The Tigers found the perfect formula to replace Trester Award winner Matt Taylor at center this year.

It includes one part defender and rebounder (Luke Reed) and one part offense and power (Chris Hill). The combination has provided big dividends for the Tigers this season.

The two juniors, who have played almost the same number of minutes this season, have combined to give Warsaw 12.2 points and 9.1 rebounds a game, while shooting 71 percent from the floor. The duo have combined to be the second-best player on the team as far as the numbers go.

The 6-foot-6 Reed starts and scores 5.7 points, grabs 5.4 rebounds a contest and shoots 64 percent from the field. The 6-2 Hill is the spark off the bench, and is at 6.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and shoots an outstanding 78 percent from the field.

"If you combine their statistics, it is an impressive position," Warsaw coach Al Rhodes said. "That is essentially what it is. We try to play their minutes by situation, who we were playing against, and how they were playing. Both have had a great attitude and have helped us be successful this season."

Both players were on the 18-2 junior varsity team last year, and Rhodes didn't know what to expect from the duo when it came to varsity play because neither one had any experience at that level.

Reed drew the start against Elkhart Central in the season opener, and Hill showed an immediate impact off the bench. Except one game this year that Reed was hurt and Hill started, it has been the same rotation all season.

"Both were unknown quantities going into the season," Rhodes said. "When I was putting my original team together, I was trying to decide who had some things in their game that could complement (seniors) (P.J.) Wiley, (Tyler) Charlton and (Tom) Krizmanich. As we started off, Reed rebounded well, and I decided to add that to the mix of the starting lineup. I didn't know how things would go with Chris, and as we played the first game, we decided we were going to rotate them and keep a fresh player in there."

The biggest adjustment for the two players coming up from the JV team has been facing physical players almost every minute that they are in a game.

"It is a lot more physical inside," Hill said of varsity basketball. "You have to be a lot more prepared when you come to the game and play."

Reed agreed.

"We have an excellent offseason weight training program," he said. "It has helped out a lot more this year. You have guys like Northridge's Ryan Thomas and Todd Janes, who were on varsity last year and are big and physical. You have to have the mindset to finish plays even though you know you will get fouled."

Although Reed and Hill play the same position, they are very different in their styles of play. As the taller player, Reed plays more the intimidator, collecting the rebounds and playing the defense on the opposition's post players. Then if the time comes, or Reed gets into foul trouble, Hill can step off the bench and give the Tigers' offense a lift with his work ethic under the boards and his patented head fake that has garnered him his share of three-point plays this year.

"Luke probably plays better defense, and I add an offensive spark," Hill said. "I like to fake people, get them in the air and finish plays."

"Chris is bigger and stronger than I am, but I have him by a few inches," Reed said. "He is more of a power player, and I am probably the faster of the two. Chris is a better offensive threat than I am.

"One element meets the other, you put it together and you have your package," he said. "They might put me down (in the scouting report) because I am the starter, but they won't have much idea about Chris just because he isn't a starter."

Even though at times during the season Hill's numbers appeared to be better than Reed's, the two Tigers seem to like their roles on the team and wouldn't change anything right now.

"I feel I am better off the bench," Hill said. "The one game I started, I didn't play very well. We have taken the role of playing together. Our main job is getting rebounds and just banging people around."

Reed acts as the leadoff man, setting the tone and giving Hill a chance to watch things unfold until his chance to enter the game.

"I like starting because you come out and the fans are pumped up, and it gets you pumped up to play," Reed said. "It has been the same rotation every game. We have basically split the minutes this year. We don't get a lot of praise for our job, and that is understandable because we aren't in the spotlight because we don't score as much. I enjoy my role. There is not as much pressure."

It is a combination that Rhodes won't dare touch, at least not while it is working so well.

"There is a knack to coming off the bench and making a contribution," Rhodes said. "That was something we discovered Chris Hill had. Early on, some of his statistics were better than Luke's, but I really like him coming off the bench. It has been a very successful combination for the Tigers."

Off the court, the two seem to switch roles, with Reed being more outgoing and Hill laid back at school.

"Chris is probably more emotionally assertive on the court," Reed said. "He will get the three-point play and see him holler. At school, he is completely different, and so am I. I am louder and the good-time Charlie at school. Chris is not very vocal at school. We both have opposite personalities as far as the court to the classroom and vice versa." [[In-content Ad]]