Tigers Lose Heartbreaker At Homestead

No. 3 Spartans erase double-digit deficit in 60-59 win over Warsaw
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.


FORT WAYNE – The Warsaw Tigers got off to a great start Friday night. The finish, however, wasn’t exactly what they had in mind.
Playing in front of a capacity crowd that included Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski and Purdue head coach Matt Painter, the Tigers raced out to a 10-0 lead at Class 4A No. 3 Homestead and eventually led 15-3 at the end of the first quarter and 26-16 at halftime.
The second half, however, belonged to 6-foot-9 senior Caleb Swanigan and the host Spartans, who rallied for a thrilling 60-59 win that left Warsaw’s fans heartbroken.
“Our ballhandling in the second half ... we just didn’t take care of the ball the way we did in the first half,” said Warsaw coach Doug Ogle, whose team had four turnovers in the first 16 minutes of play, and 11 in the final 16 minutes. “And our defense softened up in the second half. We executed really well in the first half, but I think Swanigan wore us down in the second half, and we had some foul trouble.”
Swanigan is the reason Krzyzewski and Painter were in attendance, and he certainly didn’t disappoint his audience.
After scoring just four points in the first half, only taking three shots in the first and second quarters, Swanigan exploded for 21 second-half points.
A Mr. Basketball candidate, as well as a good bet to be named a McDonald’s All-American, Swanigan finished the game 11 of 13 from the field for a game-high 25 points.
He also grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.
Of the 11 shots he made, none were bigger than the three-pointer he made from the top of the key, giving the Spartans a 55-54 lead with 3:11 remaining, a lead they didn’t relinquish.
“Big-time players make big-time shots,” said Homestead coach Chris Johnson. “He’s used to AAU games and having people watch him. He’s used to the spotlight. He wants to succeed and do well like anybody else. He wants to be one of the better players in the state, and I think he is.”
Senior Jordan Geist, a transfer who was a junior All-Star last season after playing for coach Al Rhodes at Penn, scored 21 points for the Spartans, who are now 3-1 on the season.
Junior Tahj Curry Curry chipped in with nine points.
A three-pointer by Geist gave Homestead its first lead of the game, a 49-48 advantage with 4:53 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Tigers responded with a three-pointer from senior Nick Sands on the ensuing possession, taking the lead back, and held a 54-51 advantage before the Spartans hit a free throw and then got the big trey from Swanigan and a key steal and bucket from Curry.
Outside of the second-half turnovers, the Tigers did just about everything they needed to win the game.
Warsaw was 21 of 36 (58 percent) from the field overall, 9 of 15 from the arc, and 8 of 11 at the charity stripe.
The Tigers also limited arguably the best high school big man in the country to just three shots in the first half.
“We’re disappointed we didn’t win, but I’m proud of the way they battled,” Ogle said of his players. “We executed really well in the first half. Swanigan just wore us down in the second half. Our guys were looking forward to this game, they knew it was going to be a memorable atmosphere, and they battled. I think in the long run, when you step back and look at this game, it will help us.”
Senior Tim Swanson led Warsaw with 19 points.
The sharp-shooting guard was 6 of 9 from the field overall and 5 of 7 from the arc.
“We needed to get Swanson some more shots,” said Ogle.
Senior Rashaan Jackson, who had the task of trying to be physical with Swanigan, chipped in with 11 points, while sophomore Kyle Mangas scored nine points and Sands and fellow senior Jake Mangas finished with eight each.
Now 2-1 on the season, Warsaw travels to Huntington North tonight, while Homestead plays Lawrence Central today in a showcase at Southport.

HOMESTEAD 60, WARSAW 59
W    15    11    20    13    –    59
H    3    13    23    21    –    60
Warsaw – Kyle Mangas 3-4 2-3 9, Paul Marandet 0-0 0-0 0, Jeremy David 1-2 0-0 2, Tim Swanson 6--9 2-2 19, Nick Sands 3-6 0-0 8, Jake Mangas 3-5 2-2 8, Rashaan Jackson 4-7 2-4 11, Riley Rhoades 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 21-36 8-11 59.
Homestead – Jordan Geist 6-14 7-8 21, Tahj Curry 2-4 4-4 9, J.J. Foster 0-1 0-0 0, Ben Skowronek 0-2 0-1 0, Teddy Ray 0-4 2-2 2, Luke Cooper 0-0 0-0 0, Caleb Swanigan 11-13 2-3 25, Dana Batt 1-4 1-2 3. Totals 20-42 16-20 60.
Three-pointers – Warsaw 9 (Swanson 5, Sands 2, K. Mangas, Jackson), Homestead 4 (Geist 2, Curry, Swanigan); Rebounds – Warsaw 18 (Marandet 6), Homestead 23 (Swanigan 9); Turnovers – Warsaw 15, Homestead 13; Fouls – Warsaw 19, Homestead 16; Fouled out – none; Records: Warsaw 2-1, Homestead 3-1
JV – Warsaw 51, Homestead 43
Warsaw (3-0) – Rane Kilburn 12, Braxton Minix 10, Bishop Harrison 9, Jeremy David 7, Jaceb Burish 6, Ross Johnson 5, Shane Powers 2[[In-content Ad]]

