Warsaw, Plymouth Down To The Minute
February 12, 2019 at 5:32 a.m.
By Aaron [email protected]
Last week, I got to see a Warsaw-Plymouth boys basketball game that lived up to the hype.
Warsaw won 54-41 Friday at Plymouth in game that featured a 21-point performance by Warsaw’s Nolan Groninger, a 19-0 run by the Tigers, and a 13-1 run by the Pilgrims.
I took extensive notes throughout, and just like I did after my first visit to the Tiger Den, I’d like to share them with you.
Check it out.
7:55 p.m. – As the Plymouth High School band rocks out classics like “Sweet Caroline” and “Smoke On the Water” fans finish piling high to the rafters. I notice Plymouth’s Kendall Himes sporting a righteous mohawk. Well done, young man.
7:57 p.m. – A Plymouth eighth grader brings the house down with a stunning rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner.” Imagine the courage of a 13- or 14-year-old kid to get up in front of a couple thousand people and sing like that.
8 p.m. – The game is underway, and Groninger scores the first five points of the game.
8:05 p.m. – Gotta love John Scott’s emphasis on the ‘R’ in Plymouth guard Jake Reichard’s name. Or, should I say, Jake Rrrrrrrreichard!
8:06 p.m. – Warsaw’s Tyler Metzinger checks into the game. He’d missed a couple games because of a foot injury. Good to see the big fella back in action.
8:09 p.m. – The Pilgrims take a 10-9 lead on a three-pointer for their first advantage of the game.
8:15 p.m. – Groninger is proving why he’s arguably the best player in the area by scoring nine of Warsaw’s first 13 points.
8:18 p.m. – It took me 30 minutes to realize the man to the left of me looks like the guy who framed Andy Dufresne in “The Shawshank Redemption.”
8:22 p.m. – Each team wants this badly. It’s been a back-and-forth affair with five lead changes and two ties. Warsaw leads 20-19 with 49 seconds left in the first half.
8:25 p.m. – Warsaw’s Blake Marsh drains a trey to give the Tigers a 23-19 halftime lead.The fans have been relatively tame and sportsmanlike, which is surprising yet commendable for a rivalry game. Groninger has 11 points at the break.
8:28 p.m. – I’m in the restroom and I hear Key and Peele’s “A-A-RON” skit playing as part of Plymouth’s halftime dance medley. Even when I’m in the bathroom I can’t get away from it. I done messed up, A-A-RON.
8:40 p.m. – Something’s Amiss. Wyatt, Amiss. The Warsaw guard knocks down a three-pointer to give the Tigers a 26-19 lead and the largest margin of the game so far.
8:41 p.m. – Holy momentum, Batman! Groninger with consecutive steals for five points in less than 10 seconds.
8:44 p.m. – Amiss with back-to-back treys to give Warsaw a 37-19 lead.
8:45 p.m. – A pair of Plymouth free throws end the Tigers’ 19-0 run.
8:46 p.m. – Metzinger. Is. Back. The man as tall as Gandalf responds to the Pilgrims’ foul shots with a fastbreak, two-handed slam. With authority!
8:48 p.m. – Marsh is stuck to Plymouth’s Clay Hilliard like snow to the ground in my hometown of Erie, Pa. Marsh is limiting Hilliard, who needs 15 points to reach 1,000 points for his career.
8:32 p.m. – Warsaw leads 43-26 and is in total control after three quarters.
8:37 p.m. – Plymouth is on a run of its own, and cuts Warsaw’s lead to 11. Tigers call timeout.
9:06 p.m. – Plymouth’s Tim Tremaine knocks down a pair of free throws to cut Warsaw’s lead to five points. The Tigers not as fortunate from the stripe.
9:09 p.m. – Groninger once again plays the hero. After missing two foul shots, he chases down the ball like a blood hound after a rabbit. He gets the board and is fouled, and calmly sinks two from the stripe.
9:11 p.m. – Four free throws later, Warsaw regains its double-digit lead.
9:13 p.m. – The Warsaw students are singing the “Hey, hey, hey, goodbye” as time winds down.
9:15 p.m. – Final score: Warsaw 54, Plymouth 51. Groninger finishes with 21 points, and Hilliard is just two shy of 1,000 career points after a 13-point showing.
