First-Half Run Lifts Lady Tigers
December 14, 2016 at 3:27 p.m.

First-Half Run Lifts Lady Tigers
By Dale [email protected]
On Tuesday, the Lady Tigers used a fine first half to beat non-conference foe Columbia City.
In the 52nd meeting of the U.S. 30 rivals, Warsaw went on a 20-2 run that bridged the first and second quarters and turned a slim 13-10 advantage into a healthy 33-12 lead and eventually a 53-42 victory.
The Lady Tigers improved to 10-1 on the season, while the Lady Eagles, who got no closer than nine points after Warsaw went on its big run, fell to 3-8.
Warsaw leads the overall series, which dates back to 1977, with a 32-20 record. The home team has won the last five meetings.
“They're a nice team, and playing Columbia City is always one of those games that it seems like it's always a grind to the very end to come out with a win,” said Warsaw coach Michelle Harter. “We came out and played a great first half. We were doing everything that we needed to do to build the lead. In the second half, we came out and had some good looks, shots were in and out, but our rebounding left us in the second half.”
Warsaw shot 56 percent from the field in the first half, cruising to a 33-15 advantage at the break.
Over the final 16 minutes, the Lady Tigers made just 39 percent of their attempts, while Columbia City shot 47 percent in the second half after making just 31 percent in the first two quarters.
The Lady Eagles outrebounded Warsaw 28-20, including a 10-5 advantage on the offensive glass.
Harter was pleased with her team's shot selection, the shots just didn't fall in the second half.
“I thought the shots we took were good, solid shots within the flow of the offense, and I said to one of the assistants, ‘how many of we had rattle in and come right back out?,’” said Harter. “They were good shots, so you can't be disappointed with that, they just didn't fall for us in the second half. They were shots that were falling earlier in the game. I thought the girls did a nice job of looking to attack the basket once our outside shots weren't falling.”
The Lady Tigers were led in scoring by a quartet of seniors.
Dayton Groninger, who was in foul trouble and scored seven points in Saturday's win over Plymouth, scored seven points in the first quarter Tuesday and finished with a team-high 13 points to go along with nine rebounds. She is now one point shy of 800 career points.
Mariah Rivera scored a career-high 12 points, while Madi Graham and Page Desenberg finished with 10 and eight points, respectively.
Kenzie Welk, the fifth senior in Warsaw's starting lineup, and sophomore Kacy Bragg scored four points each.
Freshman Kaylee Patton rounded out the Lady Tigers’ scoring with two points.
“That's the nice thing we talk about with this team ... we can have anybody at any time step up,” said Harter. “The girls are really understanding their roles, which I think that helps them understand when they do have their shot and it's uncontested that's a good shot. I thought tonight the girls did a nice job of that. Columbia City was taking Dayton away in the second half, so Mariah stepped up and hit some open shots for us, which was big.”
Senior Chelsea Pettigrew led Columbia City with a game-high 15 points to go along with eight rebounds, while classmate Holly Martinez chipped in with 10 points and four boards.
Columbia City will continue its string of four consecutive road games Saturday with a trip to Kendallville to play East Noble.
The Lady Tigers have a home game against NLC foe Wawasee Saturday, though the game will be played in Knightstown in the gym used in the movie “Hoosiers.”
Warsaw and Wawasee are scheduled to tipoff at 5:30 p.m.
The JV game between the Lady Tigers and Lady Warriors is scheduled for Monday.
WARSAW 53, COLUMBIA CITY 42
CC 10 5 15 12 – 42
War 15 18 9 11 – 53
CC – Darian Farber 1-2 0-0 2, Carly Mabie 1-3 1-1 3, Chelsea Pettigrew 5-9 5-8 15, Holly Martinez 4-9 0-0 10, Shayla Harris 1-1 0-0 2, Olivia Shearer 1-7 0-0 3, Bella Krieg 2-3 0-0 4. Totals 15-38 9-13 42.
Warsaw – Kennedy Patton 0-0 0-0 0, Page Desenberg 4-9 0-0 8, Mariah Rivera 4-4 2-3 12, Kenzie Welk 1-3 2-2 4, Dayton Groninger 5-11 1-4 13, Madi Graham 3-9 2-2 10, Kacy Bragg 2-2 0-0 4, Emma Bohnenkamper 0-1 0-0 0, Kaylee Patton 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 20-41 7-11 53.
Three-pointers – CC 3 (Martinez 2, Shearer), Warsaw 6 (Rivera 2, Groninger 2, Graham 2); Rebounds – CC 28 (Pettigrew 8), Warsaw 20 (Groninger 9); Turnovers – CC 13, Warsaw 10; Fouls – CC 12, Warsaw 12; Fouled out – none; Records: CC 3-8, Warsaw 10-1
JV – Warsaw 40, Columbia City 38 (OT)
Warsaw – Maddie Ryman 19, Kennedy Patton 6, Miah Holsclaw 4, Kenzie Martz 4, Halle Shipp 3, Madelyn Smith 2, Naomi Phillips 2
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On Tuesday, the Lady Tigers used a fine first half to beat non-conference foe Columbia City.
