Tigers Escape Elkhart Memorial, To Play For Conference Championship
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
ELKHART - Impressive as he was shooting the ball in the first half, it was a pass by Michael Moore in the closing seconds that put Warsaw's varsity boys basketball team in position to win Monday evening.
The score knotted at 49 after host Elkhart Memorial's Travis Walerko hit a three-pointer with 17 seconds remaining, the Tigers called time out with nine seconds on the clock, and then the 5-foot-6 Moore dished to teammate Michael Wienhorst, who was fouled on his game-winning layup attempt with one second left.
Wienhorst hit the first free throw for the 50-49 win, and then missed the second on purpose, as Memorial wouldn't have had time to snag the rebound and get off a shot.
"We didn't want to let them get a shot off," Tiger coach Doug Ogle said. "We told Michael (Wienhorst) if he made the first shot to miss the second on purpose. If he makes it, Memorial gets to take it out of bounds and throw up a long shot. I'm not happy with the way we played in the second half, but at this point we'll take a one-point win."
The win improved Warsaw to 11-6 overall and 4-2 in the Northern Lakes Conference, setting up a title tilt Thursday in the Tiger Den with Plymouth. Both the Pilgrims, who beat Warsaw 43-39 for the NLC Holiday Tournament championship, and Concord are also 4-2 in the NLC.
The winner of the Warsaw/Plymouth contest Thursday is guaranteed at least a share of the championship. If Concord falls to host Northridge, either the Tigers or Pilgrims win the title outright.
"I'm very thankful to be playing for a conference championship Thursday," said Ogle. "But to beat Plymouth we're going to have to play better for 32 minutes."
Similar to Saturday when the Tigers led Marion by 15 at halftime, Warsaw played well in the first half Monday but saw its lead dwindle in the third quarter.
Behind the hot hand of Moore, who was 5 of 5 from three-point range and 6 of 6 overall for 17 points through the first and second quarters, the Tigers led 34-26 at the half.
"Not many players miss those shots when they get really good looks," Memorial coach Steve Johnson said. "Moore had an unbelievable first half. We didn't want to give them those shots, but it was the lesser of two evils, and he stepped up and hit them, that's the mark of a good player. He had a good game, to say the least."
Said Ogle, "We've been waiting for him to shoot the ball like that all year. I hope it continues."
What continued was Warsaw's third-quarter woes.
The Tigers led Marion 34-19 at halftime Saturday but led just 39-38 going into the fourth quarter.
Warsaw held a 34-26 advantage over the Crimson Chargers Monday but trailed 39-38 after Memorial opened the fourth with back-to-back buckets.
After 6-3 junior Lamar Pittman hit consecutive field goals the Chargers led 46-42 with 3:11 remaining, but just like in the win over Marion the Tigers used a 7-0 run.
Moore assisted Wienhorst to start the run, and then senior Ryan Schultz followed with a three-ponter and Moore with a pair of free throws for a 49-46 lead with 32 seconds left.
"We called time out when we were down four, and then we responded with a 7-0 run to go up three," Ogle said. "That was a very crucial time in the game. I really liked our poise."
Johnson could have said the same of Walerko, who drilled a three-pointer to knot the game at 49-all.
A team that fell to 3-11 overall and 1-5 in the NLC, Memorial gave the Tigers all they could handle.
"I'm not happy losing, but I'm not completely disapointed," Johnson said. "Warsaw is a quality program, to say the least. When they come to town you know you're in for a battle."
The last time Warsaw played Memorial at historic North Side Gym, the teams battled for the 2002 conference championship, with Memorial winning a thrilling double overtime game in which Tiger Jared Shaw scored 38.
Moore led Warsaw Monday with a game-high 19 points, while Adam Griggs and Wienhorst added nine each, Schultz seven and Todd Braddock six.
Kevin Sindle paced Memorial with 15 points, while Pittman added 14 and Bryan Allen and Walerko six each.
The Tigers converted 11 of 14 free throws in the win, while the Crimson Chargers attempted just three charity tosses.
