Wawasee Gets Back On Track With Win Over NorthWood
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
SYRACUSE -ÊTuesday's night NLC tourney match-up with NorthWood was more than just an opportunity for Phil Mishler and his Wawasee Warriors to take their record above .500, it was more about taking another step toward rebuilding a struggling program. Mishler's young Warriors have played well at times this year and have shown flashes of the consistency needed to compete in the always tough NLC.
Considering that Mishler began the season with only one player back from last year's team who had seen significant playing time, and he has since left the team, expectations weren't too high. The Warrior record stood at 3-3 after taking it on the chin Friday night against Warsaw.
Tuesday night was an opportunity for the Warriors to get back on track at the expense of the NorthWood Panthers, and they did just that pulling out a last-second win, 55-53.
After falling behind quickly 8-0, the Warriors came back behind some three-point shooting and trailed by one, 15-14 at the end of the first quarter.
It was two first-quarter threes by Warrior Steve Conrad and one each by Rosten Trobaugh and Ryan Stichter that brought the Wawasee back.
Early in the second quarter, the Warriors took the lead and stayed ahead through most the game, leading by as much as 10 with just under four minutes remaining.
But the Panthers stormed back. They hit a three at the 1:33 mark to draw to within one, 51-50, and the battle was on.
A Wawasee basket made it 53-50 until NorthWood made another three to tie the game at 53-all.
The Panthers then immediately got the ball back by virtue of a Wawasee turnover. NorthWood got what it wanted on the possession but missed a backdoor layup and Wawasee's Clint Custer got a big rebound with about 35 seconds left. On the resulting possession Custer found himself open underneath and scored to give the Warriors a 55-53 lead.
NorthWood got the ball back but missed a good shot with 5.5 seconds remaining. On the rebound Wawasee tipped the ball out of bounds giving the Panthers another shot.
The next five seconds had everyone holding their breath as NorthWood had a shot and then a tip, go in and out of the basket before the ball was eventually tipped-in. Unfortunately for the Panthers time had run out and Wawasee had escaped with the win.
"For us right now this was a huge game," said Mishler. "We are counting the first half of this season as a season itself. This is our sectional right now and tonight was our first win.
"These kids have gained a lot of experience so far this season. Playing tonight against a good NorthWood team ... with three solid returning starters from last year ... and being able to have a lead. ... That is a learning experience in itself."
The win sends the 4-3 Warriors to Goshen on Friday night to take on Warsaw in the second game of the night. Elkhart Memorial and Goshen play at 6 p.m. in the first game.
Friday's winners of those two games will meet for the NLC championship Saturday night at 8:00 pm at Warsaw.
NorthWood will advance to the losers bracket to take on Northridge. That game will also be played on Friday night, but at Concord. It will follow the 6:00 pm game between Plymouth and Concord. [[In-content Ad]]
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SYRACUSE -ÊTuesday's night NLC tourney match-up with NorthWood was more than just an opportunity for Phil Mishler and his Wawasee Warriors to take their record above .500, it was more about taking another step toward rebuilding a struggling program. Mishler's young Warriors have played well at times this year and have shown flashes of the consistency needed to compete in the always tough NLC.
Considering that Mishler began the season with only one player back from last year's team who had seen significant playing time, and he has since left the team, expectations weren't too high. The Warrior record stood at 3-3 after taking it on the chin Friday night against Warsaw.
Tuesday night was an opportunity for the Warriors to get back on track at the expense of the NorthWood Panthers, and they did just that pulling out a last-second win, 55-53.
After falling behind quickly 8-0, the Warriors came back behind some three-point shooting and trailed by one, 15-14 at the end of the first quarter.
It was two first-quarter threes by Warrior Steve Conrad and one each by Rosten Trobaugh and Ryan Stichter that brought the Wawasee back.
Early in the second quarter, the Warriors took the lead and stayed ahead through most the game, leading by as much as 10 with just under four minutes remaining.
But the Panthers stormed back. They hit a three at the 1:33 mark to draw to within one, 51-50, and the battle was on.
A Wawasee basket made it 53-50 until NorthWood made another three to tie the game at 53-all.
The Panthers then immediately got the ball back by virtue of a Wawasee turnover. NorthWood got what it wanted on the possession but missed a backdoor layup and Wawasee's Clint Custer got a big rebound with about 35 seconds left. On the resulting possession Custer found himself open underneath and scored to give the Warriors a 55-53 lead.
NorthWood got the ball back but missed a good shot with 5.5 seconds remaining. On the rebound Wawasee tipped the ball out of bounds giving the Panthers another shot.
The next five seconds had everyone holding their breath as NorthWood had a shot and then a tip, go in and out of the basket before the ball was eventually tipped-in. Unfortunately for the Panthers time had run out and Wawasee had escaped with the win.
"For us right now this was a huge game," said Mishler. "We are counting the first half of this season as a season itself. This is our sectional right now and tonight was our first win.
"These kids have gained a lot of experience so far this season. Playing tonight against a good NorthWood team ... with three solid returning starters from last year ... and being able to have a lead. ... That is a learning experience in itself."
The win sends the 4-3 Warriors to Goshen on Friday night to take on Warsaw in the second game of the night. Elkhart Memorial and Goshen play at 6 p.m. in the first game.
Friday's winners of those two games will meet for the NLC championship Saturday night at 8:00 pm at Warsaw.
NorthWood will advance to the losers bracket to take on Northridge. That game will also be played on Friday night, but at Concord. It will follow the 6:00 pm game between Plymouth and Concord. [[In-content Ad]]