Photo by Gary Nieter/Times-Union Sophomore Jaxson Gould drives to the basket along the baseline during Friday night's home game against Lake Central. Gould’s tip-in with less than a second to go in overtime gave the Tigers the win.
Photo by Gary Nieter/Times-Union Sophomore Jaxson Gould drives to the basket along the baseline during Friday night's home game against Lake Central. Gould’s tip-in with less than a second to go in overtime gave the Tigers the win.
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Jaxon Gould’s shot fake on the baseline fooled 6’10” Lake Central Indians center Jack Mahoney, who left his feet prematurely while the 6’2” Warsaw Tiger guard muscled in a buzzer-beating baseline layup for a 50-49 overtime win for the orange and black.

Luke Adamiec found Gould on the inbound bass with 2.9 seconds on the clock, trailing lake central 49-48. Gould, customarily a three point and mid-range shooter, made his move and the ball took what seemed to be a lunch break on the rim before it sunk, sending the Indians home for a long return bus ride to The Region.

Gould said, “we had two seconds left, I was coming down I knew we had to get the ball up quick. I saw the defender, I gave (Mahoney) a shot fake, he got up off his feet coach said, ‘take it string, take strong!’

Warsaw head coach Matt Moore, whose Tigers moved to 3-2, added, “Jackson’s squirrelly enough he gets around the guy that’s 6’10” in his way!”

Moore commented on 5’11” senior guard Bishop Walters’ return to returning to action, saying, “Bishop Walters…BIG shot! I told him, ‘Shoot it man.’ I know he was in a boot for six weeks, but If I’m gonna play ya then, you gotta hit the shot.”

The shot Moore cited was the Tiger guard’s only bucket of the night, but it reversed the host’s fortunes, bringing them within two points, trailing 42-40, with a net scorching trey after Lake Central made a 15-8 fourth quarter run.

The Tigers and the Indians continued their battle closing out the fourth stanza in a 44-44 tie. They continued to draw fouls in overtime, hitting 4 of 6 free throws before Gould’s game-winner at the buzzer.



Warsaw’s success was comprised of defensive hustle, strong offensive rebound against a taller squad, and taking them to the paint resulting in opportunities at the charity stripe. The Tigers hit 18 of 26 freebies. Moore’s squad is challenged each game to earn more free throw attempts than three-point shot attempts. The hosts were successful since they finished the evening 4 for 14 beyond the arc.



Warsaw raced to a 15-8 first frame lead before Lake Central narrowed the score in the second quarter, trailing the Tigers 23-21 at halftime.



The two teams, because of solid defense, deadlocked third quarter action at 6 apiece to close out the third period with the Tigers hanging on to a 29-27 lead.



Lake Central was led by 6’3” forward Ethan Knopf’s 18 points, and 6 boards. Teammates Brandon Escobedo (7 points, 9 rebounds), and Jaydon Clayton (7 points) were among the team’s scoring leaders.



The Indians only dished out 4 assists on 20 for 45, shooting 44% including 2 for 9 from three-point range.

Warsaw’s Judah Simfukwe was a “quiet storm” scorning most of his 7 of his team-leading 12 points in the first half. Gould (9 points), Jackson Dawson 7 points, Luke Adamiec (6 points, many floor burns), Ben Bergen and Russ Winchester (5 points apiece), Kyle Dawson and Bishop Walters (3 points apiece) rounded out the Tiger offensive output.



Warsaw’s JV team had an easier time with their opponents than their elder teammates, winning 59-44. Drew Heckaman racked up 18 points, and Kyle Dawson (16 points) was a big contributor to that win as well. Wes Unseld reincarnation, Isaiah Courtois added 9 points and 9 rebounds, 5 from the offensive glass.



The Tigers will take their 3-2 record to another Duneland Athletic Conference foe’s house when they visit Crown Point. JV tip-off is 6:15 Eastern time. Tickets were limited to participants’ family members.