In the 52nd meeting of the U.S. 30 rivals, Warsaw went on a 20-2 run that bridged the first and second quarters and turned a slim 13-10 advantage into a healthy 33-12 lead and eventually a 53-42 victory.
The Lady Tigers improved to 10-1 on the season, while the Lady Eagles, who got no closer than nine points after Warsaw went on its big run, fell to 3-8.
Warsaw leads the overall series, which dates back to 1977, with a 32-20 record. The home team has won the last five meetings.
“They're a nice team, and playing Columbia City is always one of those games that it seems like it's always a grind to the very end to come out with a win,” said Warsaw coach Michelle Harter. “We came out and played a great first half. We were doing everything that we needed to do to build the lead. In the second half, we came out and had some good looks, shots were in and out, but our rebounding left us in the second half.”
Warsaw shot 56 percent from the field in the first half, cruising to a 33-15 advantage at the break.
Over the final 16 minutes, the Lady Tigers made just 39 percent of their attempts, while Columbia City shot 47 percent in the second half after making just 31 percent in the first two quarters.
The Lady Eagles outrebounded Warsaw 28-20, including a 10-5 advantage on the offensive glass.
Harter was pleased with her team's shot selection, the shots just didn't fall in the second half.
“I thought the shots we took were good, solid shots within the flow of the offense, and I said to one of the assistants, ‘how many of we had rattle in and come right back out?,’” said Harter. “They were good shots, so you can't be disappointed with that, they just didn't fall for us in the second half. They were shots that were falling earlier in the game. I thought the girls did a nice job of looking to attack the basket once our outside shots weren't falling.”
The Lady Tigers were led in scoring by a quartet of seniors.
Dayton Groninger, who was in foul trouble and scored seven points in Saturday's win over Plymouth, scored seven points in the first quarter Tuesday and finished with a team-high 13 points to go along with nine rebounds. She is now one point shy of 800 career points.
Mariah Rivera scored a career-high 12 points, while Madi Graham and Page Desenberg finished with 10 and eight points, respectively.
Kenzie Welk, the fifth senior in Warsaw's starting lineup, and sophomore Kacy Bragg scored four points each.
Freshman Kaylee Patton rounded out the Lady Tigers’ scoring with two points.
“That's the nice thing we talk about with this team ... we can have anybody at any time step up,” said Harter. “The girls are really understanding their roles, which I think that helps them understand when they do have their shot and it's uncontested that's a good shot. I thought tonight the girls did a nice job of that. Columbia City was taking Dayton away in the second half, so Mariah stepped up and hit some open shots for us, which was big.”
Senior Chelsea Pettigrew led Columbia City with a game-high 15 points to go along with eight rebounds, while classmate Holly Martinez chipped in with 10 points and four boards.
Columbia City will continue its string of four consecutive road games Saturday with a trip to Kendallville to play East Noble.
The Lady Tigers have a home game against NLC foe Wawasee Saturday, though the game will be played in Knightstown in the gym used in the movie “Hoosiers.”
Warsaw and Wawasee are scheduled to tipoff at 5:30 p.m.
The JV game between the Lady Tigers and Lady Warriors is scheduled for Monday.
WARSAW 53, COLUMBIA CITY 42
CC 10 5 15 12 – 42
War 15 18 9 11 – 53
CC – Darian Farber 1-2 0-0 2, Carly Mabie 1-3 1-1 3, Chelsea Pettigrew 5-9 5-8 15, Holly Martinez 4-9 0-0 10, Shayla Harris 1-1 0-0 2, Olivia Shearer 1-7 0-0 3, Bella Krieg 2-3 0-0 4. Totals 15-38 9-13 42.
Warsaw – Kennedy Patton 0-0 0-0 0, Page Desenberg 4-9 0-0 8, Mariah Rivera 4-4 2-3 12, Kenzie Welk 1-3 2-2 4, Dayton Groninger 5-11 1-4 13, Madi Graham 3-9 2-2 10, Kacy Bragg 2-2 0-0 4, Emma Bohnenkamper 0-1 0-0 0, Kaylee Patton 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 20-41 7-11 53.
Three-pointers – CC 3 (Martinez 2, Shearer), Warsaw 6 (Rivera 2, Groninger 2, Graham 2); Rebounds – CC 28 (Pettigrew 8), Warsaw 20 (Groninger 9); Turnovers – CC 13, Warsaw 10; Fouls – CC 12, Warsaw 12; Fouled out – none; Records: CC 3-8, Warsaw 10-1
JV – Warsaw 40, Columbia City 38 (OT)
Warsaw – Maddie Ryman 19, Kennedy Patton 6, Miah Holsclaw 4, Kenzie Martz 4, Halle Shipp 3, Madelyn Smith 2, Naomi Phillips 2
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