Gould’s Last-Second Shot Sinks Lions 44-43
January 30, 2022 at 9:06 p.m.
Gould’s Last-Second Shot Sinks Lions 44-43
By Chip Davenport-
“We drew up the same option for Jaxson last year,” Warsaw head coach Matt Moore noted. “He’s gotta be pretty focused to make that play down the stretch.
“I guess you have to throw the records out with these two (teams). We showed some resiliency.”
Jaxson Gould, who entered the final quarter with 7 points (below his current season average of 20.4 points per game), scored all five of Warsaw’s tallies in the final stanza including the last-second game-winner. Gould finished with 12 points and gave the Lions fits inside by grabbing 11 defensive rebounds and blocking 3 shots.
The Tigers led each of the first three quarters 17-10, 26-21, and 39-30, respectively when the Lions opened the final period with 8 consecutive points to close within 39-38 before Gould broke the schneid with a free throw. Elkhart held Warsaw scoreless for the for 4:40 in the final frame.
Elkhart’s Eric Nocentelli responded with a 3-point shot to give his Lions their first lead of the night, 41-40 at the 2:48 mark. Gould responded with another bucket to move back into the lead followed by the Tigers’ Tyler Kuhn’s stealing an inbound pass affording Warsaw an additional – and essential – possession with 2:14 left in the game.
“(Kuhn) took a chance and gave us an extra possession and it paid off,” Moore said. “It’s fun watching guys make plays.”
The score remained unchanged when Cam’ron Daniels drove the lane with 22 seconds left when Gould blocked what looked like another layup by the Lions’ 5’11” guard. It’s notable Daniels, the game’s leading scorer with 20 points, gave Warsaw fits inside the paint the entire evening with spin-moves leading to layups, and drives to the basket from the left baseline.
Nocentelli stepped in, however, and drew a foul, subsequently hitting two free throws with 17 seconds remaining to put the guests back on top 43-42 before Warsaw’s Drew Heckaman found Gould with the game-clinching 15-foot baseline jumper.
Heckaman also contributed his share of disruption to an otherwise tight variety of zones (mostly the 1-3-1, and 2-3) employed by Elkhart. The Tigers’ 6’3” junior played with length using his strong vertical game to lead the Tigers in scoring with 15 points.
It was the second week in a row Warsaw dropped a Northern Lakes Conference contest on Friday but battled back on Saturday to capture a non-conference win.
“We had a meat grinder in January,” Moore said. “I like my group, and we’re going to keep getting better. But now, it’s February, and if I’m not done by 5 p.m., and ready to head home, it means we’re not getting it done. We need to come in, get work done, and get home. “
Nocentelli finished the night with 10 points and 6 rebounds for the 3-13 Lions.
Warsaw (11-6, 3-2 in the NLC) also had help in scoring from Judah Simfukwe (8 points), Russ Winchester (5 points), and Theo Katris (4 points). They travel to Mishawaka Thursday evening for their first game in the Cave in this century.
The junior varsity Tigers defeated the Lions 51-44. Luke Bricker led all scorers with 22 points including 6 for 9 (67%) shooting from 3-point range. Trai Davis added 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals. Matthew Mulligan (7 points) and Brandt Martin (5 points) rounded out most of Warsaw’s offensive output. The Tigers (7-6) hit 17 of 31 shots for 55%.
“We drew up the same option for Jaxson last year,” Warsaw head coach Matt Moore noted. “He’s gotta be pretty focused to make that play down the stretch.
“I guess you have to throw the records out with these two (teams). We showed some resiliency.”
Jaxson Gould, who entered the final quarter with 7 points (below his current season average of 20.4 points per game), scored all five of Warsaw’s tallies in the final stanza including the last-second game-winner. Gould finished with 12 points and gave the Lions fits inside by grabbing 11 defensive rebounds and blocking 3 shots.
The Tigers led each of the first three quarters 17-10, 26-21, and 39-30, respectively when the Lions opened the final period with 8 consecutive points to close within 39-38 before Gould broke the schneid with a free throw. Elkhart held Warsaw scoreless for the for 4:40 in the final frame.
Elkhart’s Eric Nocentelli responded with a 3-point shot to give his Lions their first lead of the night, 41-40 at the 2:48 mark. Gould responded with another bucket to move back into the lead followed by the Tigers’ Tyler Kuhn’s stealing an inbound pass affording Warsaw an additional – and essential – possession with 2:14 left in the game.
“(Kuhn) took a chance and gave us an extra possession and it paid off,” Moore said. “It’s fun watching guys make plays.”
The score remained unchanged when Cam’ron Daniels drove the lane with 22 seconds left when Gould blocked what looked like another layup by the Lions’ 5’11” guard. It’s notable Daniels, the game’s leading scorer with 20 points, gave Warsaw fits inside the paint the entire evening with spin-moves leading to layups, and drives to the basket from the left baseline.
Nocentelli stepped in, however, and drew a foul, subsequently hitting two free throws with 17 seconds remaining to put the guests back on top 43-42 before Warsaw’s Drew Heckaman found Gould with the game-clinching 15-foot baseline jumper.
Heckaman also contributed his share of disruption to an otherwise tight variety of zones (mostly the 1-3-1, and 2-3) employed by Elkhart. The Tigers’ 6’3” junior played with length using his strong vertical game to lead the Tigers in scoring with 15 points.
It was the second week in a row Warsaw dropped a Northern Lakes Conference contest on Friday but battled back on Saturday to capture a non-conference win.
“We had a meat grinder in January,” Moore said. “I like my group, and we’re going to keep getting better. But now, it’s February, and if I’m not done by 5 p.m., and ready to head home, it means we’re not getting it done. We need to come in, get work done, and get home. “
Nocentelli finished the night with 10 points and 6 rebounds for the 3-13 Lions.
Warsaw (11-6, 3-2 in the NLC) also had help in scoring from Judah Simfukwe (8 points), Russ Winchester (5 points), and Theo Katris (4 points). They travel to Mishawaka Thursday evening for their first game in the Cave in this century.
The junior varsity Tigers defeated the Lions 51-44. Luke Bricker led all scorers with 22 points including 6 for 9 (67%) shooting from 3-point range. Trai Davis added 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals. Matthew Mulligan (7 points) and Brandt Martin (5 points) rounded out most of Warsaw’s offensive output. The Tigers (7-6) hit 17 of 31 shots for 55%.
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