Tigers hold off challenge from upstart Culver Military
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
It was appropriate that Warsaw would play a close game in the championship game of the sectional Friday.
That is the way they have done it all year.
This bunch of Tiger players have been involved in more than their share of close games this season. But the important fact for Warsaw is that it came out ahead in almost every one of them.
Stepping up big at the end of games have been their trademark this season.
The Tigers got two big free throws from junior Andy Plank with 10 seconds left to hold off an upset-minded Culver Military Academy team, 48-45, to claim their second straight Warsaw Sectional title and seventh in the past eight years.
"We had good execution at the end of the game, and that made the difference in the game," Warsaw coach Al Rhodes said. "We did a good job of playing the situations that came up in the last 3 1/2 minutes. That is why they have done well in close games. We win games in the first 29 minutes or the last three. We have won an awful lot of games in the last three minutes."
It was a redemption of sorts for Plank, who missed two free throws in the waning moments in regulation against Wawasee earlier this year. The Tigers won the game in overtime, but Plank was waiting for his next shot back at the line with the game in the balance.
"I knew that if we got it to three, it would definitely help things out," Plank said. "They would have to hit a three (to tie). I was in that situation this year on the road against Wawasee, and I missed them both. It was definitely something I was waiting to get back on the line."
Plank's two free throws gave the Tigers a 48-45 lead, and CMA's Lee Harris missed a 30-foot desperation shot at the end of the game.
"It is something I practice a lot," Plank said. "I shoot 50 or 100 of them every day. I have been hitting them of late, so I went to the line with as much confidence that I could muster up in that much time."
The free throws were needed because the Eagles gave the Tigers every thing they could handle and more. Coming back one day after a tough, emotional 60-50 win against a talented Triton team, Warsaw didn't know what to expect from CMA. That was probably good because the Tigers didn't have much time to prepare for Friday's matchup any way. Warsaw even took a few minutes AFTER the Triton game on Thursday for a walk through.
"It was very tough emotionally to get back up," Rhodes said. "It kind of put Culver in the driver's seat that way. We responded well. We were a little tired. The lack of preparation from one game to the next makes it tough to get ready, but they had the same deal."
After CMA's galiant effort, the Tiger players had nothing but respect for the effort of the Eagle players.
"They gave it everything they had," senior Tom Krizmanich said. "I can do nothing but respect CMA's performance. They came out and left every ounce of energy they had on the floor. They just put together a great performance."
"They showed so much heart and perseverance out there," senior P.J. Wiley said. "They took us by surprise and showed a lot of character."
CMA took a 14-11 first-quarter lead behind nine points from Harris. The Eagles held an 18-12 advantage in the second when Warsaw went on a 7-0 mini-run to take its first lead of the game, 19-18, with five minutes remaining in the half. The Tigers took a 28-23 lead into the locker room at halftime.
"I thought we didn't play well until four minutes to go in the second quarter," Rhodes said. "In that stretch, we got a little bit of control. They came back in the third, and it was back and forth from there."
Warsaw led 35-28 in the third quarter before baskets by Billy Peterson and Larry Swank made it 35-32 entering the final quarter.
CMA started the fourth by gaining a 37-37 tie when Peterson rebounded a CMA miss and put it back for a layup. The Tigers forged ahead 43-38 on a three-point play from Plank and a layup from Krizmanich.
But Swank got two free throws and Will Mishler nailed a three-pointer sandwiched around two free throws from Plank to make the score 45-43 when just over two minutes left.
Warsaw made only 1 of 3 free throws after that and allowed CMA to get within 46-45 with 11 seconds left. Then Plank checked the score on the scoreboard and calmly sank both his free throws for the final margin.
"CMA came to play and gave us a great game," Plank said. "We knew we just had to pick it up. We came out at halftime determined to win."
A lot has been made of Warsaw losing five starters from last year's Final Four team, but the Warsaw seniors, Wiley, Krizmanich, Tyler Charlton, and Kevin Masur, decided to make a legacy of their own in this year, the last year for a one-class tournament in the IHSAA.
"All season long, we were given no credit and not much was expected from us," Krizmanich said. "That was a major focus as a team. We took the attitude no one expected much from us, so we could go out and sneak up on a couple of teams. Once we got up there, it was just maintaining what we had."
And all this team has done is go out and run up a 19-4 record and three championships (Warsaw Holiday, NLC, Sectional).
"I am very happy with this probably being the last tournament at Warsaw ever," Wiley said. "It really means something to us. We are glad we did it for the coaches and all the past players that have built this place for us."
Krizmanich led the Tigers with 20 points and nine rebounds, while Plank added 11 points. Junior Luke Reed came up big on the boards for Warsaw with eight caroms and added eight points.
Harris paced CMA with 19 points, and Peterson added 15.
"Defensively and offensively, he (Harris) really came to play," Rhodes said. "That is what made the game close."
Because of the NCAA Final Four in March, the IHSAA backed the boys' basketball tournament up a week and caused the boys' sectional to be played on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday to not conflict with today's girls' state finals in Indianapolis. This made it tough on the players, who had to play three games on school nights.
"Three games in one week is a lot to ask, especially with home work," Plank said. "Having back-to-back games, especially during week nights, it tough." [[In-content Ad]]
It was appropriate that Warsaw would play a close game in the championship game of the sectional Friday.
