Warsaw Tigers Extend Win Streak
January 20, 2018 at 5:54 a.m.
Warsaw Tigers Extend Win Streak
By Dale [email protected]
The 6-foot junior’s improved ability to run the show was on display again Friday night, as he scored a game-high 15 points and dished out seven assists to go with four rebounds and a steal.
The continued improvement of Groninger’s teammates is evident more and more each day, too.
With a 59-39 win at Northern Lakes Conference rival Concord, the Tigers improved to 8-7 overall, 3-1 in the league standings, and extended their win streak to five games.
“Nolan played well tonight,” said Ogle. “He ran the show. He has, in this stretch, really picked it up. He’s turning into a bona fide, very solid point guard ... at the start of the year he wasn’t, now he is.”
Sophomore Brian Elliott made 4 of 5 shots, including 3 of 4 from three-point range, en route to 12 points, while junior Jaylen Reese scored eight points, and senior Zach Riley and junior Tyler Metzinger finished with seven each.
Sophomore Blake Marsh made both shots he attempted and scored five points in the win.
Riley and Metzinger pulled down six boards each.
Warsaw, a completely different version of the team that saw its 21-game NLC?win streak end in a 28-20 loss to Wawasee on Dec. 15, led Concord 11-5 after one quarter of play, 31-15 at halftime and 50-25 heading into the final frame.
The Tigers made 11 of 15 shot attempts in the first half and finished the game 20 of 35 overall, 5 of 11 from the arc, and 14 of 17 at the free throw line.
“We shot well, especially in the first half,” said Ogle, whose team outrebounded Concord 31-13. “We cooled down a little bit in the second half, but I thought we looked ready, I thought we looked fresh, and our defensive gameplan to slow up (Grant) Magnuson worked.”
Magnuson, a standout linemen on Concord’s football team, used his burly frame to force his way into the paint. The 6-4 senior made 5 of 6 shot attempts and led Concord with 11 points.
Junior Drew McDougle scored nine points for the Minutemen, who fell to 4-9 overall and 1-3 in the NLC, while juniors Grant Lucchese and Luke Shoemaker chipped in with six and five, respectively.
Concord finished the game 14 of 38 from the field overall, 6 of 21 from the arc, and 5 of 9 at the charity stripe.
In their 15 games so far this season, the Tigers have experienced a five-game losing streak, as well as the current five-game win streak.
The difference in the two, according to Ogle, has been his team’s improved play on defense.
As a result, the Tigers are in position to battle for a fourth consecutive conference championship.
With a 3-0 record, Elkhart Memorial is the only team with an unblemished NLC record. Northridge and Warsaw both have one loss in league play.
Memorial travels to Northridge for a key conference clash tonight.
Warsaw, winners of 24 of its last 25 NLC games, travels to NorthWood Friday, plays Memorial at North Side Gym on Feb. 1, and then rounds out conference play by hosting Plymouth on Feb. 9.
NorthWood and Plymouth have two NLC?losses each this season.
“I’m happy for our players, they stuck with it,” said Ogle. “It was doomsday after we lost to Wawasee. Now we’re 3-1 and right back in the thick of things. We have a realistic chance to be part of a fourth straight championship. We’re a player in the NLC again. We’re gonna enjoy this win, and get ready for NorthWood.”
WARSAW 59, CONCORD 39
W 11 20 19 9 – 59
C 5 10 10 14 – 39
Warsaw – Nolan Groninger 4-7 7-8 15, Brian Elliott 4-5 1-1 12, Deandre Adkins 0-0 0-0 0, Jack Rhoades 1-1 0-0 2, Trevor Rumple 1-2 0-0 3, Dane Stookey 0-0 0-0 0, Zach Riley 3-6 1-1 7, Nick Marsh 0-0 0-0 0, Jack Grose 0-1 0-0 0, Tyler Metzinger 3-7 1-2 7, Jaylen Reese 2-4 4-5 8, Blake Marsh 2-2 0-0 5. Totals 20-35 14-17 59.
Concord – Luke Shoemaker 1-4 2-2 5, Matt Auger 1-2 1-1 3, Grant Lucchese 2-8 0-0 6, Ethan Cain 1-4 0-0 2, Gabe Andreini 0-1 0-0 0, Carter Neveraski 0-1 1-2 1, Drew McDougle 3-7 0-0 9, Tieon Autry 0-0 0-0 0, Michael Johnson 1-5 0-0 2, Braedon Taylor 0-0 0-0 0, Ben Eichelberger 0-0 0-0 0, Brock Troyer 0-0 0-0 0, Jacob Yoder 0-0 0-0 0, Grant Magnuson 5-6 1-4 11. Totals 14-38 5-9 39.
Three-pointers – Warsaw 5 (Elliott 3, Rumple, B. Marsh), Concord 6 (McDougle 3, Lucchese 2, Shoemaker); Rebounds – Warsaw 31 (Riley 6, Metzinger 6), Concord 13 (Johnson 4); Turnovers – Warsaw 10, Concord 9; Fouls – Warsaw 13, Concord 13; Fouled out – none; Records: Warsaw 8-7 (3-1 NLC), Concord 4-9 (1-3 NLC)
JV – Concord 54, Warsaw 40
Warsaw – Jaylen Reese 19, Keagan Larsh 10, Wyatt Amiss 8, Drew Yeager 3
The 6-foot junior’s improved ability to run the show was on display again Friday night, as he scored a game-high 15 points and dished out seven assists to go with four rebounds and a steal.
