So this is what the lineup is like in the 1998 Warsaw Tiger Tournament: 10-1 Perry Meridian, 9-1 Valparaiso, 7-2 Mount Vernon and 6-3 Warsaw.

The Tigers will definitely see Perry Meridian -Êthat's who they meet in the first round on Saturday. Should they win that, they will play either Valparaiso or Mount Vernon in the championship game that evening.

Tall task. Tough order. Call it what you will. But Warsaw girls basketball coach Will Wienhorst wouldn't have it any other way. He enjoys playing this tournament with these good teams at this time of the season.

"I know a lot of coaches and teams have two weeks off this time of year," he said. "Win or lose this tournament, we have come back and been intense. I was talking to North Central's coach (Alan Vickrey) at the Hall of Fame Tournament. He's concerned about how his team will do after the layoff."

Warsaw last won its tournament seven years ago, the longest stretch the Tigers have gone without winning it since it began in 1979. They have gone 0-2 in the tournament the last two years. Valparaiso traditionally fields top 10 basketball teams and has been the team to beat in the tourney in the 1990s, winning it five times since 1991. That's no exception this year -Êthe Vikings are No. 7 in Class 4A, the only team of the four in the top 10.

Perry Meridian, which went 26-1 and advanced to the semistate last season, won it last year.

Mount Vernon may have the best guard tandem, April Kirby and Johna Goff. Kirby averaged 18.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game last season.

Wienhorst is more optimistic this time than the last two years. Two years ago this tournament marked the low point of a rocky Warsaw season as the Tigers were blasted in the first round and the consolation round. One year ago, the other three teams were ranked in the top 25 at one time or another. Wienhorst knew going in everything would have to go perfect to win that 1997 tournament.

It didn't happen. The Tigers lost their first-round game to Mount Vernon when the Marauders won on a controversial call at the end of the game.

This year, it's different. The teams are good. Are they as dominant as last year? Probably not.

"This year you could play this tournament one weekend and have one winner then play it the next weekend and have a different winner," Wienhorst said. "Any team can win this tournament."

The only thing that dampens Wienhorst's enthusiasm is the one thing he has no control over: injuries. Six-foot-two junior center Katie Elliott has battled foot and ankle problems all year. She hurt her ankle during the warmups before the Dec. 20 game with Plymouth, and Wienhorst said the problem still lingers. Five-foot-nine senior guard Sherri Ross had arthroscopic surgery on her knee earlier this season.

"Katie Elliott's ankle is touch and go," he said. "She's questionable. Sherri Ross banged up her knee and sat out (Wednesday's) practice. We need to get them healthy.

"We're a better team than last year. I know it doesn't show in the record. But we haven't had full-time services from Sherri Ross except for the first week."

Perry Meridian is the surprise team of the tournament. The Falcons graduated seven seniors, including their top two starters. They also lost their most talented young player, Charliss Ridley. Ridley, who played on the varsity squad as a freshman last season, transferred to Wheaton, Ill.

But Perry Meridian rolls into the tournament with a 10-1 record.

"(Perry Meridian) is an extremely quick basketball team with a good inside/outside game," Wienhorst said. "It will be the first time this year we will be challenged on the defensive boards. They are a tremendous offensive rebounding team. Their point guard (Latasha Austin) is a tremendous dribble penetrator who can score and dish off. Their center is (Jennifer) Des Jean, a tremendous force inside. (Lindsay) Poe is a tremendous three-point shooter.

"Without a doubt (Austin) is the key. She creates their offense. We will have to contain her where she can't create like she wants to."

One thing the Tigers can say is they have been in every game. Their three losses have come to Huntington North, Columbia City and Crown Point by a combined 14 points. All have been ranked at some point.

Five-foot-11 senior Tiffany Ross has again been solid. Every game Wienhorst can count on her for 14 points and seven rebounds. Six-foot-one senior forward Sam Wideman has proven she can score inside or hit the three-pointer. Wienhorst expected contributions from them, but he cited a few others for the way they've chipped in.

"Our guards, Alyssa Raphael and Jessica Zaugg, have played up to what we thought and more," he said. "We want them to continue to look to score. Jackie Edwards played as consistently as anyone we had the first half."

Warsaw will need them and everyone else - especially if Elliott and Sherri Ross are ailing - to win their first Tiger Tournament championship since 1991.

"We will have to play a tremendous basketball game to beat Perry Meridian," Wienhorst said. "If we can do that, I would like to see how this team can perform in the championship.

"Our goal is to win the tournament. I just wish we were healthier. It affects us two ways: our condition to play two games and our rotations." [[In-content Ad]]