Man, that was fun. I’d say I’d want every game to be like this, but then, nights like these wouldn’t be so special.
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Last week, I got to see a Warsaw-Plymouth boys basketball game that lived up to the hype.
Warsaw won 54-41 Friday at Plymouth in game that featured a 21-point performance by Warsaw’s Nolan Groninger, a 19-0 run by the Tigers, and a 13-1 run by the Pilgrims.
I took extensive notes throughout, and just like I did after my first visit to the Tiger Den, I’d like to share them with you.
Check it out.
7:55 p.m. – As the Plymouth High School band rocks out classics like “Sweet Caroline” and “Smoke On the Water” fans finish piling high to the rafters. I notice Plymouth’s Kendall Himes sporting a righteous mohawk. Well done, young man.
7:57 p.m. – A Plymouth eighth grader brings the house down with a stunning rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner.” Imagine the courage of a 13- or 14-year-old kid to get up in front of a couple thousand people and sing like that.
8 p.m. – The game is underway, and Groninger scores the first five points of the game.
8:05 p.m. – Gotta love John Scott’s emphasis on the ‘R’ in Plymouth guard Jake Reichard’s name. Or, should I say, Jake Rrrrrrrreichard!
8:06 p.m. – Warsaw’s Tyler Metzinger checks into the game. He’d missed a couple games because of a foot injury. Good to see the big fella back in action.
8:09 p.m. – The Pilgrims take a 10-9 lead on a three-pointer for their first advantage of the game.
8:15 p.m. – Groninger is proving why he’s arguably the best player in the area by scoring nine of Warsaw’s first 13 points.
8:18 p.m. – It took me 30 minutes to realize the man to the left of me looks like the guy who framed Andy Dufresne in “The Shawshank Redemption.”
8:22 p.m. – Each team wants this badly. It’s been a back-and-forth affair with five lead changes and two ties. Warsaw leads 20-19 with 49 seconds left in the first half.
8:25 p.m. – Warsaw’s Blake Marsh drains a trey to give the Tigers a 23-19 halftime lead.The fans have been relatively tame and sportsmanlike, which is surprising yet commendable for a rivalry game. Groninger has 11 points at the break.
8:28 p.m. – I’m in the restroom and I hear Key and Peele’s “A-A-RON” skit playing as part of Plymouth’s halftime dance medley. Even when I’m in the bathroom I can’t get away from it. I done messed up, A-A-RON.
8:40 p.m. – Something’s Amiss. Wyatt, Amiss. The Warsaw guard knocks down a three-pointer to give the Tigers a 26-19 lead and the largest margin of the game so far.
8:41 p.m. – Holy momentum, Batman! Groninger with consecutive steals for five points in less than 10 seconds.
8:44 p.m. – Amiss with back-to-back treys to give Warsaw a 37-19 lead.
8:45 p.m. – A pair of Plymouth free throws end the Tigers’ 19-0 run.
8:46 p.m. – Metzinger. Is. Back. The man as tall as Gandalf responds to the Pilgrims’ foul shots with a fastbreak, two-handed slam. With authority!
8:48 p.m. – Marsh is stuck to Plymouth’s Clay Hilliard like snow to the ground in my hometown of Erie, Pa. Marsh is limiting Hilliard, who needs 15 points to reach 1,000 points for his career.
8:32 p.m. – Warsaw leads 43-26 and is in total control after three quarters.
8:37 p.m. – Plymouth is on a run of its own, and cuts Warsaw’s lead to 11. Tigers call timeout.
9:06 p.m. – Plymouth’s Tim Tremaine knocks down a pair of free throws to cut Warsaw’s lead to five points. The Tigers not as fortunate from the stripe.
9:09 p.m. – Groninger once again plays the hero. After missing two foul shots, he chases down the ball like a blood hound after a rabbit. He gets the board and is fouled, and calmly sinks two from the stripe.
9:11 p.m. – Four free throws later, Warsaw regains its double-digit lead.
9:13 p.m. – The Warsaw students are singing the “Hey, hey, hey, goodbye” as time winds down.
9:15 p.m. – Final score: Warsaw 54, Plymouth 51. Groninger finishes with 21 points, and Hilliard is just two shy of 1,000 career points after a 13-point showing.
Man, that was fun. I’d say I’d want every game to be like this, but then, nights like these wouldn’t be so special.
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