After his team defeated Northridge 70-43 Tuesday, Warsaw coach Will Wienhorst said of his next opponent, Huntington North, they would be the best team he would face all year that had a losing record.

The Vikings came in with a 1-3 record while the Tigers came in unblemished at 4-0, not having played in a relatively closely contested game yet. Huntington came in with three of their five starters standing 5-feet-9 or taller, and the Tigers had two. The Vikings took advantage of Warsaw down low to post a 65-57 win at the Tiger Den.

What might have been key in the loss for Warsaw was the loss they suffered before the game started.

Starting guard Jessica Zaugg was in a car wreck before Tuesday's Northridge game and wasn't able to suit up against Huntington North. She might be cleared to play in Warsaw's game at Ft. Wayne Northrop Wednesday. Janelle Kessler had her nose reset after an injury and wasn't able to play against Huntington North. She could be out one more week. Kyla Stanley missed Saturday's game due to an ankle injury and could miss another week and a half.

"The key in the first half was our messed up rotation," said Wienhorst. "Christy Colt (started in place of Zaugg) is used to coming off the bench. Hilary O'Connell, a freshman, was put into a game situation and Clark (Abbey) was quick. It's hard to get the offense started when you turn the ball over 17 times in the first half."

What kept the score close in the first half was that Huntington North turned the ball over almost as frequently as the Tigers, 13 times in the first two quarters.

After the Vikings outscored Warsaw 9-5 in the first frame, both teams managed to put 18 points on the board to account for Huntington North's 27-23 halftime lead. Most of Warsaw's points in the second frame came from Katie Elliott at the charity stripe. The Vikings were called for 14 fouls in the first 16 minutes of play.

"I remember they beat us last year," said Wienhorst. "I have never been excited about girls basketball after this game. They intimidated our young players, and when you're nervous you do the things you're not supposed to do. At halftime we said we either had to gut it out or fold, and these kids didn't fold."

No they didn't.

After the Vikings started the third frame with a 6-0 run making the score 33-23, Warsaw came right back. And at the 4:00 mark when Colt connected on a field goal attempt, the scoreboard read 34-30. The Tigers hadn't folded.

"We learned a big thing," said Wienhorst. "They (Huntington) thought the game was theirs, luck is luck and our kids didn't fold. I think the three seniors should give these kids a hug, I'm excited about this team."

At the start of the final frame the Tigers were still very much in the game, but had one ugly stat against them: in two seasons Warsaw hasn't won a game when they've trailed after the third quarter. They trailed the Vikings 39-33.

At the halfway mark in the final quarter the Vikings had stretched their lead to 49-37, but a three-pointer by O'Connell and a field goal by Elliott closed the gap to 49-42. With Warsaw still very much in the game Colt brought the Tigers to within three, 49-46, on two steals and buckets.

But the next minute of action saw the Tigers lose two of their starters to fouls. Sara Parker and Jenna Rooney both committed their fifth personal fouls and were forced to watch the rest of the quarter from the bench.

A quarter that saw the Vikings hit 11-12 free throw attempts to put the game out of reach.

The loss was the first of the season for Warsaw, and Wienhorst will have an example to work with in practice.

"To be 5-0 would be nice," said Wienhorst. "But at 4-1 we'll be better on Monday. This is a young team, they thought the game was over in the last minute, but in basketball two minutes is an eternity. They'll learn and they'll be a good basketball team. I don't like to lose, but I saw a lot of good things out there."

Warsaw (4-1) will travel to Fort Wayne Northrop Wednesday for a 6:15 p.m. game. [[In-content Ad]]