For the first time this year, the Warsaw Tigers girls basketball team found itself in a close basketball game.

After dismantling Valley 50-27 and Bremen 63-18, Warsaw hosted last year's state runner-up Crown Point on Friday night. The Tigers lost 34-31 after Sherri Ross' shot to tie the game with less than three seconds to play fell short.

"We really weren't tested in our first two games," Warsaw head coach Will Wienhorst said. "One of the things that really showed up is that when it really got close and exciting, our girls panicked. Everything that we've been working on for five weeks, we got all excited about."

Even though Warsaw made just three shots in 22 attempts in the second and third quarters, the Tigers stayed close, trailing 29-24 going into the final eight minutes.

The two teams traded baskets before Sherri Ross knocked in a free throw and Jackie Edwards scored on an assist from Katie Elliott to make the score 31-29. After Katey Marsh made a pair of free throws, Elliott scored on a basket to get back to within two points.

With 23 seconds to play, Crown Point's Gail Weilbaker missed the front end of a one-and-one to give Warsaw a chance to tie the game with a basket. However, Ross' shot fell short and Kelly O'Brien iced the game with a free throw with less than a second to play.

Jackie Edwards led Warsaw with 11 points and Tiffany Ross added nine on a cold shooting night. Warsaw was just 11 of 35 from the floor for 31 percent. Warsaw also had 22 turnovers to just 18 for Crown Point.

"We got nervous," Wienhorst said. "Then we started thinking, 'I missed my last three shots.' Then we started standing around. Girls even forgot their plays. They weren't cutting where they were supposed to go. It was a good game for us to learn and then throw out after we watch the game film."

Warsaw opened up a 14-11 lead after one quarter despite allowing three three-pointers in the opening eight minutes. Sara Parker hit a shot at the buzzer for Warsaw to extend the lead from one to three points.

"We played man (defense) the whole game," Wienhorst said. "The only time we played zone was on out-of-bounds plays. Every time they hit a three (in the first quarter) was on an out-of-bounds play."

In the second quarter, the shooting woes began. Warsaw did not score for the first six minutes of the quarter, but Crown Point could only get a pair of shots to fall to lead 15-14 with two minutes to play in the half.

However, Elliott made two free-throws and Tiffany Ross made a lay-up with 12 seconds to play to put the Tigers ahead 18-15 at the midway point.

In the third quarter, Crown Point scored the first six points to take the lead for good. Still leading 21-20, Sarah Little scored on a lay-up and then canned a three-pointer to help put Crown Point ahead by five heading into the final quarter.

"I'm proud of these kids, but we've got a lot to learn," Wienhorst said. "We're going to be a very good basketball team."

Warsaw (2-1) will play at Huntington North on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. [[In-content Ad]]