Tigers Sink Pilgrims, Are NLC?Co-Champs
February 13, 2021 at 4:01 a.m.
Tigers Sink Pilgrims, Are NLC?Co-Champs
By Chip Davenport-
Warsaw head coach Matt Moore, now with his first career conference title in hand, used tough Class 4A competition from the Region and the Fort Wayne area to prepare his squad for this successful NLC run. The Tigers were 4-4 versus teams from those areas.
“This is where we want to be,” Moore said. “Yeah, it's hard when you're 17, you got people telling you their point of view. We're trying to grow guys through these experiences. It gave us an opportunity to grow in games that got dicey down the stretch, and we found ways to win. Now that puts us in a place where (we) want to be.”
Warsaw, facing an opponent with a 2-16 record, maintained their focus throughout the game, winning each quarter.
“I talked about a lot about like winning quarters, winning possessions, winning assignments,” Moore explained. “We try to have our guys focus specifically on ‘here's what we need you to do right now’, and if they do that consistently then success ultimately will follow.
“I told them ‘Your challenge now is so you're not playing Plymouth you're playing Northridge,’” Moore continued. “Northridge is playing (us) every game ever since (we) beat them. That's how we get to the next levels. We're getting ready to play those (sectional) games. You gotta be locked in all the way.”
The Tigers wrapped up their second quarter scoring the same way they did in the first period with another pair of Walters treys, stretching their lead to 38-18 by halftime.
Jaxson Gould opened the second half with a trey, a steal and a layup for five quick points on his way to a 9-point third period. Judah Simfukwe woke up the quiet crowd with a half-court basket at the buzzer.
Gould’s 26 points, five rebounds and eight assists led the way for Warsaw. Walters surpassed his previous career high set last Saturday by nailing 6 of 10 3-pointers to finish with 18 points for the night. Judah Simfukwe added 10 points, followed by Jackson Dawson (6 points), Drew Heckaman (5 points), and Ben Bergen (2 points).
Warsaw was 27 of 43 (63%) from the field, 12 of 18 (67%) from 3-point range, and 4 of 5 (80%) from the free throw line.
Plymouth sophomore Davis Wray scored 15 of his team-leading points in the second half to lead the hosts. They young Pilgrims were also aided by junior Tanner Feece, and sophomore Nolan Bales scoring eight points each. Plymouth (2-17 overall, 0-7 in the NLC) was 12 of 34 (35%) from the field but shot better beyond the arc hitting 7 of 16 (44%) treys. They were 13 for 16 (81%) from the charity stripe.
Warsaw’s JV squad (14-5, 6-1 in the NLC) only needed five players to score, but the balanced attack among that quintet led to a 40-32 victory. Nick Katris (10 points) led the way, followed by Tayde Kiser and Jeremiah Dawson (8 tallies each), with Austin Polk and Tyler Kuhn adding seven apiece).
The Tigers (13-7, 6-1) are back on the hardcourt tonight hosting their final home opponent for the season, the Wabash Apaches (4-12). JV tip-off is 6:15 p.m.
Warsaw head coach Matt Moore, now with his first career conference title in hand, used tough Class 4A competition from the Region and the Fort Wayne area to prepare his squad for this successful NLC run. The Tigers were 4-4 versus teams from those areas.
“This is where we want to be,” Moore said. “Yeah, it's hard when you're 17, you got people telling you their point of view. We're trying to grow guys through these experiences. It gave us an opportunity to grow in games that got dicey down the stretch, and we found ways to win. Now that puts us in a place where (we) want to be.”
Warsaw, facing an opponent with a 2-16 record, maintained their focus throughout the game, winning each quarter.
“I talked about a lot about like winning quarters, winning possessions, winning assignments,” Moore explained. “We try to have our guys focus specifically on ‘here's what we need you to do right now’, and if they do that consistently then success ultimately will follow.
“I told them ‘Your challenge now is so you're not playing Plymouth you're playing Northridge,’” Moore continued. “Northridge is playing (us) every game ever since (we) beat them. That's how we get to the next levels. We're getting ready to play those (sectional) games. You gotta be locked in all the way.”
The Tigers wrapped up their second quarter scoring the same way they did in the first period with another pair of Walters treys, stretching their lead to 38-18 by halftime.
Jaxson Gould opened the second half with a trey, a steal and a layup for five quick points on his way to a 9-point third period. Judah Simfukwe woke up the quiet crowd with a half-court basket at the buzzer.
Gould’s 26 points, five rebounds and eight assists led the way for Warsaw. Walters surpassed his previous career high set last Saturday by nailing 6 of 10 3-pointers to finish with 18 points for the night. Judah Simfukwe added 10 points, followed by Jackson Dawson (6 points), Drew Heckaman (5 points), and Ben Bergen (2 points).
Warsaw was 27 of 43 (63%) from the field, 12 of 18 (67%) from 3-point range, and 4 of 5 (80%) from the free throw line.
Plymouth sophomore Davis Wray scored 15 of his team-leading points in the second half to lead the hosts. They young Pilgrims were also aided by junior Tanner Feece, and sophomore Nolan Bales scoring eight points each. Plymouth (2-17 overall, 0-7 in the NLC) was 12 of 34 (35%) from the field but shot better beyond the arc hitting 7 of 16 (44%) treys. They were 13 for 16 (81%) from the charity stripe.
Warsaw’s JV squad (14-5, 6-1 in the NLC) only needed five players to score, but the balanced attack among that quintet led to a 40-32 victory. Nick Katris (10 points) led the way, followed by Tayde Kiser and Jeremiah Dawson (8 tallies each), with Austin Polk and Tyler Kuhn adding seven apiece).
The Tigers (13-7, 6-1) are back on the hardcourt tonight hosting their final home opponent for the season, the Wabash Apaches (4-12). JV tip-off is 6:15 p.m.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092