Warsaw Faces Challenege In Bulldogs, Langford
December 28, 2016 at 5:00 p.m.
Warsaw Faces Challenege In Bulldogs, Langford
By Dale [email protected]
That will be the case Friday, however, when Warsaw plays defending 4A state champion New Albany in the second game of the City Securities Hall of Fame Classic.
The prestigious four-team tournament will be played at Chrysler Fieldhouse in New Castle and tips off at 11 a.m. with third-ranked Logansport (7-0) and No. 8 Lawrence North (6-1).
Unranked Warsaw (5-2) will play No. 4 New Albany at approximately 11:45 a.m., and it will be the first meeting between the Tigers and Bulldogs since the state semifinals in 1996 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.
There is a consolation game slated for 6 p.m. Friday, followed by the championship game.
“I told the players that we should be grateful that we get to do this,” said Warsaw coach Doug Ogle. “It’s the most prestigious tournament in the state, and to get to play against Romeo Langford and the defending state champions is quite an honor.
“Honestly, I’m jealous of the players because I don’t get to play. It’s fun coaching, but a tournament like this, in an historic gym, it’s probably 50 times more fun to play.”
While Logansport is the highest ranked team, and the only undefeated squad among the four, Langford is the featured attraction.
The 6-foot-5 guard is ranked No. 2 nationally in th junior class by ESPN.
Langford, already New Albany’s career scoring leader with 1,508 points, averages 29 points, seven rebounds and three assists per game.
In a game televised live by ESPN on Dec. 15, Langford scored 40 points against LaPorte La Lumiere, the No. 1 team in the nation.
Ogle admitted the hill his team faces Friday is steep, but it’s one he believes his team can climb.
“It’s steep, we know that, but we’ll be ready to climb,” said Ogle, who also guided the Tigers in the 2010 Hall of Fame Classic. “As good as New Albany is, we still think we’re a dangerous team team to face because we’re solid defensively and we’re a strong rebounding team.
“The key for us is whether or not our guys can be fearless. Will all the players go into the game and do the things we have to do to win this game? It’s going to take a great effort, and we need a great effort from everyone.”
Senior guard Isaac Hibbard is New Albany’s second-leading scorer at 12 points per game.
For Warsaw, Indiana Wesleyan recruit Kyle Mangas, leads the way with 21.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.
The 6-3 senior is just 15 points shy of becoming the 12th player in program history to score 1,000 career points.
“Kyle can do what’s necessary ... dribble, score, rebound, defend,” Ogle said when asked about the importance of the tournament for Mangas, an Indiana All-Star hopeful.
“If Kyle plays to his potential Friday that’s going to be a good thing or us. People that understand basketball will see how good he is.”
Senior Jeremy David and junior Ross Johnson average just under six points each for the Tigers.
Third-ranked Logansport is led by a pair of senior standouts.
Jalen Adaway, a 6-4 wing, averages 18.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.
Matt Jennings, a 6-0 Grace College recruit, averages 18.4 points and 4.4 assists, while senior Hunter DeHaven and sophomore Sam Skaggs average 10 points per game each.
Lawrence North is led by a trio of double-figure scorers in 6-9 senior Ra Kpedi, 6-7 junior Kevin Easley Jr, and 5-10 junior Antwaan Cushingberry.
Lawrence North, coached by Jack Keefer won Hall of Fame Classic titles in 1979, 1989 and 2003.
Keefer is in his 44th year of coaching and boasts a record of 749-303.
That will be the case Friday, however, when Warsaw plays defending 4A state champion New Albany in the second game of the City Securities Hall of Fame Classic.
The prestigious four-team tournament will be played at Chrysler Fieldhouse in New Castle and tips off at 11 a.m. with third-ranked Logansport (7-0) and No. 8 Lawrence North (6-1).
Unranked Warsaw (5-2) will play No. 4 New Albany at approximately 11:45 a.m., and it will be the first meeting between the Tigers and Bulldogs since the state semifinals in 1996 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.
There is a consolation game slated for 6 p.m. Friday, followed by the championship game.
“I told the players that we should be grateful that we get to do this,” said Warsaw coach Doug Ogle. “It’s the most prestigious tournament in the state, and to get to play against Romeo Langford and the defending state champions is quite an honor.
“Honestly, I’m jealous of the players because I don’t get to play. It’s fun coaching, but a tournament like this, in an historic gym, it’s probably 50 times more fun to play.”
While Logansport is the highest ranked team, and the only undefeated squad among the four, Langford is the featured attraction.
The 6-foot-5 guard is ranked No. 2 nationally in th junior class by ESPN.
Langford, already New Albany’s career scoring leader with 1,508 points, averages 29 points, seven rebounds and three assists per game.
In a game televised live by ESPN on Dec. 15, Langford scored 40 points against LaPorte La Lumiere, the No. 1 team in the nation.
Ogle admitted the hill his team faces Friday is steep, but it’s one he believes his team can climb.
“It’s steep, we know that, but we’ll be ready to climb,” said Ogle, who also guided the Tigers in the 2010 Hall of Fame Classic. “As good as New Albany is, we still think we’re a dangerous team team to face because we’re solid defensively and we’re a strong rebounding team.
“The key for us is whether or not our guys can be fearless. Will all the players go into the game and do the things we have to do to win this game? It’s going to take a great effort, and we need a great effort from everyone.”
Senior guard Isaac Hibbard is New Albany’s second-leading scorer at 12 points per game.
For Warsaw, Indiana Wesleyan recruit Kyle Mangas, leads the way with 21.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.
The 6-3 senior is just 15 points shy of becoming the 12th player in program history to score 1,000 career points.
“Kyle can do what’s necessary ... dribble, score, rebound, defend,” Ogle said when asked about the importance of the tournament for Mangas, an Indiana All-Star hopeful.
“If Kyle plays to his potential Friday that’s going to be a good thing or us. People that understand basketball will see how good he is.”
Senior Jeremy David and junior Ross Johnson average just under six points each for the Tigers.
Third-ranked Logansport is led by a pair of senior standouts.
Jalen Adaway, a 6-4 wing, averages 18.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.
Matt Jennings, a 6-0 Grace College recruit, averages 18.4 points and 4.4 assists, while senior Hunter DeHaven and sophomore Sam Skaggs average 10 points per game each.
Lawrence North is led by a trio of double-figure scorers in 6-9 senior Ra Kpedi, 6-7 junior Kevin Easley Jr, and 5-10 junior Antwaan Cushingberry.
Lawrence North, coached by Jack Keefer won Hall of Fame Classic titles in 1979, 1989 and 2003.
Keefer is in his 44th year of coaching and boasts a record of 749-303.
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