Tigers Suffer First NLC Loss
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Anthony Gadson-agadson@timesuniononline.com
From the tipoff, the Minutemen (3-9, 1-2 NLC) implemented a savvy offense and stingy defense, leading to a 42-35 win over the Northern Lakes Conference-leading Tigers (9-5, 3-1 NLC).[[In-content Ad]]"These guys come to practice like they're a 9-3 team, and not a 3-9 team," Concord coach Ryan Culp said. "We're optimistic on what this team can become. The guys, I felt, really executed the things we had in the game plan."
That game plan involved patient offensive sets, and a 2-3 zone defense that Warsaw couldn't get them out of, hitting just one of 15 three-point shots.
"We just gotta shoot better," Warsaw coach Doug Ogle said.
In the NLC affair at McCuen Gym, it didn't look like anyone wanted to shoot, as the teams went into the half tied 9-9. Things loosened up in the third quarter, which Concord ended on top 24-22. But in the fourth quarter, a 10-0 Minutemen run gave the home team a 34-24 advantage with 3:40 remaining.
"It got to the point where we were still playing to win, instead of playing not to lose," Culp said of the late-game run. "I thought our guys handled that situation so well. When we needed to get into a patient-style of play, we did. When we had the opportunity to attack the basket, we did, and we converted. That's something we've had trouble doing."
During that 10-0 run, Concord had four different players contribute, the same four that scored all 42 of their points. The balanced scoring attack was led by Tyrie Larkin's 12 points, followed by David Yoder's 11, Ja Vontae Hence's 10 and nine from David House.
"I give a lot of credit to Concord in this game tonight," Ogle said. "They had a whole bunch of guys scoring."
Ryne Robinson led all scorers with 18 points, scoring 11 in the fourth quarter.
Coming into the game, Culp placed on emphasis on stopping Warsaw freshman Nic Moore, and the Minutemen did just that. With the Concord fans on him as much as the players, Moore scored six points on 3-of-12 shooting, 11 points below his season average.
"That was due to a focus on where he was on the court," Culp said. "We were making sure he didn't get open looks.
"He actually gave up the ball at times, when I thought he was going to take a shot," Culp added. "That surprised me a bit. Maybe it was our defense, kind of forcing him to give it up. I thought our kids did a great job on him."
The slow-paced first half seemed to really take the air out of the ball. And with a team struggling this season, shortening the game was just what Culp wanted to do against Warsaw.
"Over the years, when you have a tempo of an upcourt game, it can be hard to hold kids back, telling them we're going to play a patient game," Culp said.
From what Ogle saw, those kids definitely played the game the way they needed to.
"Coming in here with two wins - they played well," he said. "I was extremely concerned with this game. I told anybody who would listen, that Concord is a very dangerous team."
And with the two squads not only in the same conference, but also in the same sectional, the Tigers wouldn't mind getting another shot at the Minutemen.
"Maybe this will help us refocus," Ogle said. "We have a young team, so we have to take this opportunity to learn. Who knows? Maybe we'll get to play Concord again in Sectional 4."
Before that, Warsaw will face another NLC team Friday when it travels to NorthWood for a 6:15 p.m. junior varsity tipoff.
CONCORD 42, WARSAW 35
W 7 2 13 13 - 35
C 4 5 15 18 - 42
Warsaw - Clemens 2-4 1-2 5, Moore 3-12 0-0 6, Robinson 8-15 1-1 18, Long 0-5 0-0 0, Byerly 0-2 0-0 0, Conrad 3-4 0-1 6, Holladay 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-42 2-4 35.
Concord - Larkin 4-11 4-4 12, Hence 3-5 4-6 10, Yoder 3-7 3-3 11, Acker 0-1 0-0 0, House 4-5 1-1 9, Ladehoff 0-1 0-0 0, Lebold 0-0 0-0 0, Kohn 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 14-31 12-14 42.
3-point goals - Warsaw 1-15 (Robinson), Concord 2-9 (Yoder 2). Team Fouls - Warsaw 15, Concord 13. Turnovers - Warsaw 10, Concord 12. Rebounds - Warsaw 19 (Conrad 5, Clemens 4). Assists - Warsaw 5 (Moore 2). Steals - Warsaw 3 (Conrad 2).
Records - Warsaw 9-5 (3-1 NLC), Concord 3-9 (1-2 NLC).
