Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
As good as his team has played recently, third-year Warsaw girls basketball coach John Snyder said the Tigers played that bad Tuesday.
Hosting Class 3A No. 1 Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, the defending state champion, Warsaw turned the ball over 20 times, hit just 1 of 8 three-point shots, converted just 13 of 21 free throw attempts and went 16 minutes of a 32-minute game making just two shots from the field.
It all added up to a 50-38 win for Luers, which improved to 6-1 on the season. The Tigers fell to 3-3 as their three-game win streak came to an end.
"I can't really explain it," said Snyder. "It's not like they were pressuring us extra hard. We knew they played solid defense and that they get in the passing lanes. We knew all that. I'm at a loss. As well as we've looked the last few games, we looked that bad tonight, and I'm not sure why."
Even as bad as things were at times for the Tigers, whose only four points in the first quarter came from the free throw line as they were 0-7 from the field, Warsaw had opportunities.
Luers turned the ball over 20 times.
Luers made just 8 of 15 free throws.
It didn't seem to matter though.
The Tigers were able to stay within striking distance at times, but were never really a threat to upend the top-ranked Knights, who led 12-4 after the first quarter and 26-12 at halftime.
Luers led by as much as 17 in the third quarter and by as much as 18 in the fourth quarter.
The Tigers shot 4 of 15 from the field in the first half and 12 of 31 (38.7 percent) for the game.
The Knights were 11 of 19 from the field in the first half and 19 of 36 (52.8 percent) for the game.
"We didn't execute offensively," said Snyder. "I thought we battled defensively. We held them to 50 points. Offensively, we didn't move well. We did not get our guards ready to shoot. We didn't move with or without the ball. We didn't get reversals. We didn't handle their pressure. Our wings, without the ball, just stood. This is a group that wants to do what you tell them. This is an intelligent group. They listen well. That's why it's so puzzling."
Luers scored the first eight points of the game. The Tigers didn't score until junior Kate Denlinger hit a pair of free throws with 2:56 remaining in the first quarter.
Warsaw scored its first field goal of the game with 7:28 remaining in the half when senior Danielle DeGeeter scored a two-point basket to cut the lead to 12-6.
Luers responded by closing out the half on a 14-6 run.
"Give Luers credit, they're a very good team," said Snyder. "They've done worse to other teams."
Junior MarKee Martin led Luers with a game-high 16 points, hitting 7 of 11 shots from the field and 1 of 2 free throws. She also pulled down five rebounds, made three steals and dished out three assists.
Sophomore Kelsey Wyss had nine points and five steals for Luers, while sophomore Mary Hathaway scored eight points.
Twelve players saw action for Luers, eight of them scored.
The Knights, who finished 24-4 and won the 3A state title last year with a roster full of freshmen and sophomores, have just two seniors on this year's team.
DeGeeter led Warsaw with nine points. She also had three rebounds and a pair of steals.
Alexis Albertson and Denlinger scored seven points each, with Denlinger also pulling down four rebounds.
The Tigers are in action again Saturday when they open Northern Lakes Conference play by hosting Plymouth. The junior varsity contest is scheduled to tip off at 11 a.m.
BISHOP LUERS 50, WARSAW 38
Luers 12 14 14 10 - 50
Warsaw 4 8 14 12 - 38
Luers FG FT R S Pts.
* Martin 7-11 1-3 5 3 16
* A. Pedro 1-2 0-0 3 1 2
* Henry 0-1 0-0 2 0 0
* K. Wyss 3-9 2-2 3 5 9
* Lohmuller 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
M. Pedro 1-2 2-3 1 0 5
Hathaway 3-5 1-2 2 0 8
Burnett 1-1 1-2 0 0 3
Banks 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Freiburger 2-3 1-1 3 0 5
B. Wyss 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Gottfried 1-2 0-2 1 1 2
Totals 19-36 8-15 21 10 50
Warsaw FG FT R S Pts.
* Denlinger 2-4 34 4 2 7
* DeGeeter 4-9 1-2 3 2 9
* Wood 1-3 1-3 1 0 4
* Freds 0-2 0-0 2 0 0
* Conley 0-2 0-0 1 1 0
Snider 0-1 2-2 0 2 2
Tat 1-4 0-0 0 0 2
Reichard 1-1 1-2 0 0 3
Ogle 0-1 2-2 1 1 2
Albertson 2-3 3-6 1 0 7
Davis 1-1 0-0 6 1 2
Totals 12-31 13-21 24 9 38
Three-point goals - Luers 4-9 (K. Wyss 1-4, Martin 1-2, Hathaway 1-2, M. Pedro 1-1), Warsaw 1-8 (Wood 1-2, Tat 0-2, DeGeeter 0-1, Snider 0-1, Ogle 0-1, Freds 0-1). Turnovers - Luers 20, Warsaw 23. Fouls - Luers 20, Warsaw 16. Fouled out - none.
JV - Luers 28, Warsaw 23
Warsaw (5-1) - Cendall Ogle 6, Beth Plummer 6, Alex Glenn 4, Mariah Rumple 3, Erica Ridderman 2, KaeLae Sands 2
