Warsaw boys basketball coach Doug Ogle knows games aren't won on paper. But when it comes down to it, the ninth year coach said he'd much rather his team be considered the favorite, not the underdog.
With three starters, including Mr. Basketball and Indiana All-Star candidate Nic Moore, returning from last year's Class 4A state runner-up team, the Tigers will be viewed as the favorite more times than not this season.Warsaw posted a 23-3 record last season and won the Northern Lakes Conference championship with a 7-0 mark.
Back from that team are the Illinois State University-bound Nic Moore and juniors Lucas Grose and Jordyn Coon.
"When you can start a team with Nic Moore, Lucas Grose and Jordyn Coon, well, let's just say there's a lot of firepower in that trio," said Ogle, whose team opens the season Wednesday by hosting Kosciusko County rival Tippecanoe Valley.
Moore averaged 21 points, five assists and four rebounds per game last season.
In three years of varsity action so far, the 5-foot-9 Moore has scored 1,319 points and led the Tigers to a 56-15 record, including a mark of 17-4 in the NLC.
"When Nic Moore was a freshman, I said people would come from miles around to see him, and I think they have," said Ogle. "If they haven't see him play, I think people owe it to themselves to see him play. I think they'll like what they see and come back."
While Moore will garner a lot of attention from both the media and the opposing teams' defense, Ogle expects big things from Grose and Coon.
The 6-foot-5 Grose started all 26 games last season as a sophomore and averaged nearly 10 points and seven rebounds per game. In the state championship game against Indianapolis North Central, he posted a double-double of 17 points and 10 boards.
The 6-foot-3 Coon was in the starting lineup for 25 games last season as a sophomore and averaged nearly seven points and four rebounds per game.
Ogle said Coon has received Division I attention from schools in the Mid-American Conference, as well as IPFW, and said that Grose is also a potential Division I recruit.
"Lucas Grose and Jordyn Coon are both going to have different roles this year, and I think they're ready for that," said Ogle. "They've both improved, and with Nic Moore, that's a pretty good group to start a team with. It's been a while since Warsaw has had three potential Division I players on the floor."
Other players on Warsaw's roster include seniors Joey Sparkman, Brock Davis, Christopher O'Hara, Jalen Roscoe and Travis Thomas; juniors Brock Anson, Rhett Kesler, Jay Holladay and Clay Anderson; and sophomore Jared Bloom.
"Lasy year we had a seven-player rotation," said Ogle. "This year we'll be able to play eight or nine players. It's nice to have a variety of lineup options."
Gone from last year's state runner-up team are Justin Clemens, Andy Conrad and Zack Linky.
Clemens was a four-year starter, while Conrad was a three-year varsity player, and Linky was a two-year varsity player.
"We lost a lot of experience with those three, especially Clemens," said Ogle. "Those three kids did a lot, not only for Tiger Basketball, but for Warsaw Community High School. They're going to be tough to replace."
After Wedneseday's season opener against Valley, the Tigers will have home games against Columbia City on Nov. 27, Fort Wayne South on Dec. 3 and Rochester on Dec. 10.
Warsaw won't play its first road game until it opens NLC play at rival Wawasee on Dec. 17.
Warsaw boasts a 26-3 record in the Tiger Den the past three years and will have the luxory of 13 home games this season.
"We look forward to playing games in the Tiger Den in front of our home crowd," said Ogle. "I like the fact that we have 13 home games. The enthusiasm and the size of the crowds has continued to grow. And if we pick up where we've left off, the Tiger Den is going to be a pretty fun place to be."
On Dec. 21, the Tigers will play Triton at Grace College's Orthopaedic Capital Center, and on Dec. 30 will compete in the Hall of Fame Classic in New Castle with Bloomington South, Center Grove and Washington.
"I think the Triton game will be a tough ticket," said Ogle. "I think there will be a lot of interest in both communities, and it's a boys-girls double header. Obviously there will be a lot of interest for the Hall of Fame Classic, and we're excited about the opportunity to play in that."