"That was a big difference in the game, we got to the free throw line," Ogle said. "I feel for Coach Johnson, his team played well enough to win. They look like they play well together for a team with three wins. They're gonna be good the next couple years, we may not be able to beat them the next couple years."
Warsaw's roster includes six seniors, while Memorial lists just one senior in the program.
The Tigers are in action again Thursday when they host Plymouth, while Memorial plays at NLC foe NorthWood.
WARSAW 50, ELKHART MEMORIAL 49
Warsaw 15 19 4 12 - 50
Memorial 14 12 9 14 - 49
Warsaw FG FT R S Pts.
* Schultz 2-7 2-2 2 3 7
* Griggs 3-9 2-2 6 1 9
* Wienhorst 3-6 3-6 5 3 9
* Moore 6-10 2-2 2 2 19
* Braddock 2-4 2-2 4 1 6
Holladay 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Conley 0-1 0-0 0 0 0
Sherman 0-2 1 0 0
Allison 0-0 0-0 3 0 0
Totals 16-39 11-14 23 10 50
Memorial FG FT R S Pts.
* Jackson 0-2 0-0 0 3 0
* Sindle 7-20 1-2 4 1 15
* Allen 2-5 0-0 4 1 6
* Pittman 7-8 0-1 6 3 14
* Stone 2-3 0-0 4 2 4
Walkerko 2-4 0-0 4 0 6
Strausborger 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Wilson 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Walker 2-2 0-0 0 0 4
Totals 22-44 1-3 18 10 49
Three-point goals - Warsaw 7-16 (Moore 5-6, Schultz 1-5, Griggs 1-2, Wienhorst 0-1, Conley 0-1, Braddock 0-1), Memorial 4-12 (Allen 2-3, Walerko 2-2, Sindle 0-7). Turnovers - Warsaw 13, Memorial 13. Fouls - Warsaw 10, Memorial 15. Fouled out - Pittman.
JV - Elkhart Memorial 39, Warsaw 36
Warsaw scoring -ÊMaierle 11, Clemens 8, Cabrera 7, Reinholt 4, Moore 2, Evans 2, Fuller 2
Warsaw record: 14-2 [[In-content Ad]]
ELKHART - Impressive as he was shooting the ball in the first half, it was a pass by Michael Moore in the closing seconds that put Warsaw's varsity boys basketball team in position to win Monday evening.
The score knotted at 49 after host Elkhart Memorial's Travis Walerko hit a three-pointer with 17 seconds remaining, the Tigers called time out with nine seconds on the clock, and then the 5-foot-6 Moore dished to teammate Michael Wienhorst, who was fouled on his game-winning layup attempt with one second left.
Wienhorst hit the first free throw for the 50-49 win, and then missed the second on purpose, as Memorial wouldn't have had time to snag the rebound and get off a shot.
"We didn't want to let them get a shot off," Tiger coach Doug Ogle said. "We told Michael (Wienhorst) if he made the first shot to miss the second on purpose. If he makes it, Memorial gets to take it out of bounds and throw up a long shot. I'm not happy with the way we played in the second half, but at this point we'll take a one-point win."
The win improved Warsaw to 11-6 overall and 4-2 in the Northern Lakes Conference, setting up a title tilt Thursday in the Tiger Den with Plymouth. Both the Pilgrims, who beat Warsaw 43-39 for the NLC Holiday Tournament championship, and Concord are also 4-2 in the NLC.
The winner of the Warsaw/Plymouth contest Thursday is guaranteed at least a share of the championship. If Concord falls to host Northridge, either the Tigers or Pilgrims win the title outright.
"I'm very thankful to be playing for a conference championship Thursday," said Ogle. "But to beat Plymouth we're going to have to play better for 32 minutes."
Similar to Saturday when the Tigers led Marion by 15 at halftime, Warsaw played well in the first half Monday but saw its lead dwindle in the third quarter.
Behind the hot hand of Moore, who was 5 of 5 from three-point range and 6 of 6 overall for 17 points through the first and second quarters, the Tigers led 34-26 at the half.
"Not many players miss those shots when they get really good looks," Memorial coach Steve Johnson said. "Moore had an unbelievable first half. We didn't want to give them those shots, but it was the lesser of two evils, and he stepped up and hit them, that's the mark of a good player. He had a good game, to say the least."
