Five down, four to go.

The Warsaw girls basketball team improved to 5-0 after defeating Fort Wayne Northrop 66-54 Wednesday night.

After beginning the toughest part of the season against Tippecanoe Valley in the season opener, the Tigers have defeated team like Homestead, Marion, Crown Point, and Northrop to move to 5-0.

But the tough part of Warsaw's schedule is not over yet. Tonight the Tigers face Huntington North. December 8, they face Plymouth; Dec. 11 they play Columbia City; and Dec. 15 they tip-off against Wawasee.

And then they start the Northern Lakes Conference Tournament (followed by the Lady Tiger Tournament), so things will not be easy for the Tigers in the next few weeks.

However, Wednesday night the Tigers made things look easy against Northrop.

Warsaw jumped out to an early 7-0 lead in the first two minutes of play as Hilary O'Connell, Michelle DeGeeter and Janna Knisely netted baskets.

The Tigers extended their lead to 11-1 at the 3:54 mark of the first frame before the Northrop offense started to kick into gear.

The Tigers and Bruins traded baskets for the remainder of the first stanza, and Warsaw took a 22-12 lead into the second quarter.

Northrop chipped away at the Tiger lead through the second quarter, and Warsaw's advantage shrunk to five, 35-30, at halftime.

"We talked about putting the game away," said Warsaw coach Will Wienhorst. "We did some good stuff but we did not put it away. We had a couple people in foul trouble early. Both guards were in foul trouble, and we were a bit fatigued."

Refreshed after the halftime break, Warsaw hit the court with renewed energy in the third quarter.

The Tigers and Bruins traded baskets for the first two minutes of the third frame, but at the 6:10 mark, Warsaw took control.

The Tigers dominated play and went on an 11-0 run in the next four minutes to extend their lead to 16, 50-34.

Through the last quarter of the game, Northrop got no closer than 10 points, and the undefeated Tigers finished with a 66-54 win.

Jaclyn Leininger led the Tigers with a double-double. She scored 17 points and pulled down 10 rebounds while dishing out two assists and grabbing a steal.

"If you look at what Jaclyn did tonight, 17 points 7 of 11 from the field, 10 rebounds," said Wienhorst, "she played very well tonight. Northrop is a good basketball team. They are a strong offensive team with a lot of weapons, and we played well."

Warsaw saw two other players in double figures as O'Connell netted 17 points and DeGeeter added 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting from the field and 2-of-3 shooting from the charity stripe.

Warsaw takes its undefeated record to Huntington to face the Vikings of Huntington North tonight at 6:15 p.m.

"We knew that both Huntington North and Fort Wayne Northrop were good basketball teams, but because of scheduling problems we had to play them back-to-back," said Wienhorst. "But we also know that in the sectional, there is the possibility of playing tough teams on Friday and Saturday night, so this will be good practice. Whatever happens (Thursday) night, we will be better for it."

WARSAW 66, NORTHROP 54

Northrop (3-1) 12 18 6 18 - 54

Warsaw (5-0) 22 13 18 13 - 66

Warsaw FG FT R A S Pts.

*Wyatt 1-5 2-2 2 2 1 5

*O'Connell 7-12 2-3 1 3 1 17

*Leininger 7-11 3-4 10 2 1 17

*DeGeeter 5-5 2-3 7 1 2 12

*Knisely 0-4 5-6 5 2 0 5

DeRenzo 1-1 2-4 0 0 1 5

Davis 0-2 0-0 0 0 1 0

Franklin 0-0 0-0 1 0 0 0

McGriff 2-3 1-2 1 0 0 5

Chabot 0-1 0-0 2 0 0 0

Allen 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0

Fussle 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0

Totals 23-44 17-24 31 10 7 66

Northrop FG FT R A S Pts.

*Corbin 9-14 2-2 6 5 1 20

*Lee 4-18 2-5 3 2 2 12

*Brewer 4-9 2-3 6 0 1 10

*Moran 0-1 0-0 2 0 0 0

*Melchi 2-9 10-18 35 12 13 54

Ward 1-3 0-0 0 0 2 2

Banks 0-1 4-8 5 1 1 4

Totals 21-57 10-18 35 12 13 54

Three-point goals -ÊWarsaw 3-5 (Wyatt 1-1, DeRenzo 1-1, O'Connell 1-3), Northrop 2-12 (Lee 2-10, Corbin 0-2). Fouls -ÊWarsaw 13, Northrop 19. Fouled out -ÊMelchi.

JV Score -ÊWARSAW 42, NORTHROP 30

Warsaw scoring -ÊKara Mayer 5, Tracy Stump 11, Rachel Braddock 4, Holly Durcholz 6, Rebekah Reichard 9, Mallory Hepler 3, Camerin Carboneau 2, Karen Sand 2

Twenty-Five Years Later, Steve Reed Is Still One Of The Greatest Warsaw Basketball Players

By Rick Blue, Times-Union Sports Correspondent

Two years removed from SportsCenter, a decade before the advent of the three-point field goal, but yet a time, Thanksgiving Eve, 1976, when Rod Stewart's "Tonight's The Night" sat atop Billboard's chart.

