Momentum is sometimes gained in the most unique ways. It can almost be given to you.

With a fragile four-point lead in the fourth quarter against Gary Wirt, Warsaw got a gift when Trooper coach Omar Vazquez disagreed with a foul call by an official.

Then he disagreed again.

The result was two technicals and an ejection for Vazquez. Steve Siebenmorgen hit 1 of 2 free throws after being fouled, and Andy Plank hit 3 of 4 on the technicals to send Warsaw on a 16-2 run and eventually a 57-43 win over Gary Wirt Friday at the Tiger Den.

"I didn't really see it," Warsaw coach Al Rhodes said. "Coach Vazquez said something that the official didn't like. We got some free throws and the ball. That kind of started it off. Their kids came back hard, but we did a good job of breaking the press and the halfcourt trap and getting some shots."

Warsaw hit 6 of 7 from the field and 9 of 13 from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter.

Up to the point that Vazquez got tossed, the Troopers (5-10) were hanging right with the Tigers (12-5). One week after a big win over then-No. 1 (3A) Plymouth, Warsaw didn't seem to have the same intensity and effort that was present against the Pilgrims.

"Overall I am not pleased with the focus of our team," Rhodes said. "I know there was a chance for a letdown after Plymouth. Our mental was not good. I thought our intensity was poor in the first half, and it was better in the second half. Against a better team than Wirt, you can't have quarters where you are not working and not in focus."

The Tigers led 22-17 in the second quarter when Wirt had a 5-0 spurt to tie the score at 22 at halftime. Warsaw just couldn't shake Wirt, and its patient offense. Finally in the third quarter, the Tigers got a 7-0 run to turn a 31-30 deficit into a 37-31 lead heading into the fourth. But Brian Dilosa opened the fourth with a three-pointer and an ensuing free throw to cut the lead to 39-35.

Siebenmorgen was then fouled by Wirt's Clark Bone under the basket, and when the teams were lining up for the free throws, Vazquez got off the bench and was slapped with a technical. He continued his argument and was immediately toss out of the game. His only reaction was to nod OK. He remained on the court for a couple of minutes before making his way to the Wirt locker room, shaking his head the whole way.

Warsaw did manage to hold Wirt to 16 of 46 (35 percent) from the field, including a combined 7 of 28 from Dilosa and Terrence Banks, the two leading scorers for Wirt. Warsaw also won the battle of the boards 31-18.

Still Rhodes wasn't satisfied.

"We gave up way too many layups in that basketball game," he said. "They don't shoot any kind of shooting percentage if not for us giving them layups."

It was Wirt's slowdown, which is similar to that employed by Goshen, that kept them in the game.

"They have different styles," Rhodes said. "Goshen holds the ball with excellent passing and cutting, where Wirt holds the ball with the design of the offense and lots of dribble. Still, the coach wants a low-possession game so they can be in it. They controlled the tempo of the game."

Plank led the Tigers with 14 points, while Luke Reed added 12 points and 12 boards. Chris Wiggins also had 12 points.

Warsaw hosts Huntington Thursday. [[In-content Ad]]