Said Ogle, "We've been waiting for him to shoot the ball like that all year. I hope it continues."
What continued was Warsaw's third-quarter woes.
The Tigers led Marion 34-19 at halftime Saturday but led just 39-38 going into the fourth quarter.
Warsaw held a 34-26 advantage over the Crimson Chargers Monday but trailed 39-38 after Memorial opened the fourth with back-to-back buckets.
After 6-3 junior Lamar Pittman hit consecutive field goals the Chargers led 46-42 with 3:11 remaining, but just like in the win over Marion the Tigers used a 7-0 run.
Moore assisted Wienhorst to start the run, and then senior Ryan Schultz followed with a three-ponter and Moore with a pair of free throws for a 49-46 lead with 32 seconds left.
"We called time out when we were down four, and then we responded with a 7-0 run to go up three," Ogle said. "That was a very crucial time in the game. I really liked our poise."
Johnson could have said the same of Walerko, who drilled a three-pointer to knot the game at 49-all.
A team that fell to 3-11 overall and 1-5 in the NLC, Memorial gave the Tigers all they could handle.
"I'm not happy losing, but I'm not completely disapointed," Johnson said. "Warsaw is a quality program, to say the least. When they come to town you know you're in for a battle."
The last time Warsaw played Memorial at historic North Side Gym, the teams battled for the 2002 conference championship, with Memorial winning a thrilling double overtime game in which Tiger Jared Shaw scored 38.
Moore led Warsaw Monday with a game-high 19 points, while Adam Griggs and Wienhorst added nine each, Schultz seven and Todd Braddock six.
Kevin Sindle paced Memorial with 15 points, while Pittman added 14 and Bryan Allen and Walerko six each.
The Tigers converted 11 of 14 free throws in the win, while the Crimson Chargers attempted just three charity tosses.
"That was a big difference in the game, we got to the free throw line," Ogle said. "I feel for Coach Johnson, his team played well enough to win. They look like they play well together for a team with three wins. They're gonna be good the next couple years, we may not be able to beat them the next couple years."
Warsaw's roster includes six seniors, while Memorial lists just one senior in the program.
The Tigers are in action again Thursday when they host Plymouth, while Memorial plays at NLC foe NorthWood.
WARSAW 50, ELKHART MEMORIAL 49
Warsaw 15 19 4 12 - 50
Memorial 14 12 9 14 - 49
Warsaw FG FT R S Pts.
* Schultz 2-7 2-2 2 3 7
* Griggs 3-9 2-2 6 1 9
* Wienhorst 3-6 3-6 5 3 9
* Moore 6-10 2-2 2 2 19
* Braddock 2-4 2-2 4 1 6
Holladay 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Conley 0-1 0-0 0 0 0
Sherman 0-2 1 0 0
Allison 0-0 0-0 3 0 0
Totals 16-39 11-14 23 10 50
Memorial FG FT R S Pts.
* Jackson 0-2 0-0 0 3 0
* Sindle 7-20 1-2 4 1 15
* Allen 2-5 0-0 4 1 6
* Pittman 7-8 0-1 6 3 14
* Stone 2-3 0-0 4 2 4
Walkerko 2-4 0-0 4 0 6
Strausborger 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Wilson 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Walker 2-2 0-0 0 0 4
Totals 22-44 1-3 18 10 49
Three-point goals - Warsaw 7-16 (Moore 5-6, Schultz 1-5, Griggs 1-2, Wienhorst 0-1, Conley 0-1, Braddock 0-1), Memorial 4-12 (Allen 2-3, Walerko 2-2, Sindle 0-7). Turnovers - Warsaw 13, Memorial 13. Fouls - Warsaw 10, Memorial 15. Fouled out - Pittman.
JV - Elkhart Memorial 39, Warsaw 36
Warsaw scoring -ÊMaierle 11, Clemens 8, Cabrera 7, Reinholt 4, Moore 2, Evans 2, Fuller 2
Warsaw record: 14-2 [[In-content Ad]]