Coming off of five straight wins, four by single digits, the Warsaw boys basketball team took their talents to Concord on Friday night to take on the defensively stout Minutemen. Despite a fast start, the Tigers were not able to hold on in a 56-45 loss.
Facing off against one of the top defensive teams in 4A boys basketball, the Tigers wasted no time getting on the board to create some pressure, as Luke Bricker laced a three on just the second possession of the game. That would be the beginning of an opening quarter full of sharp shooting, as each team sank two threes in the opening eight minutes.
The opening quarter defense of Warsaw was another thing worth praising. Flipping the tables on the stout Minutemen, the Tigers were able to force a plethora of turnovers in the opening minutes, allowing the visitors to take an early lead. After a quarter, Warsaw was up by six.
The second period was one that was dominated by both teams. The Concord defense was as advertised in the first five minutes, holding the Tigers without any points while also forcing more turnovers than the visitors had shot attempts. The Minutemen were able to turn this into a massive run of their own, scoring the first 10 points of the quarter to retake the lead and force Moore to call a timeout.
Whatever was discussed during the break in action, it certainly worked. Warsaw came out of the timeout on fire, scoring six points in a minute and nine seconds to go back in front. After the Minutemen called a timeout of their own, the Tigers added one more make to extend the run to 8-0. Doing so was enough for the visitors to hold onto a lead as the two teams went into halftime, albeit by just one point.
It could have been an even larger lead if not for some shenanigans at the end of the half. On the last possession of the second quarter, a pair of Tiger offensive players were fouled by Concord players trying to use a foul to give. Neither foul was called, and furthermore, the clock never started on the possession. After a short discussion, both teams were told to head into their locker rooms.

    Sophomore Robbie Finlinson of Warsaw dribbles along the baseline during Friday night's game at Concord. Photo by Gary Nieter

The third quarter continued to entertain as both teams took turns seizing momentum on what felt like every other possession. At one moment, Concord was turning over the Tigers at will while retaking the lead with some great shooting from deep. The next, Warsaw would be returning the favor by making a mess of things for the Minutemen on defense before answering with a three of their own.
Eventually, Concord would string a few key possessions together and were able to extend their lead to six, their biggest lead of the game thus far. Down eight with less than 10 seconds to go in the third, it looked as if the Tigers would get that momentum back as Bricker hit an and-one layup to get it back down to five, but the Minutemen were ready to go with five seconds left, and beat the buzzer to make it a seven-point affair. With just a quarter left, Warsaw certainly had its work cut out for them.
The task got even taller about a minute into the fourth, as Concord scored on its first two possessions to extend the lead to eleven. Needing a bucket in the worst way, Brandt Martin would come up big for his team immediately after, converting on an and-one of his own to get it back down to eight. With just under six minutes left in the period, Carson Gould would hit a clutch jumper from the free throw line to shrink it down to six and force a Minutemen timeout.
Over the next few minutes, the Tigers had multiple opportunities to get closer after forcing three stops in a row. However, Warsaw rushed its chances on offense and was unable to convert on any of the tough shot attempts. Finally, with just under three minutes to play, the Tigers were able to get the shot they were looking for as Robbie Finlinson hit a transition three to get it down to three.
That would be as close as Warsaw would get, as Concord was able to do what they did best all night long, seize the momentum right back. After the Tigers got back to within three, the Minutemen would sink three straight shots to put the game away once and for all.
Bricker led the team with 19 points. Martin finished with nine while Finlinson scored six. Warsaw (8-3, 1-2 Northern Lakes Conference) has a quick turnaround, facing off with Goshen at home Saturday night.