Tiger Girls’ Hoops NLC Champs For First Time Since 2013
January 23, 2022 at 8:38 p.m.
Tiger Girls’ Hoops NLC Champs For First Time Since 2013
By Chip Davenport-
The Tigers (15-6, 7-0) earned their first NLC title in head coach Lenny Krebs’ fifth season at the helm following four previous seasons as the NLC girls’ hoops runner-up.
Senior starters Kacilyn Krebs, Abby Sanner, and Bailie Stephens along with role-playing senior substitutes Morgan Nichols, and Abby Taylor were the evening’s honorees. The quintet hit the floor for tip-off as the game’s five starters.
Nichols and Taylor usually see action in spot minutes, or near the game’s final minutes. They maintain focus on their roles in the Warsaw game plan regardless of the score. They continued their discipline and focus while they played in starting roles in the opening frame.
“I go with the flow. I try not to overthink it, “ Nichols, a 5’11” forward remarked. ”If I’m put in, I know I have a job to do.
“It’s crazy, we’ve worked so hard for this. Ever since I was a freshman this (NLC title) is what I’ve wanted. I’m glad I can say, in my senior year, we finally did it.”
“It was overall a pretty cool experience to get to start with them and play in the opening of Senior Night,” Abby Taylor a 5’7” guard-forward remarked. “Just putting in the work in practice, and knowing every single play, and being able to see the floor because I’m already prepared really helps a lot.”
Warsaw and Concord finished the first stanza tied 7-7, then the Tigers moved ahead 24-13 when the halftime buzzer sounded. The Tigers steadily moved toward the lead they were expected to hold, but they weren’t as dominant as fans expected them to be in the first half.
“There was a whole lot going on today,” Kacilyn Krebs noted. “Senior Night, boys’/girls’ doubleheader, (NLC) championship. We knew we had to come out in the second half and relax. I give my teammates a big tribute to tonight’s success.”
A 29-5 third-quarter knockout punch was the Tigers’ takeaway from the locker room discussion at halftime. The IHSAA mercy rule took effect with 1:37 remaining in the third stanza when Stephens used her signature move, a full-speed first step on her way to a driving layup to put Warsaw ahead by 36 points to trigger the running clock.
“My skills training,” Stephens said crediting how she developed a quick first step revered by most opponents. “Particularly a lot of weight training to get that first step to where it is.”
Sanner, a 6’2” forward snared passes inside the paint and scored on offensive rebounds mostly grabbing the ball and keeping her hands above her head to muscle in 17 points. Sanner snared 10 rebounds, added a 3-point bucket for the second consecutive game, to boot.
“I realized how blessed I am,” Sanner said, reflecting on Warsaw’s NLC title. “I thought about all the groups I’ve been with over the last four years leading up to this moment. I’m going to treasure this for years to come.”
Krebs hit four treys on her way to a 14-point outing. Stephens added 9 points and 4 assists, Ava Egolf scored 6 points, and Zoe Bergan and Abbey Peterson each added 5 points for the NLC champs.
Bailie Mayo, Concord’s point guard, led her squad’s scoring with 13 points.
Warsaw will travel to legendary North Side Gym tomorrow night to battle the Elkhart Lions for their regular season finale.
The Tigers (15-6, 7-0) earned their first NLC title in head coach Lenny Krebs’ fifth season at the helm following four previous seasons as the NLC girls’ hoops runner-up.
Senior starters Kacilyn Krebs, Abby Sanner, and Bailie Stephens along with role-playing senior substitutes Morgan Nichols, and Abby Taylor were the evening’s honorees. The quintet hit the floor for tip-off as the game’s five starters.
Nichols and Taylor usually see action in spot minutes, or near the game’s final minutes. They maintain focus on their roles in the Warsaw game plan regardless of the score. They continued their discipline and focus while they played in starting roles in the opening frame.
“I go with the flow. I try not to overthink it, “ Nichols, a 5’11” forward remarked. ”If I’m put in, I know I have a job to do.
“It’s crazy, we’ve worked so hard for this. Ever since I was a freshman this (NLC title) is what I’ve wanted. I’m glad I can say, in my senior year, we finally did it.”
“It was overall a pretty cool experience to get to start with them and play in the opening of Senior Night,” Abby Taylor a 5’7” guard-forward remarked. “Just putting in the work in practice, and knowing every single play, and being able to see the floor because I’m already prepared really helps a lot.”
Warsaw and Concord finished the first stanza tied 7-7, then the Tigers moved ahead 24-13 when the halftime buzzer sounded. The Tigers steadily moved toward the lead they were expected to hold, but they weren’t as dominant as fans expected them to be in the first half.
“There was a whole lot going on today,” Kacilyn Krebs noted. “Senior Night, boys’/girls’ doubleheader, (NLC) championship. We knew we had to come out in the second half and relax. I give my teammates a big tribute to tonight’s success.”
A 29-5 third-quarter knockout punch was the Tigers’ takeaway from the locker room discussion at halftime. The IHSAA mercy rule took effect with 1:37 remaining in the third stanza when Stephens used her signature move, a full-speed first step on her way to a driving layup to put Warsaw ahead by 36 points to trigger the running clock.
“My skills training,” Stephens said crediting how she developed a quick first step revered by most opponents. “Particularly a lot of weight training to get that first step to where it is.”
Sanner, a 6’2” forward snared passes inside the paint and scored on offensive rebounds mostly grabbing the ball and keeping her hands above her head to muscle in 17 points. Sanner snared 10 rebounds, added a 3-point bucket for the second consecutive game, to boot.
“I realized how blessed I am,” Sanner said, reflecting on Warsaw’s NLC title. “I thought about all the groups I’ve been with over the last four years leading up to this moment. I’m going to treasure this for years to come.”
Krebs hit four treys on her way to a 14-point outing. Stephens added 9 points and 4 assists, Ava Egolf scored 6 points, and Zoe Bergan and Abbey Peterson each added 5 points for the NLC champs.
Bailie Mayo, Concord’s point guard, led her squad’s scoring with 13 points.
Warsaw will travel to legendary North Side Gym tomorrow night to battle the Elkhart Lions for their regular season finale.
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