Lady Tigers Win Sectional Opener
Seniors lead Warsaw to 38-32 victory over Northridge
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Dale [email protected]
In the opener of Class 4A Sectional 4 at Goshen High School, the Lady Tigers’ four seniors combined to score 29 points, as they led Warsaw to a thrilling 38-32 win over the Northridge Lady Raiders.
Warsaw and Northridge are the only teams in Sectional 4 that took a winning record into the 40th annual girls state tournament.
In that regard, the Lady Tigers’ win was the first step and arguably a giant leap toward the program’s 17th sectional title.
“That’s what you want from your seniors,” said Warsaw coach Michelle Harter, whose team also beat defending sectional champion Northridge 37-35 in overtime during a regular season game on Jan. 10 in Middlebury.
“Our seniors stepped up big,” continued Harter. “Pam Miller made some big free throws. Vicki Harris stepped up and hit some shots. Erin Clemens made some shots and got some big rebounds. Jodie Carlson made some plays. They all four stepped up for us. That’s what you want from your seniors.”
Clemens led the way with nine points and five rebounds, while Harris and Miller scored nine and seven points, respectively, and Carlson chipped in with four points.
Miller, who was 5 of 7 at the free throw line, pulled down a game-high six boards.
Sophomore Dayton Groninger scored Warsaw’s other nine points.
With the win, the Lady Tigers improved to 13-10 on the season, while Northridge ended its season at 17-8.
Warsaw will play Elkhart Central (5-16) in Friday’s first semifinal at 6 p.m. Friday.
Elkhart Memorial (11-11), a 57-35 winner over Concord Tuesday, will play Goshen (10-12) in Friday’s second semifinal.
Friday’s winners will meet in Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. championship game.
“For us to come out and beat a quality team like Northridge says a lot about the players listening and following the gameplan,” said Harter. “This is just the first step. We have to come out and be ready each night. We have to be ready for Elkhart Central Friday. We have to earn the right to play for the championship on Saturday.”
Against Northridge, the Lady Tigers fell behind 9-2 early.
Warsaw responded by scoring the final six points of the quarter, and the teams were eventually tied 13-13 at halftime.
After the Lady Raiders opened the third quarter on a 7-2 run, taking a 20-15 lead, Harter called a timeout to talk to her players.
Whatever she said worked, as Warsaw outscored Northridge 23-12 the rest of the way.
“During that timeout, I told the girls they were playing not to lose, and if they continued to play that way that’s what would happen,” said Harter. “I thought they were relaxed after that. A big part of it was them knowing it was going to be OK. You could see it in their eyes. They’re starting to believe.”
After the teams were tied at 24-24 at the end of the third quarter, the Lady Tigers outscored Northridge 14-8 in the final frame.
Warsaw was 10 of 13 at the free throw line in the fourth quarter and 17 of 20 in the win.
Northridge was 3 of 8 from the charity stripe.
“One of the things we talked about was going up strong with the ball,” Harter said when asked about her team’s advantage at the free throw line. “We also talked about being straight up and down on defense, and the girls did a great job of that tonight.”
Senior Taylor Miller led the Lady Raiders with 12 points, while junior Baleigh Carithers added nine points, all from the arc.
Sophomore Kelsey Brickner and junior Kelly Miller scored four points each in the loss.
WARSAW 38, NORTHRIDGE 32
War 8 5 11 14 – 38
NR 9 4 11 8 – 32
Warsaw – Mariah Rivera 0-0 0-0 0, Kilee Slone 0-1 0-0 0, Vicki Harris 3-7 3-4 9, Jodie Carlson 1-5 2-2 4, Dayton Groninger 2-3 4-4 9, Pam Miller 1-3 5-7 7, Madi Graham 0-2 0-0 0, Erin Clemens 3-4 3-3 9. Totals 10-25 17-20 38.
Northridge – Kelly Miller 2-7 0-1 4, Brooke McKinley 0-3 0-2 0, Baleigh Carithers 3-5 0-0 9, Elizabeth Lengacher 1-2 0-0 2, Marci Miller 0-1 1-2 1, Taylor Miller 4-10 2-3 12, Kelsey Brickner 2-2 0-0 4. Totals 12-30 3-8 32.
Three-pointers – Warsaw 1 (Groninger), Northridge 5 (Carithers 3, T. Miller 2); Rebounds – Warsaw 20 (Miller 6), Northridge 17 (K. Miller 4, Carithers 4); Turnovers – Warsaw 14, Northridge 15; Records: Warsaw 13-10, Northridge 17-8[[In-content Ad]]
In the opener of Class 4A Sectional 4 at Goshen High School, the Lady Tigers’ four seniors combined to score 29 points, as they led Warsaw to a thrilling 38-32 win over the Northridge Lady Raiders.