November 24, 1976 was the night a curly-haired lanky high school senior, who was a classic study in kinesics and an accompanying stinging jump shot, laced up his Adidas shoes for what would be the start of his final season at Warsaw Community High School.

Steve Reed lit up Columbia City for a customary 26 points that evening.

"That seems like a lifetime ago," the former Tiger standout says.

Perhaps not a lifetime ago, but 25 years later, Reed remains among the greatest to ever put on the Tiger uniform.

The first evening Reed appeared in uniform, as a starter, was during his sophomore year. That evening he tallied 20 points against Triton. And to disprove the sophomore jinx theory, the next night out Reed torched NorthWood for 21.

But it was the Elkhart Regional in his junior year where Reed would charter the expedition to what is now known as the tradition of Warsaw basketball.

During the regional final against Elkhart Central, a team Warsaw easily defeated less than a month earlier, with the score tied at 55 Reed was fouled in the corner thus giving him a one-and-one free throw opportunity. Against the din of a raucous crowd and an entire community of basketball frustration resting squarely upon his shoulders, Reed calmly knocked down both free throws without even touching the rim.

"I remember thinking how lucky I was to have a chance to win," Reed says. "I certainly had the confidence. You can't let those things; those doubts enter your mind. It was a fabulous ending for us."

But transversely, not all was a guy-gets-the-girl, a happily-ever-after ending for Reed. There was perhaps the most stinging loss of all awaiting Reed in his senior year, the 1977 Triton Sectional.

Warsaw led Wawasee 62-60 and had possession of the ball when the wheels came lose and the Tigers eventually lost in overtime. For Reed, the season that he averaged over 25 points per game, a career, at the time, placed him second on the all-time Warsaw scoring list, was over.

"The enormity of it all really sunk in," Reed says.

The summer to follow would be a busy one for Reed needed to find a place to take his skills at the next level.

"Right after the sectional, I didn't want to deal with that (choosing a college)," Reed says. "It wasn't until during spring break I considered it. Fred (Purdue coach Schaus) had visited my house my junior year and I wanted to go there but they had recruited some other guards. I wanted to go where I could get a chance to play four years."

Before college, there was the Indiana-Kentucky all-star snub. Reed was overlooked.

But Indiana State, with high-scoring Larry Bird, would be the ticket where Reed would lose his identity for a couple of years and be known as "The Bird Feeder."

"I knew of Larry," Reed says. "He was second or third in the nation in scoring and Indiana State had also gone to the NIT the previous year."

It would be his sophomore that transformed that midwestern no-name basketball team into a beloved Cinderella story.

After running the table for the first 18 games, Indiana State found themselves down, and with three starters fouled out, when Bob Heaton let loose of a shot from half court that sent the game into overtime which ISU eventually won.

"We all kind of looked at each other after the game and thought, 'maybe this is a team of destiny,'" Reed says.

Heaton's heroic would need an encore, this time with the help of Reed.

It was Reed who found Heaton, this time from eight feet, who put in a left-handed shot to give Indiana State a trip to the Final Four.

"We were running our normal offense which meant getting it in Larry's hands," Reed says. "Bob made a great shot."

After a close win over DePaul in one national semi-final, the much-anticipated Indiana State-Michigan State matchup was indeed a reality.

"We had a lot of big games along the way," Reed says. "Of course we knew it was for a national championship but at the same time it was just another game. Unfortunately we came out on the losing end."

The Indiana State-Michigan State title game is still the highest rated NCAA title game in history.

Reed set the single season Indiana State assist record in the 1978-1979 season with 239.

So where is Steve Reed these days?

You can find Reed in Terre Haute where he is busy with his wife Lisa, raising two boys and two girls with the ages: 15, 11, nine and four.

Reed, as of this past March, has been elevated to the position of executive vice president and chief executive officer of Union Hospital Health Group.

"The days of sports are over for me," Reed says. "I'm 42, almost 43. I still love sports though."

Even though the newspaper clippings and memories are a little faded, the legacy of Steve Reed remains a vivid and lasting entity.

Steve Reed, he was something else.

Recollections Of Reed

From his Warsaw High School Days

By Rick Blue

"He was my idol growing up. Steve came back (to Warsaw) my junior year and helped me with my jump shot when I was struggling and he also taught me a spin move. I remember him hitting those free throws (to win the Elkhart regional). We hadn't won it in a long time and Steve was one of the persons who brought back Warsaw basketball."

-ÊRon Brandenburg, Warsaw's 1981 Indiana All-Star who also wore #23.

"My dad used to take me to his games and we sat in the upper deck. I was so impressed with his ability to drive to the basket, pull up and knock down the shot. Even as a little kid, I could tell he was that much better than the rest."

-ÊJeff Grose, Warsaw's 1985 Mr. Basketball who was 10 years old during Reed's senior year

"We were (basketball) campers together. Steve was so level headed, even then. He was ahead of his time. He was so much further ahead intelligence wise and basketball wise. There was no one to stop him. Above all else, Steve is an outstanding human being."

-ÊChuck Verba, Whitko center who scored 34 points Jan. 21, 1977 against Warsaw the night Reed scored 35.