JV - Warsaw 42, Concord 41
Warsaw - Owens 10, Anglin 9, Linky 7, Simpson 6, Nulf 4
From the tipoff, the Minutemen (3-9, 1-2 NLC) implemented a savvy offense and stingy defense, leading to a 42-35 win over the Northern Lakes Conference-leading Tigers (9-5, 3-1 NLC).[[In-content Ad]]"These guys come to practice like they're a 9-3 team, and not a 3-9 team," Concord coach Ryan Culp said. "We're optimistic on what this team can become. The guys, I felt, really executed the things we had in the game plan."
That game plan involved patient offensive sets, and a 2-3 zone defense that Warsaw couldn't get them out of, hitting just one of 15 three-point shots.
"We just gotta shoot better," Warsaw coach Doug Ogle said.
In the NLC affair at McCuen Gym, it didn't look like anyone wanted to shoot, as the teams went into the half tied 9-9. Things loosened up in the third quarter, which Concord ended on top 24-22. But in the fourth quarter, a 10-0 Minutemen run gave the home team a 34-24 advantage with 3:40 remaining.
"It got to the point where we were still playing to win, instead of playing not to lose," Culp said of the late-game run. "I thought our guys handled that situation so well. When we needed to get into a patient-style of play, we did. When we had the opportunity to attack the basket, we did, and we converted. That's something we've had trouble doing."
During that 10-0 run, Concord had four different players contribute, the same four that scored all 42 of their points. The balanced scoring attack was led by Tyrie Larkin's 12 points, followed by David Yoder's 11, Ja Vontae Hence's 10 and nine from David House.
"I give a lot of credit to Concord in this game tonight," Ogle said. "They had a whole bunch of guys scoring."
Ryne Robinson led all scorers with 18 points, scoring 11 in the fourth quarter.
Coming into the game, Culp placed on emphasis on stopping Warsaw freshman Nic Moore, and the Minutemen did just that. With the Concord fans on him as much as the players, Moore scored six points on 3-of-12 shooting, 11 points below his season average.
"That was due to a focus on where he was on the court," Culp said. "We were making sure he didn't get open looks.
"He actually gave up the ball at times, when I thought he was going to take a shot," Culp added. "That surprised me a bit. Maybe it was our defense, kind of forcing him to give it up. I thought our kids did a great job on him."
The slow-paced first half seemed to really take the air out of the ball. And with a team struggling this season, shortening the game was just what Culp wanted to do against Warsaw.
"Over the years, when you have a tempo of an upcourt game, it can be hard to hold kids back, telling them we're going to play a patient game," Culp said.
From what Ogle saw, those kids definitely played the game the way they needed to.
"Coming in here with two wins - they played well," he said. "I was extremely concerned with this game. I told anybody who would listen, that Concord is a very dangerous team."
And with the two squads not only in the same conference, but also in the same sectional, the Tigers wouldn't mind getting another shot at the Minutemen.
"Maybe this will help us refocus," Ogle said. "We have a young team, so we have to take this opportunity to learn. Who knows? Maybe we'll get to play Concord again in Sectional 4."
Before that, Warsaw will face another NLC team Friday when it travels to NorthWood for a 6:15 p.m. junior varsity tipoff.
CONCORD 42, WARSAW 35
W 7 2 13 13 - 35
C 4 5 15 18 - 42
Warsaw - Clemens 2-4 1-2 5, Moore 3-12 0-0 6, Robinson 8-15 1-1 18, Long 0-5 0-0 0, Byerly 0-2 0-0 0, Conrad 3-4 0-1 6, Holladay 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-42 2-4 35.
Concord - Larkin 4-11 4-4 12, Hence 3-5 4-6 10, Yoder 3-7 3-3 11, Acker 0-1 0-0 0, House 4-5 1-1 9, Ladehoff 0-1 0-0 0, Lebold 0-0 0-0 0, Kohn 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 14-31 12-14 42.
3-point goals - Warsaw 1-15 (Robinson), Concord 2-9 (Yoder 2). Team Fouls - Warsaw 15, Concord 13. Turnovers - Warsaw 10, Concord 12. Rebounds - Warsaw 19 (Conrad 5, Clemens 4). Assists - Warsaw 5 (Moore 2). Steals - Warsaw 3 (Conrad 2).
Records - Warsaw 9-5 (3-1 NLC), Concord 3-9 (1-2 NLC).
JV - Warsaw 42, Concord 41
Warsaw - Owens 10, Anglin 9, Linky 7, Simpson 6, Nulf 4
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