That is the way they have done it all year.
This bunch of Tiger players have been involved in more than their share of close games this season. But the important fact for Warsaw is that it came out ahead in almost every one of them.
Stepping up big at the end of games have been their trademark this season.
The Tigers got two big free throws from junior Andy Plank with 10 seconds left to hold off an upset-minded Culver Military Academy team, 48-45, to claim their second straight Warsaw Sectional title and seventh in the past eight years.
"We had good execution at the end of the game, and that made the difference in the game," Warsaw coach Al Rhodes said. "We did a good job of playing the situations that came up in the last 3 1/2 minutes. That is why they have done well in close games. We win games in the first 29 minutes or the last three. We have won an awful lot of games in the last three minutes."
It was a redemption of sorts for Plank, who missed two free throws in the waning moments in regulation against Wawasee earlier this year. The Tigers won the game in overtime, but Plank was waiting for his next shot back at the line with the game in the balance.
"I knew that if we got it to three, it would definitely help things out," Plank said. "They would have to hit a three (to tie). I was in that situation this year on the road against Wawasee, and I missed them both. It was definitely something I was waiting to get back on the line."
Plank's two free throws gave the Tigers a 48-45 lead, and CMA's Lee Harris missed a 30-foot desperation shot at the end of the game.
"It is something I practice a lot," Plank said. "I shoot 50 or 100 of them every day. I have been hitting them of late, so I went to the line with as much confidence that I could muster up in that much time."
The free throws were needed because the Eagles gave the Tigers every thing they could handle and more. Coming back one day after a tough, emotional 60-50 win against a talented Triton team, Warsaw didn't know what to expect from CMA. That was probably good because the Tigers didn't have much time to prepare for Friday's matchup any way. Warsaw even took a few minutes AFTER the Triton game on Thursday for a walk through.
"It was very tough emotionally to get back up," Rhodes said. "It kind of put Culver in the driver's seat that way. We responded well. We were a little tired. The lack of preparation from one game to the next makes it tough to get ready, but they had the same deal."
After CMA's galiant effort, the Tiger players had nothing but respect for the effort of the Eagle players.
"They gave it everything they had," senior Tom Krizmanich said. "I can do nothing but respect CMA's performance. They came out and left every ounce of energy they had on the floor. They just put together a great performance."
"They showed so much heart and perseverance out there," senior P.J. Wiley said. "They took us by surprise and showed a lot of character."
CMA took a 14-11 first-quarter lead behind nine points from Harris. The Eagles held an 18-12 advantage in the second when Warsaw went on a 7-0 mini-run to take its first lead of the game, 19-18, with five minutes remaining in the half. The Tigers took a 28-23 lead into the locker room at halftime.
"I thought we didn't play well until four minutes to go in the second quarter," Rhodes said. "In that stretch, we got a little bit of control. They came back in the third, and it was back and forth from there."
Warsaw led 35-28 in the third quarter before baskets by Billy Peterson and Larry Swank made it 35-32 entering the final quarter.
CMA started the fourth by gaining a 37-37 tie when Peterson rebounded a CMA miss and put it back for a layup. The Tigers forged ahead 43-38 on a three-point play from Plank and a layup from Krizmanich.
But Swank got two free throws and Will Mishler nailed a three-pointer sandwiched around two free throws from Plank to make the score 45-43 when just over two minutes left.
Warsaw made only 1 of 3 free throws after that and allowed CMA to get within 46-45 with 11 seconds left. Then Plank checked the score on the scoreboard and calmly sank both his free throws for the final margin.
"CMA came to play and gave us a great game," Plank said. "We knew we just had to pick it up. We came out at halftime determined to win."
A lot has been made of Warsaw losing five starters from last year's Final Four team, but the Warsaw seniors, Wiley, Krizmanich, Tyler Charlton, and Kevin Masur, decided to make a legacy of their own in this year, the last year for a one-class tournament in the IHSAA.
"All season long, we were given no credit and not much was expected from us," Krizmanich said. "That was a major focus as a team. We took the attitude no one expected much from us, so we could go out and sneak up on a couple of teams. Once we got up there, it was just maintaining what we had."
And all this team has done is go out and run up a 19-4 record and three championships (Warsaw Holiday, NLC, Sectional).
"I am very happy with this probably being the last tournament at Warsaw ever," Wiley said. "It really means something to us. We are glad we did it for the coaches and all the past players that have built this place for us."
Krizmanich led the Tigers with 20 points and nine rebounds, while Plank added 11 points. Junior Luke Reed came up big on the boards for Warsaw with eight caroms and added eight points.
Harris paced CMA with 19 points, and Peterson added 15.
"Defensively and offensively, he (Harris) really came to play," Rhodes said. "That is what made the game close."
Because of the NCAA Final Four in March, the IHSAA backed the boys' basketball tournament up a week and caused the boys' sectional to be played on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday to not conflict with today's girls' state finals in Indianapolis. This made it tough on the players, who had to play three games on school nights.
"Three games in one week is a lot to ask, especially with home work," Plank said. "Having back-to-back games, especially during week nights, it tough." [[In-content Ad]]