, and Audrey Grimm with 10 points apiece.

Junior Kacily Krebs Krebs went down with knee injury midway through the 2nd quarter and was taken to the locker room but returned to play shortly after.