Tiger Girls’ Cagers One Win Away From NLC Title

January 13, 2022 at 3:05 a.m.
Tiger Girls’ Cagers One Win Away From NLC Title
Tiger Girls’ Cagers One Win Away From NLC Title

By Chip Davenport-

WARSAW - Warsaw Tigers girls head basketball coach Lenny Krebs was proud of the complete team effort his squad put forth in a convincing 53-15 win over Mishawaka in the Tiger Den Wednesday night. He’s also aware of the trappings of lopsided wins like the one his squad picked up to move to 13-5 overall, standing atop the Northern Lakes Conference (NLC) at 5-0.

When an opponent commits 20 turnovers, and shoots 20% from the field, it’s easy for a team to run as quickly as they can up court with the loose ball, making the defense part of the offense when this happens. Krebs’s Tigers, however, after a quicker start on offense than he cared to see, regained control of their pace, and executed their offense effectively throughout the game.

“I thought, early, we took a couple quick shots rushed passes,” Krebs remarked. “Then we slowed down and started to piece things together. It’s a matter of slowing down and taking what the defense gives us.”

Warsaw is three weeks away from IHSAA Class 4A Sectional 4 where their opponents include Penn, and Northridge, teams who will challenge them much more than the Cavemen did last night. Krebs wasn’t looking ahead to those opponents by any means, but he knows his team needs to avoid the trappings of playing easy opposition which include low energy, hurrying, and bad habits.

The Tigers maintained a high level of intensity throughout the entire contest Wednesday night, leading 19-2 after the opening frame, 34-5 at halftime, and 44-13 after the third quarter. Warsaw shot 52.5% from the field and added 6 for 7 from the free throw line.

“They bring the energy, they bring the intensity, and they find the way to get things going,” Krebs said. “They never come out and not play hard. I’m proud of all our kids today.”

Warsaw, who only used one sub (freshman point guard Abbey Peterson) for nine minutes last Saturday in their 36-28 win over Northridge, cleared their bench in last night’s action. Eight of twelve players who dressed and played in the contest made their way into the box score.

Senior Abby Sanner led the way with 18 points  followed by classmates Kacilyn Krebs (12 points including three 3-pointers), and Bailie Stephens (4 points, 6 assists). Zoe Bergan scored 3 points rounding out the offensive effort among the starters. Ava Egolf did not score, but she snared four steals for the hosts.

The Tigers racked up 16 points among their substitutes, led by Brooke Winchester (5 points), Peterson and Abby Taylor (4 points each), and Morgan Nichols,

“Brooke and Abbey played well,” Krebs said. ”(It’s what) we are expecting from them as the season goes on. Everyone off the bench did a good job focusing on running the offense.”

Mishawaka (9-7, 2-2 in the NLC), was led by Kasha Davidovic’s 8 points. 4 rebounds, and 2 steals.

Warsaw travels to Goshen Saturday night with the opportunity to clinch at least a tie for the NLC title. The RedHawks had scouts in the Tiger Den, and Krebs used a variety of offensive and defensive schemes to keep Goshen’s coaches wondering what he’ll have in his bag of tricks Saturday.

Krebs knew the mélange of looks on both sides of the ball to scatter Goshen’s focus with limited remaining practice time.

“We wanted to give (Goshen) some different looks,” Krebs said. “(They left) with some ideas of what they’ll need to do to beat us, and I like to bite in on another coach’s practice time that way.”

Warsaw’s junior varsity team beat Mishawaka 50-11 led by freshman Mia Jones’s 14 points.



WARSAW - Warsaw Tigers girls head basketball coach Lenny Krebs was proud of the complete team effort his squad put forth in a convincing 53-15 win over Mishawaka in the Tiger Den Wednesday night. He’s also aware of the trappings of lopsided wins like the one his squad picked up to move to 13-5 overall, standing atop the Northern Lakes Conference (NLC) at 5-0.

When an opponent commits 20 turnovers, and shoots 20% from the field, it’s easy for a team to run as quickly as they can up court with the loose ball, making the defense part of the offense when this happens. Krebs’s Tigers, however, after a quicker start on offense than he cared to see, regained control of their pace, and executed their offense effectively throughout the game.

“I thought, early, we took a couple quick shots rushed passes,” Krebs remarked. “Then we slowed down and started to piece things together. It’s a matter of slowing down and taking what the defense gives us.”

Warsaw is three weeks away from IHSAA Class 4A Sectional 4 where their opponents include Penn, and Northridge, teams who will challenge them much more than the Cavemen did last night. Krebs wasn’t looking ahead to those opponents by any means, but he knows his team needs to avoid the trappings of playing easy opposition which include low energy, hurrying, and bad habits.

The Tigers maintained a high level of intensity throughout the entire contest Wednesday night, leading 19-2 after the opening frame, 34-5 at halftime, and 44-13 after the third quarter. Warsaw shot 52.5% from the field and added 6 for 7 from the free throw line.

“They bring the energy, they bring the intensity, and they find the way to get things going,” Krebs said. “They never come out and not play hard. I’m proud of all our kids today.”

Warsaw, who only used one sub (freshman point guard Abbey Peterson) for nine minutes last Saturday in their 36-28 win over Northridge, cleared their bench in last night’s action. Eight of twelve players who dressed and played in the contest made their way into the box score.

Senior Abby Sanner led the way with 18 points  followed by classmates Kacilyn Krebs (12 points including three 3-pointers), and Bailie Stephens (4 points, 6 assists). Zoe Bergan scored 3 points rounding out the offensive effort among the starters. Ava Egolf did not score, but she snared four steals for the hosts.

The Tigers racked up 16 points among their substitutes, led by Brooke Winchester (5 points), Peterson and Abby Taylor (4 points each), and Morgan Nichols,

“Brooke and Abbey played well,” Krebs said. ”(It’s what) we are expecting from them as the season goes on. Everyone off the bench did a good job focusing on running the offense.”

Mishawaka (9-7, 2-2 in the NLC), was led by Kasha Davidovic’s 8 points. 4 rebounds, and 2 steals.

Warsaw travels to Goshen Saturday night with the opportunity to clinch at least a tie for the NLC title. The RedHawks had scouts in the Tiger Den, and Krebs used a variety of offensive and defensive schemes to keep Goshen’s coaches wondering what he’ll have in his bag of tricks Saturday.

Krebs knew the mélange of looks on both sides of the ball to scatter Goshen’s focus with limited remaining practice time.

“We wanted to give (Goshen) some different looks,” Krebs said. “(They left) with some ideas of what they’ll need to do to beat us, and I like to bite in on another coach’s practice time that way.”

Warsaw’s junior varsity team beat Mishawaka 50-11 led by freshman Mia Jones’s 14 points.



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