We're Heading Into A Great Time Of The Year
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Roger Grossman, Lake City Radio-
A game that you can see off in the distance that, as you get closer to it, becomes like a mountain more massive than anyone could ever imagine.
Warsaw-NorthWood is that kind of game, and we are standing at the base of the mountain.
Friday’s game between the 4A No. 5 Tigers (15-0) and the 3A No. 2 Panthers (13-1) has been on the radar for fans across northern Indiana since before Christmas with the premise “IF Warsaw stays unbeaten and IF NorthWood can remain perfect in the NLC…” – and they both did.
The biggest question to be answered Friday: “Will the Nappanee Fire Marshall walk in, look around, shake his head and walk back out?”
Friday’s game promises to be one like the good ol’ days, doesn’t it?
If you think about it, it’s the beginning of 11 glorious days on the sports calendar. Warsaw-NorthWood Friday, girls sectionals starting Tuesday and running all next week, culminating with the finals Saturday night, then Super Bowl 50 on Sunday.
The girls sectional storylines in the area are deep this year.
• Tippecanoe Valley has been almost unstoppable this year, but outside of their sectional the Lady Vikings will likely have a harder road than a year ago when they made it all the way to Indy. They will still be a favorite in most of their tournament games.
• Wawasee opens sectional play at Valley Tuesday. After putting in my 2016 predictions that the Lady Warriors would play under a new coach next year, the smoke began to billow (again) around the Wawasee camp that Kem Zolman was about to step down there. He told me this week he’ll wait until the season is over to evaluate what the future holds. He deserves to go out on his own terms no matter what happens.
• Whitko has challenged itself with a very difficult schedule, and now is when that should start to pay off. The Lady Wildcats could make a long run at it if they stay healthy and focused. Their big question is this: Is THIS the group to do what no Whitko girls team ever has … win a sectional championship.
• Triton is likely to finish with a losing record, but just might make history by winning the first ever Hoosier North Conference girls basketball title. Triton plays at North Judson Friday, and the Jays are the only team that can still catch them.
• Manchester got a hard draw. They have to beat a solid Oak Hill team Tuesday and then rival Wabash in the semis at Rochester, only to likely have to beat the host school in the finals.
• And then there is Warsaw, which started the year 0-9 and STILL could realistically finish second in the NLC with a win over NorthWood tonight. They got the best possible draw, needing to beat a below-500 Elkhart Central squad and a Concord team they just beat 82-38 Saturday to reach the championship. Penn, Northridge and Goshen will all battle it out on the other side of the bracket for the other spot in the final at Goshen.
Get your hiking boots on … it’s time to start climbing the mountain.[[In-content Ad]]
A game that you can see off in the distance that, as you get closer to it, becomes like a mountain more massive than anyone could ever imagine.
Warsaw-NorthWood is that kind of game, and we are standing at the base of the mountain.
Friday’s game between the 4A No. 5 Tigers (15-0) and the 3A No. 2 Panthers (13-1) has been on the radar for fans across northern Indiana since before Christmas with the premise “IF Warsaw stays unbeaten and IF NorthWood can remain perfect in the NLC…” – and they both did.
The biggest question to be answered Friday: “Will the Nappanee Fire Marshall walk in, look around, shake his head and walk back out?”
Friday’s game promises to be one like the good ol’ days, doesn’t it?
If you think about it, it’s the beginning of 11 glorious days on the sports calendar. Warsaw-NorthWood Friday, girls sectionals starting Tuesday and running all next week, culminating with the finals Saturday night, then Super Bowl 50 on Sunday.
The girls sectional storylines in the area are deep this year.
• Tippecanoe Valley has been almost unstoppable this year, but outside of their sectional the Lady Vikings will likely have a harder road than a year ago when they made it all the way to Indy. They will still be a favorite in most of their tournament games.
• Wawasee opens sectional play at Valley Tuesday. After putting in my 2016 predictions that the Lady Warriors would play under a new coach next year, the smoke began to billow (again) around the Wawasee camp that Kem Zolman was about to step down there. He told me this week he’ll wait until the season is over to evaluate what the future holds. He deserves to go out on his own terms no matter what happens.
• Whitko has challenged itself with a very difficult schedule, and now is when that should start to pay off. The Lady Wildcats could make a long run at it if they stay healthy and focused. Their big question is this: Is THIS the group to do what no Whitko girls team ever has … win a sectional championship.
• Triton is likely to finish with a losing record, but just might make history by winning the first ever Hoosier North Conference girls basketball title. Triton plays at North Judson Friday, and the Jays are the only team that can still catch them.
• Manchester got a hard draw. They have to beat a solid Oak Hill team Tuesday and then rival Wabash in the semis at Rochester, only to likely have to beat the host school in the finals.
• And then there is Warsaw, which started the year 0-9 and STILL could realistically finish second in the NLC with a win over NorthWood tonight. They got the best possible draw, needing to beat a below-500 Elkhart Central squad and a Concord team they just beat 82-38 Saturday to reach the championship. Penn, Northridge and Goshen will all battle it out on the other side of the bracket for the other spot in the final at Goshen.
Get your hiking boots on … it’s time to start climbing the mountain.[[In-content Ad]]
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