GOSHEN - It was the response Al Rhodes was looking for.

After their first loss of the young season and the most disappointing performance on Friday, the No. 18 Tigers came back with the concentration and discipline Rhodes has been looking for through the first two weeks of the season a day later.

"It was a big mental turnaround from last night's performance," Rhodes said. "It was the first game that we really showed some gamesmanship and followed the game plan to a tee. I hope we are growing up, and we will move forward."

The Tigers' 46-34 win over Goshen Saturday was possible in part because of Warsaw's ability to remain patient against the Redskins' patented slowdown and tough defensive game.

"Our ball movement on offense was much better, especially early in the game," Rhodes said. "We did an excellent job of finding the open man, and that kind of set the tone."

Goshen (1-1) played the game without its leading scorer, Andy Ganger. After pacing the Redskins with 17 points in the team's season opener last week against Elkhart Central, Ganger got sick before the game and didn't play.

"Ganger didn't play, and that certainly increased our chances," Rhodes said. "Still, there was a very good intensity and concentration that we didn't have yet this year. It is a positive step forward. It showed up at the free throw line and how hard people were working on defense and how hard they were working to get open on offense."

Without Ganger in the lineup, the Redskins went even more to their patient, "pass-the-ball-around-a lot" offense in an effort to the best shot. Warsaw, having fought the flu bug last week in practice and playing a tough game the night before against Huntington North, went to the zone defense and wasn't in too much of a hurry to come out and guard the Redskins around the perimeter.

"We played a lot of zone because of a combination of the flu and the game last night," Rhodes said. "We wanted to win the game in the second half and still have the energy to do that. They worked hard and moved in the zone, and kept track of (Thomas) Kline."

Kline, a dangerous 6-foot-5 shooter, had 7 points in the first quarter, but was scoreless over the final three quarters.

Warsaw built a 17-15 halftime lead into a 26-16 advantage on a layup by Tyler Charlton in the third quarter. Goshen then got hot from beyond the 3-point arc and cut the lead to 30-27 in the fourth quarter.

But unlike Friday's contest with Huntington, the Tigers hit their free throws (14 of 16) down the stretch.

"Goshen did not quit, and they came back," Rhodes said. "But we responded well when they cut it to three."

Warsaw outscored Goshen 16-9 down the stretch to secure the win.

The pace wasn't that slow in the first quarter as Goshen hadn't gone into its semi-stall offense yet. Goshen led 11-10 and was looking for the final shot of the quarter when Brandon Sorrell, the coach's son, moved past the Warsaw guards and looked to launch the quick 15-footer. But Warsaw's Tom Krizmanich had other ideas, blocking the shot and taking the loose ball the length of the court for his first career dunk.

Krizmanich led the Tigers with 14 points and 7 rebounds. P.J. Wiley added 9 points and 7 assists.

The Tigers, the defending Northern Lakes Conference champs with Plymouth and Northridge, gained a win in their NLC debut of the season.

"This game is huge in terms of the conference," Rhodes said. "There is an awful long way to go and some good teams to play."

Warsaw (3-1, 1-0) is at Wawasee Friday. [[In-content Ad]]