FORT WAYNE – The Warsaw Tigers got off to a great start Friday night. The finish, however, wasn’t exactly what they had in mind.
Playing in front of a capacity crowd that included Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski and Purdue head coach Matt Painter, the Tigers raced out to a 10-0 lead at Class 4A No. 3 Homestead and eventually led 15-3 at the end of the first quarter and 26-16 at halftime.
The second half, however, belonged to 6-foot-9 senior Caleb Swanigan and the host Spartans, who rallied for a thrilling 60-59 win that left Warsaw’s fans heartbroken.
“Our ballhandling in the second half ... we just didn’t take care of the ball the way we did in the first half,” said Warsaw coach Doug Ogle, whose team had four turnovers in the first 16 minutes of play, and 11 in the final 16 minutes. “And our defense softened up in the second half. We executed really well in the first half, but I think Swanigan wore us down in the second half, and we had some foul trouble.”
Swanigan is the reason Krzyzewski and Painter were in attendance, and he certainly didn’t disappoint his audience.
After scoring just four points in the first half, only taking three shots in the first and second quarters, Swanigan exploded for 21 second-half points.
A Mr. Basketball candidate, as well as a good bet to be named a McDonald’s All-American, Swanigan finished the game 11 of 13 from the field for a game-high 25 points.
He also grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.
Of the 11 shots he made, none were bigger than the three-pointer he made from the top of the key, giving the Spartans a 55-54 lead with 3:11 remaining, a lead they didn’t relinquish.
“Big-time players make big-time shots,” said Homestead coach Chris Johnson. “He’s used to AAU games and having people watch him. He’s used to the spotlight. He wants to succeed and do well like anybody else. He wants to be one of the better players in the state, and I think he is.”
Senior Jordan Geist, a transfer who was a junior All-Star last season after playing for coach Al Rhodes at Penn, scored 21 points for the Spartans, who are now 3-1 on the season.
Junior Tahj Curry Curry chipped in with nine points.
A three-pointer by Geist gave Homestead its first lead of the game, a 49-48 advantage with 4:53 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Tigers responded with a three-pointer from senior Nick Sands on the ensuing possession, taking the lead back, and held a 54-51 advantage before the Spartans hit a free throw and then got the big trey from Swanigan and a key steal and bucket from Curry.
Outside of the second-half turnovers, the Tigers did just about everything they needed to win the game.
Warsaw was 21 of 36 (58 percent) from the field overall, 9 of 15 from the arc, and 8 of 11 at the charity stripe.
The Tigers also limited arguably the best high school big man in the country to just three shots in the first half.
“We’re disappointed we didn’t win, but I’m proud of the way they battled,” Ogle said of his players. “We executed really well in the first half. Swanigan just wore us down in the second half. Our guys were looking forward to this game, they knew it was going to be a memorable atmosphere, and they battled. I think in the long run, when you step back and look at this game, it will help us.”
Senior Tim Swanson led Warsaw with 19 points.
The sharp-shooting guard was 6 of 9 from the field overall and 5 of 7 from the arc.
“We needed to get Swanson some more shots,” said Ogle.
Senior Rashaan Jackson, who had the task of trying to be physical with Swanigan, chipped in with 11 points, while sophomore Kyle Mangas scored nine points and Sands and fellow senior Jake Mangas finished with eight each.
Now 2-1 on the season, Warsaw travels to Huntington North tonight, while Homestead plays Lawrence Central today in a showcase at Southport.

HOMESTEAD 60, WARSAW 59
W    15    11    20    13    –    59
H    3    13    23    21    –    60
Warsaw – Kyle Mangas 3-4 2-3 9, Paul Marandet 0-0 0-0 0, Jeremy David 1-2 0-0 2, Tim Swanson 6--9 2-2 19, Nick Sands 3-6 0-0 8, Jake Mangas 3-5 2-2 8, Rashaan Jackson 4-7 2-4 11, Riley Rhoades 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 21-36 8-11 59.
Homestead – Jordan Geist 6-14 7-8 21, Tahj Curry 2-4 4-4 9, J.J. Foster 0-1 0-0 0, Ben Skowronek 0-2 0-1 0, Teddy Ray 0-4 2-2 2, Luke Cooper 0-0 0-0 0, Caleb Swanigan 11-13 2-3 25, Dana Batt 1-4 1-2 3. Totals 20-42 16-20 60.
Three-pointers – Warsaw 9 (Swanson 5, Sands 2, K. Mangas, Jackson), Homestead 4 (Geist 2, Curry, Swanigan); Rebounds – Warsaw 18 (Marandet 6), Homestead 23 (Swanigan 9); Turnovers – Warsaw 15, Homestead 13; Fouls – Warsaw 19, Homestead 16; Fouled out – none; Records: Warsaw 2-1, Homestead 3-1
JV – Warsaw 51, Homestead 43
Warsaw (3-0) – Rane Kilburn 12, Braxton Minix 10, Bishop Harrison 9, Jeremy David 7, Jaceb Burish 6, Ross Johnson 5, Shane Powers 2[[In-content Ad]]
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