Warsaw Takes Down Mishawaka 52-46
February 9, 2022 at 3:25 a.m.
Warsaw Takes Down Mishawaka 52-46
By Anthony Anderson-
Led by Drew Heckaman’s 7-of-7 perfection for 14 points and Judah Simfukwe’s 7-of-8 effort while scoring 15 points, Warsaw knocked down a torrid 24-of-37 field goals (64.9%) on its way to a 52-46 comeback win over Mishawaka on Tuesday night.
Jaxson Gould led all players with 16 points, nine rebounds and five assists as the Tigers (12-7, 4-2) jumped into a second-place tie with the Cavemen (10-5, 4-2) in the Northern Lakes Conference race.
Mishawaka just joined the league prior to last season, thus accounting for the long span between visits by the Tigers, who were also winners during their last trip here, 75-69 in February 1989. The facility debuted in 1924.
Tuesday’ outcome meant that NorthWood — at 6-0 with the Cavemen still remaining on its schedule — clinched its second-ever outright NLC crown, the other coming in 2000.
Warsaw trailed 16-9 after coughing up seven turnovers in the first quarter, six of those being Mishawaka steals, but righted itself from there with crisp offense that produced 20-of-28 shooting (71.4%) and just nine more turnovers over the final three periods.
The defense cranked up, too, especially in the second quarter, when the Tigers outscored the Cavemen 14-3.
Warsaw tallied the final eight points of that period for a 23-19 halftime lead.
The visitors pushed their lead to a high of 40-30 entering the fourth quarter and were still in front 44-34 with less than six minutes to go before Mishawaka mounted its own rally.
The Cavemen got as close as two twice at 46-44 and 48-46, the latter at 1:59 remaining, but The Tigers closed out with a pair of Simfukwe buckets.
Three times during the evening, Warsaw perfectly executed long leak-out inbounds to Simfukwe, with Nick Katris lofting two of those.
Sharp passes were aplenty for the winners, who rang up 17 assists.
Junior Arthur Jones led Mishawaka with 13 points. Senior Brendan Williams added 10 and sophomore Brady Fisher scored nine to go with four steals.
The Tigers finished just 1-of-9 from distance, but more than made up for it with their silly-hot 23-of-28 (82.1%) inside the arc.
The Cavemen committed 12 turnovers to Warsaw’s 16, but were just 15-of-39 from the field (38.5%). The hosts did drain 4-of-13 on 3-pointers, and converted 12-of-14 free throws to the Tigers’ 3-of-6.
Warsaw outrebounded Mishawaka 23-14.
For the strong-foe-hunting Tigers, it was their sixth win this season over an opponent that stood at a .667 victory percentage or better entering Tuesday.
That list includes Peru (13-1), Valparaiso (16-3), Columbia City (12-5), Huntington North (12-5) and South Bend Washington (12-6) as well.
On the flip side, roller-coaster Warsaw has sustained a couple of its losses against Concord (8-8) and Fort Wayne Dwenger (8-6).
Overall, though, it’s been an undeniably rugged schedule.
Entering Tuesday, the .648 cumulative win percentage of Tiger opponents ranked second-best in the northern third of Indiana and fifth-best in the entire state.
Further, the computerized Sagarin ratings placed Warsaw’s schedule as third-toughest among schools in the northern third and 26th-toughest overall.
A busy week continues with Wednesday’s game at Marion’s storied Bill Green Arena. The Tigers haven’t visited there since a 60-59 overtime loss to the Giants in February 2011. Marion’s 6-8 this season.
Warsaw returns home Friday for Senior Night against Plymouth (5-12, 1-4), before wrapping its regular season with a pair of road games.
Mishawaka, meanwhile, makes a first-ever trip to Westview (7-8) on Wednesday.
The Tigers rolled 63-25 in Tuesday’s junior varsity game. Will Bergen scored 14 points and Luke Yeager 10 as the Warsaw JV improved to 12-5 overall, 5-1 in the NLC.
Led by Drew Heckaman’s 7-of-7 perfection for 14 points and Judah Simfukwe’s 7-of-8 effort while scoring 15 points, Warsaw knocked down a torrid 24-of-37 field goals (64.9%) on its way to a 52-46 comeback win over Mishawaka on Tuesday night.
Jaxson Gould led all players with 16 points, nine rebounds and five assists as the Tigers (12-7, 4-2) jumped into a second-place tie with the Cavemen (10-5, 4-2) in the Northern Lakes Conference race.
Mishawaka just joined the league prior to last season, thus accounting for the long span between visits by the Tigers, who were also winners during their last trip here, 75-69 in February 1989. The facility debuted in 1924.
Tuesday’ outcome meant that NorthWood — at 6-0 with the Cavemen still remaining on its schedule — clinched its second-ever outright NLC crown, the other coming in 2000.
Warsaw trailed 16-9 after coughing up seven turnovers in the first quarter, six of those being Mishawaka steals, but righted itself from there with crisp offense that produced 20-of-28 shooting (71.4%) and just nine more turnovers over the final three periods.
The defense cranked up, too, especially in the second quarter, when the Tigers outscored the Cavemen 14-3.
Warsaw tallied the final eight points of that period for a 23-19 halftime lead.
The visitors pushed their lead to a high of 40-30 entering the fourth quarter and were still in front 44-34 with less than six minutes to go before Mishawaka mounted its own rally.
The Cavemen got as close as two twice at 46-44 and 48-46, the latter at 1:59 remaining, but The Tigers closed out with a pair of Simfukwe buckets.
Three times during the evening, Warsaw perfectly executed long leak-out inbounds to Simfukwe, with Nick Katris lofting two of those.
Sharp passes were aplenty for the winners, who rang up 17 assists.
Junior Arthur Jones led Mishawaka with 13 points. Senior Brendan Williams added 10 and sophomore Brady Fisher scored nine to go with four steals.
The Tigers finished just 1-of-9 from distance, but more than made up for it with their silly-hot 23-of-28 (82.1%) inside the arc.
The Cavemen committed 12 turnovers to Warsaw’s 16, but were just 15-of-39 from the field (38.5%). The hosts did drain 4-of-13 on 3-pointers, and converted 12-of-14 free throws to the Tigers’ 3-of-6.
Warsaw outrebounded Mishawaka 23-14.
For the strong-foe-hunting Tigers, it was their sixth win this season over an opponent that stood at a .667 victory percentage or better entering Tuesday.
That list includes Peru (13-1), Valparaiso (16-3), Columbia City (12-5), Huntington North (12-5) and South Bend Washington (12-6) as well.
On the flip side, roller-coaster Warsaw has sustained a couple of its losses against Concord (8-8) and Fort Wayne Dwenger (8-6).
Overall, though, it’s been an undeniably rugged schedule.
Entering Tuesday, the .648 cumulative win percentage of Tiger opponents ranked second-best in the northern third of Indiana and fifth-best in the entire state.
Further, the computerized Sagarin ratings placed Warsaw’s schedule as third-toughest among schools in the northern third and 26th-toughest overall.
A busy week continues with Wednesday’s game at Marion’s storied Bill Green Arena. The Tigers haven’t visited there since a 60-59 overtime loss to the Giants in February 2011. Marion’s 6-8 this season.
Warsaw returns home Friday for Senior Night against Plymouth (5-12, 1-4), before wrapping its regular season with a pair of road games.
Mishawaka, meanwhile, makes a first-ever trip to Westview (7-8) on Wednesday.
The Tigers rolled 63-25 in Tuesday’s junior varsity game. Will Bergen scored 14 points and Luke Yeager 10 as the Warsaw JV improved to 12-5 overall, 5-1 in the NLC.
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