"Steve was a phenomenal athlete. The guy could have played any sport. He was the number one tennis player, the number one golfer on the teams and then basketball. He was one of those guys who could do anything. You even wouldn't want to take him to the bowling alley because he'd probably out bowl you."

-ÊGordy Clemens, teammate of Reed's on the regional championship team who scored 25 points and grabbed 13 rebounds against Elkhart Central in the championship game.

"If he doesn't make All-State, it's because of politics."

-ÊBill Patrick, Whitko coach who said immediately after the night Reed scored 35.

The world of basketball according to Reed

His views on various persons and topics

By Rick Blue

Warsaw home games: "We always had good crowds. Just a lot of fun."

Class basketball: "I don't like it."

Three-point shot: "Where was it in 1977? I didn't like it at first, but I guess I like it now. I think I'm in the minority, but call me old-fashioned. What I don't like is the shot clock. It takes away too much strategy. I don't like it and I don't think I ever will.

Former Warsaw coach Jim Miller: "Great coach and great motivator. I have all the respect in the world for him."

Former Warsaw coach Dwight "Ike" Tallman: "Much like Jim, just a great coach."

Larry Bird: "Amazing. Look up ambidextrous in the dictionary and there is Larry's picture. He had an unparalleled work ethic and mental fortitude. Larry had keys to the boys club in Terre Haute and in the summer he'd be practicing. Who does that in the summer? Others are out water skiing and such and there's Larry. The rest of us don't want to be embarrassed so his leadership by example made us work harder."

On being selected to play junior varsity for the first time: "We had just finished our freshman season with coach Ron Clase. Tallman came in the locker room and asked if I wanted to suit up for the junior varsity. I remember just how excited I was for him to ask this little freshman punk to play."

On not being selected for the Indiana-Kentucky All-Star team: "I wasn't upset or anything. I knew it wouldn't change anything. Would it have been nice? Yes. I was focused on what I was going to do though which was winning and competition. But there probably weren't a lot of guys who got to play for a national championship and play with Larry Bird."

On lack of national respect for Indiana State: "I think this would have to be the only time where a team ranked No. 1 won a game and then the following week dropped to No. 2 in the polls."

Steve Reed's Warsaw statistics:

Year Games Average Total points

1974-1975 18 9.5 171

1975-1976 25 20.8 519

1976-1977 22 25.4 558

Totals: 65 19.2 1,248

Steve Reed's Indiana State Statistics:

Year G FG% FT% A-AVG. PTS. AVG.

1978-1979 34 48.0 71.0 239-7.0 170 5.0

All-Time Warsaw Scoring List

1. Kevin Ault 2,028 (1993-96)

2. Jeff Grose 1749 (1982-85)

3. Whitey Bell 1,331 (1950-1952)

4. Steve Reed 1248 (1975-177)

5. Mike Niles 1,230 (1964-66)

6. Kim Essenburg 1,181 (1966-70)

7. Ron Brandenburg 1,149 (1979-81)

8. Marty Lehman 1,004 (1982-84)

9. Jason Zimmerman 947 (1987-90)

10. Dave Johnson 919 (1962-63)

Warriors Grapplers Top NLC Foe Northridge

Times-Union Staf Report

MIDDLEBURY - In a battle of Northern Lakes Conference rivals, Wawasee's varsity wrestling team topped host Northridge 35-24 Wednesday night.

The Warriors won nine of the contest's 14 matches, with Simon Hernandez and Eric Vallejo picking up wins by pin. Hernandez pinned Raider Josh Holloway in 53 seconds to win the 130-pound match, Vallejo pinned Matt Stoffel in 25 seconds to take the 112-pound match.

Northridge, last year's NLC champion, won two of its five matches by pin. Raider Ryan Eaton pinned Mike Brindle in 25 seconds to win the heavyweight match.

Wawasee will be in action again Saturday at Elkhart Central.

WAWASEE 35, NORTHRIDGE 24

103 - Graig Blough (NR) won by forfeit

112 - Eric Vallejo (W) pinned Matt Stoffel, :25

119 - Deme Vallejo (W) def. Tanner Phillips 11-6

125 - David Blea (NR) pinned Brice List, 4:15

130 - Simon Hernandez (W) pinned Josh Holloway, :53

135 - German Vallejo (W) def. Chris Kidder 6-4

140 - Mike Hanlin (W) def. Jeremy Weaver 10-1

145 - Josh Roa (W) def. Zach Hibschman 15-6

152 - Grant Gibson (W) def. Dan Magee 7-2

160 - Chris Harrell (NR) def. Trevor Brown 8-3

171 - Lucas Speakman (W) def. Adam Brown 9-2

189 - Nathan Hershberger (NR) def. Nick Hanlin 10-5

215 - Mike Hall (W) def. Steve Greensides 7-6

275 - Ryan Eaton (NR) pinned Mike Brindle, :31

JV - Wawasee 24, Northridge 3

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Wednesday in Topeka

9th: Wawasee 50, Westview 26

Wawasee scoring leaders - Rachel Canen 12, Jenny Minear 10, Ashley Holdeman 8, Cheryl Thomas 8 [[In-content Ad]]