Warsaw and Northridge are the only teams in Sectional 4 that took a winning record into the 40th annual girls state tournament.
In that regard, the Lady Tigers’ win was the first step and arguably a giant leap toward the program’s 17th sectional title.
“That’s what you want from your seniors,” said Warsaw coach Michelle Harter, whose team also beat defending sectional champion Northridge 37-35 in overtime during a regular season game on Jan. 10 in Middlebury.
“Our seniors stepped up big,” continued Harter. “Pam Miller made some big free throws. Vicki Harris stepped up and hit some shots. Erin Clemens made some shots and got some big rebounds. Jodie Carlson made some plays. They all four stepped up for us. That’s what you want from your seniors.”
Clemens led the way with nine points and five rebounds, while Harris and Miller scored nine and seven points, respectively, and Carlson chipped in with four points.
Miller, who was 5 of 7 at the free throw line, pulled down a game-high six boards.
Sophomore Dayton Groninger scored Warsaw’s other nine points.
With the win, the Lady Tigers improved to 13-10 on the season, while Northridge ended its season at 17-8.
Warsaw will play Elkhart Central (5-16) in Friday’s first semifinal at 6 p.m. Friday.
Elkhart Memorial (11-11), a 57-35 winner over Concord Tuesday, will play Goshen (10-12) in Friday’s second semifinal.
Friday’s winners will meet in Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. championship game.
“For us to come out and beat a quality team like Northridge says a lot about the players listening and following the gameplan,” said Harter. “This is just the first step. We have to come out and be ready each night. We have to be ready for Elkhart Central Friday. We have to earn the right to play for the championship on Saturday.”
Against Northridge, the Lady Tigers fell behind 9-2 early.
Warsaw responded by scoring the final six points of the quarter, and the teams were eventually tied 13-13 at halftime.
After the Lady Raiders opened the third quarter on a 7-2 run, taking a 20-15 lead, Harter called a timeout to talk to her players.
Whatever she said worked, as Warsaw outscored Northridge 23-12 the rest of the way.
“During that timeout, I told the girls they were playing not to lose, and if they continued to play that way that’s what would happen,” said Harter. “I thought they were relaxed after that. A big part of it was them knowing it was going to be OK. You could see it in their eyes. They’re starting to believe.”
After the teams were tied at 24-24 at the end of the third quarter, the Lady Tigers outscored Northridge 14-8 in the final frame.
Warsaw was 10 of 13 at the free throw line in the fourth quarter and 17 of 20 in the win.
Northridge was 3 of 8 from the charity stripe.
“One of the things we talked about was going up strong with the ball,” Harter said when asked about her team’s advantage at the free throw line. “We also talked about being straight up and down on defense, and the girls did a great job of that tonight.”
Senior Taylor Miller led the Lady Raiders with 12 points, while junior Baleigh Carithers added nine points, all from the arc.
Sophomore Kelsey Brickner and junior Kelly Miller scored four points each in the loss.
WARSAW 38, NORTHRIDGE 32
War 8 5 11 14 – 38
NR 9 4 11 8 – 32
Warsaw – Mariah Rivera 0-0 0-0 0, Kilee Slone 0-1 0-0 0, Vicki Harris 3-7 3-4 9, Jodie Carlson 1-5 2-2 4, Dayton Groninger 2-3 4-4 9, Pam Miller 1-3 5-7 7, Madi Graham 0-2 0-0 0, Erin Clemens 3-4 3-3 9. Totals 10-25 17-20 38.
Northridge – Kelly Miller 2-7 0-1 4, Brooke McKinley 0-3 0-2 0, Baleigh Carithers 3-5 0-0 9, Elizabeth Lengacher 1-2 0-0 2, Marci Miller 0-1 1-2 1, Taylor Miller 4-10 2-3 12, Kelsey Brickner 2-2 0-0 4. Totals 12-30 3-8 32.
Three-pointers – Warsaw 1 (Groninger), Northridge 5 (Carithers 3, T. Miller 2); Rebounds – Warsaw 20 (Miller 6), Northridge 17 (K. Miller 4, Carithers 4); Turnovers – Warsaw 14, Northridge 15; Records: Warsaw 13-10, Northridge 17-8[[In-content Ad]]
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