Tigers Pull Away From Blazers, Extend Win Streak
January 29, 2018 at 6:20 p.m.
Tigers Pull Away From Blazers, Extend Win Streak
By Dale [email protected]
With the hosts leading 26-25 in the third quarter, it was a turnover by the Blazers that proved to be a pivotal play in the Tigers’ 16-point win.
Sophomore Blake Marsh made a steal near the halfcourt line – just a few feet from where his parents Jeremy and Erin were sitting in the front row – and completed the play with an assist to junior Nolan Groninger.
Marsh’s steal and slick pass sparked a 7-0 run, a spurt the 5-foot-11 guard capped with a three-pointer from the wing, as the Tigers pulled away and extended their win streak to seven.
Warsaw is now 10-7, including a 4-0 mark against other teams in Class 4A Sectional 4 that is hosted by Elkhart Central.
The Blazers, who have lost three in a row and nine of their last 11, fell to 5-10.
The Tigers have won 17 of their last 18 meetings against Elkhart Central and lead the overall series 43-10.
“We said before the game, ‘let’s pretend this is a sectional game,’” said Ogle, whose team will vie for a third straight sectional title next month.
“I thought we played well, especially in the second half. I told the players at halftime that I didn’t think it was normal for them to make 4 of 10 three-pointers. I thought that was why they were in the game ... they’re not normally that good of a three-point shooting team.
“We put a lot into Friday night’s game at NorthWood, and to come back tonight and to be able to win where it’s not stressful toward the end of the game is good.”
The Tigers scored the first seven points of the game, but only led 11-10 after one quarter of play and 18-16 at halftime.
The second half was all Warsaw, as the hosts outscored the Blazers 39-25, including a 25-7 run that took the Tigers from a 26-25 lead to a 51-32 advantage.
“We just continue to improve,” said Ogle. “We had three guys in double figures between Groninger, Riley and Reese, and I think it’s remarkable that we played that entire game against Central’s pressure and had just two turnovers. I think that’s real improvement. That was the highlight for me, our ball handling.”
Groninger led the Tigers with 16 points and dished out nine of Warsaw’s 13 assists. The 6-foot floor general continues to grow into his role, and Saturday night didn’t commit a turnover in the 29 minutes he played.
Senior Zach Riley and junior Jaylen Reese scored 10 points each, while junior Tyler Metzinger chipped in with nine points.
Warsaw finished the game 18 of 33 from the field overall, 4 of 9 from the arc, and 17 of 23 at the free throw line.
The Tigers made 12 of 19 shots in the second half as they pulled away from the Blazers.
Conversely, Elkhart Central was 12 of 32 from the field overall, 8 of 24 from the arc, and 9 of 14 at the charity stripe.
The Blazers made just 6 of 19 shot attempts in the second half.
“This is a team that just keeps improving, and you can feel that our confidence is growing,” said Ogle. “We’re healthy, except for Deandre Adkins whose knee is bothering him.
“When I found out Devon Jackson didn’t make the trip, I was a little worried about a letdown. So, to go from losing five games in a row to now winning seven games in a row is noteworthy, I mean that’s hard to do. Stuff like that doesn’t happen very often.”
Jackson, whom Ogle described as Elkhart Central’s best player, allegedly missed the bus Saturday.
Keldon Warrell led the Blazers with 14 points and five rebounds, while Adrean Sims chipped in with six points.
Warsaw won the JV game 52-37 and was led by the duo of Wyatt Amiss (16 points) and Jaylen Coon (14 points).
The Tigers are in action again Thursday in a Northern Lakes Conference game against Elkhart Memorial at North Side Gym.
WARSAW 57, ELKHART CENTRAL 41
EC 10 6 9 16 – 41
W 11 7 15 24 – 57
Central – Amarion Bartlett 1-2 0-0 3, Desmond Johnson 0-2 1-2 1, Keldon Warrell 4-11 3-4 14, Adrean Sims 2-4 0-0 6, Richard Wayker 1-1 2-2 4, Tyrese Miller 1-1 1-2 4, Cole Alberson 1-7 0-0 3, Ryan Charles 1-2 2-2 4, Olazarus Miller 1-2 0-2 2. Totals 12-32 9-14 41.
Warsaw – Nolan Groninger 5-8 6-7 16, Brian Elliott 1-2 0-0 3, Deandre Adkins 0-1 0-0 0, Jack Rhoades 0-2 4-6 4, Trevor Rumple 1-1 0-0 2, Dane Stookey 0-0 0-0 0, Zach Riley 3-7 4-6 10, Nick Marsh 0-0 0-0 0, Jack Grose 0-1 0-0 0, Tyler Metzinger 3-4 3-4 9, Jaylen Reese 4-5 0-0 10, Blake Marsh 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 18-33 17-23 57.
Three-pointers – Central 8 (Warrell 3, Sims 2, Bartlett, Miller, Alberson), Warsaw 4 (Reese 2, Elliott, B. Marsh); Rebounds – Central 17 (Warrell 5), Warsaw 22 (Groninger 4, Metzinger 4); Turnovers – Central 10, Warsaw 2; Fouls – Central 19, Warsaw 11; Fouled out – none; Records: Central 5-10, Warsaw 10-7
JV – Warsaw 52, Central 37
Warsaw – Wyatt Amiss 16, Jaylen Coon 14, Keagan Larsh 8, Noah Bohnenkamper 5, Tedros Berelsman 5, Drew Yeager 2, Connor Lennox 2
With the hosts leading 26-25 in the third quarter, it was a turnover by the Blazers that proved to be a pivotal play in the Tigers’ 16-point win.