The continued improvement of Groninger’s teammates is evident more and more each day, too.
With a 59-39 win at Northern Lakes Conference rival Concord, the Tigers improved to 8-7 overall, 3-1 in the league standings, and extended their win streak to five games.
“Nolan played well tonight,” said Ogle. “He ran the show. He has, in this stretch, really picked it up. He’s turning into a bona fide, very solid point guard ... at the start of the year he wasn’t, now he is.”
Sophomore Brian Elliott made 4 of 5 shots, including 3 of 4 from three-point range, en route to 12 points, while junior Jaylen Reese scored eight points, and senior Zach Riley and junior Tyler Metzinger finished with seven each.
Sophomore Blake Marsh made both shots he attempted and scored five points in the win.
Riley and Metzinger pulled down six boards each.
Warsaw, a completely different version of the team that saw its 21-game NLC?win streak end in a 28-20 loss to Wawasee on Dec. 15, led Concord 11-5 after one quarter of play, 31-15 at halftime and 50-25 heading into the final frame.
The Tigers made 11 of 15 shot attempts in the first half and finished the game 20 of 35 overall, 5 of 11 from the arc, and 14 of 17 at the free throw line.
“We shot well, especially in the first half,” said Ogle, whose team outrebounded Concord 31-13. “We cooled down a little bit in the second half, but I thought we looked ready, I thought we looked fresh, and our defensive gameplan to slow up (Grant) Magnuson worked.”
Magnuson, a standout linemen on Concord’s football team, used his burly frame to force his way into the paint. The 6-4 senior made 5 of 6 shot attempts and led Concord with 11 points.
Junior Drew McDougle scored nine points for the Minutemen, who fell to 4-9 overall and 1-3 in the NLC, while juniors Grant Lucchese and Luke Shoemaker chipped in with six and five, respectively.
Concord finished the game 14 of 38 from the field overall, 6 of 21 from the arc, and 5 of 9 at the charity stripe.
In their 15 games so far this season, the Tigers have experienced a five-game losing streak, as well as the current five-game win streak.
The difference in the two, according to Ogle, has been his team’s improved play on defense.
As a result, the Tigers are in position to battle for a fourth consecutive conference championship.
With a 3-0 record, Elkhart Memorial is the only team with an unblemished NLC record. Northridge and Warsaw both have one loss in league play.
Memorial travels to Northridge for a key conference clash tonight.
Warsaw, winners of 24 of its last 25 NLC games, travels to NorthWood Friday, plays Memorial at North Side Gym on Feb. 1, and then rounds out conference play by hosting Plymouth on Feb. 9.
NorthWood and Plymouth have two NLC?losses each this season.
“I’m happy for our players, they stuck with it,” said Ogle. “It was doomsday after we lost to Wawasee. Now we’re 3-1 and right back in the thick of things. We have a realistic chance to be part of a fourth straight championship. We’re a player in the NLC again. We’re gonna enjoy this win, and get ready for NorthWood.”
WARSAW 59, CONCORD 39
W 11 20 19 9 – 59
C 5 10 10 14 – 39
Warsaw – Nolan Groninger 4-7 7-8 15, Brian Elliott 4-5 1-1 12, Deandre Adkins 0-0 0-0 0, Jack Rhoades 1-1 0-0 2, Trevor Rumple 1-2 0-0 3, Dane Stookey 0-0 0-0 0, Zach Riley 3-6 1-1 7, Nick Marsh 0-0 0-0 0, Jack Grose 0-1 0-0 0, Tyler Metzinger 3-7 1-2 7, Jaylen Reese 2-4 4-5 8, Blake Marsh 2-2 0-0 5. Totals 20-35 14-17 59.
Concord – Luke Shoemaker 1-4 2-2 5, Matt Auger 1-2 1-1 3, Grant Lucchese 2-8 0-0 6, Ethan Cain 1-4 0-0 2, Gabe Andreini 0-1 0-0 0, Carter Neveraski 0-1 1-2 1, Drew McDougle 3-7 0-0 9, Tieon Autry 0-0 0-0 0, Michael Johnson 1-5 0-0 2, Braedon Taylor 0-0 0-0 0, Ben Eichelberger 0-0 0-0 0, Brock Troyer 0-0 0-0 0, Jacob Yoder 0-0 0-0 0, Grant Magnuson 5-6 1-4 11. Totals 14-38 5-9 39.
Three-pointers – Warsaw 5 (Elliott 3, Rumple, B. Marsh), Concord 6 (McDougle 3, Lucchese 2, Shoemaker); Rebounds – Warsaw 31 (Riley 6, Metzinger 6), Concord 13 (Johnson 4); Turnovers – Warsaw 10, Concord 9; Fouls – Warsaw 13, Concord 13; Fouled out – none; Records: Warsaw 8-7 (3-1 NLC), Concord 4-9 (1-3 NLC)
JV – Concord 54, Warsaw 40
Warsaw – Jaylen Reese 19, Keagan Larsh 10, Wyatt Amiss 8, Drew Yeager 3
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