Sophomore Blake Marsh made a steal near the halfcourt line – just a few feet from where his parents Jeremy and Erin were sitting in the front row – and completed the play with an assist to junior Nolan Groninger.
Marsh’s steal and slick pass sparked a 7-0 run, a spurt the 5-foot-11 guard capped with a three-pointer from the wing, as the Tigers pulled away and extended their win streak to seven.
Warsaw is now 10-7, including a 4-0 mark against other teams in Class 4A Sectional 4 that is hosted by Elkhart Central.
The Blazers, who have lost three in a row and nine of their last 11, fell to 5-10.
The Tigers have won 17 of their last 18 meetings against Elkhart Central and lead the overall series 43-10.
“We said before the game, ‘let’s pretend this is a sectional game,’” said Ogle, whose team will vie for a third straight sectional title next month.
“I thought we played well, especially in the second half. I told the players at halftime that I didn’t think it was normal for them to make 4 of 10 three-pointers. I thought that was why they were in the game ... they’re not normally that good of a three-point shooting team.
“We put a lot into Friday night’s game at NorthWood, and to come back tonight and to be able to win where it’s not stressful toward the end of the game is good.”
The Tigers scored the first seven points of the game, but only led 11-10 after one quarter of play and 18-16 at halftime.
The second half was all Warsaw, as the hosts outscored the Blazers 39-25, including a 25-7 run that took the Tigers from a 26-25 lead to a 51-32 advantage.
“We just continue to improve,” said Ogle. “We had three guys in double figures between Groninger, Riley and Reese, and I think it’s remarkable that we played that entire game against Central’s pressure and had just two turnovers. I think that’s real improvement. That was the highlight for me, our ball handling.”
Groninger led the Tigers with 16 points and dished out nine of Warsaw’s 13 assists. The 6-foot floor general continues to grow into his role, and Saturday night didn’t commit a turnover in the 29 minutes he played.
Senior Zach Riley and junior Jaylen Reese scored 10 points each, while junior Tyler Metzinger chipped in with nine points.
Warsaw finished the game 18 of 33 from the field overall, 4 of 9 from the arc, and 17 of 23 at the free throw line.
The Tigers made 12 of 19 shots in the second half as they pulled away from the Blazers.
Conversely, Elkhart Central was 12 of 32 from the field overall, 8 of 24 from the arc, and 9 of 14 at the charity stripe.
The Blazers made just 6 of 19 shot attempts in the second half.
“This is a team that just keeps improving, and you can feel that our confidence is growing,” said Ogle. “We’re healthy, except for Deandre Adkins whose knee is bothering him.
“When I found out Devon Jackson didn’t make the trip, I was a little worried about a letdown. So, to go from losing five games in a row to now winning seven games in a row is noteworthy, I mean that’s hard to do. Stuff like that doesn’t happen very often.”
Jackson, whom Ogle described as Elkhart Central’s best player, allegedly missed the bus Saturday.
Keldon Warrell led the Blazers with 14 points and five rebounds, while Adrean Sims chipped in with six points.
Warsaw won the JV game 52-37 and was led by the duo of Wyatt Amiss (16 points) and Jaylen Coon (14 points).
The Tigers are in action again Thursday in a Northern Lakes Conference game against Elkhart Memorial at North Side Gym.
WARSAW 57, ELKHART CENTRAL 41
EC 10 6 9 16 – 41
W 11 7 15 24 – 57
Central – Amarion Bartlett 1-2 0-0 3, Desmond Johnson 0-2 1-2 1, Keldon Warrell 4-11 3-4 14, Adrean Sims 2-4 0-0 6, Richard Wayker 1-1 2-2 4, Tyrese Miller 1-1 1-2 4, Cole Alberson 1-7 0-0 3, Ryan Charles 1-2 2-2 4, Olazarus Miller 1-2 0-2 2. Totals 12-32 9-14 41.
Warsaw – Nolan Groninger 5-8 6-7 16, Brian Elliott 1-2 0-0 3, Deandre Adkins 0-1 0-0 0, Jack Rhoades 0-2 4-6 4, Trevor Rumple 1-1 0-0 2, Dane Stookey 0-0 0-0 0, Zach Riley 3-7 4-6 10, Nick Marsh 0-0 0-0 0, Jack Grose 0-1 0-0 0, Tyler Metzinger 3-4 3-4 9, Jaylen Reese 4-5 0-0 10, Blake Marsh 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 18-33 17-23 57.
Three-pointers – Central 8 (Warrell 3, Sims 2, Bartlett, Miller, Alberson), Warsaw 4 (Reese 2, Elliott, B. Marsh); Rebounds – Central 17 (Warrell 5), Warsaw 22 (Groninger 4, Metzinger 4); Turnovers – Central 10, Warsaw 2; Fouls – Central 19, Warsaw 11; Fouled out – none; Records: Central 5-10, Warsaw 10-7
JV – Warsaw 52, Central 37
Warsaw – Wyatt Amiss 16, Jaylen Coon 14, Keagan Larsh 8, Noah Bohnenkamper 5, Tedros Berelsman 5, Drew Yeager 2, Connor Lennox 2
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