Tigers Extend NLC Win Streak With Pressure Defense
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Dale Hubler-dhubler@timesuniononline.com
GOSHEN – Doug Ogle called it a last-minute decision, saying he had a hunch his Warsaw boys basketball team could create problems for Goshen with a pressure-style defense. Ogle’s hunch was reality Friday night, as the Tigers, who usually play a sagging man-to-man defense, came out aggressive early on the defensive end en route to a convincing 57-31 win over the RedHawks. Warsaw made eight steals in the game, four by senior standout Kyle Mangas, and forced the hosts into 17 turnovers. The Tigers scored 25 points off those turnovers, as they improved to 8-4 overall and 3-0 in the Northern Lakes Conference. The 26-point victory extended Warsaw’s NLC?win streak to 17 games. Goshen fell to 6-5 and 1-2. “I really liked how Kyle Mangas played tonight,” said Ogle. “He was really good defensively, creating deflections. “It was kind of a last-minute decision to pressure them. We’re not really a pressing team, but I just had a hunch our pressure could bother them up front a little bit with Kyle’s length, and Zach Riley is quick and active. That was a big key to the game, I thought, our start. That’s deflating to the other team to get off to such a bad start offensively.” The Tigers forced Goshen into seven turnovers in the first quarter and led 16-6 after eight minutes of play. Warsaw opened the second stanza on a 7-0 run, pushing its advantage to 23-6. The RedHawks trailed 27-13 at halftime and 40-22 heading into the final frame. “It was a solid defensive effort,” said Ogle. “Offensively, I thought Braxton Minix had a good game. Jaceb Burish had a good game. Jeremy David didn’t score, but he played well. I thought Asher Blum did some nice things. “I could sense in practice that our confidence is growing. We are becoming a more balanced team. That’s making it easier on Kyle, and Kyle is doing a really nice job of seeing the basket area.” Blum finished the game with 10 points and seven rebounds, while Burish tallied eight points, four boards and three assists, and Minix chipped in with eight points, three rebounds and two blocked shots. The trio of Blum, Burish and Minix was 13 of 18 from the field. While his supporting cast was impressive Friday night, it was another night at the office for Mangas, who scored a game-high 23 points to go along with five rebounds, four steals and a pair of assists. Mangas, who put down two rim-rocking dunks in the win, climbed to ninth on Warsaw’s all-time scoring list and now has 1,067 career points. Mangas tied 1992 grad Dan Elliott with a layup early in the first quarter, and then passed him with his first dunk of the night. Mangas’ next target on Warsaw’s all-time scoring list is 1981 Indiana All-Star Ron Brandenburg, who scored 1,147 points for the Tigers. “I thought Kyle Mangas played pretty well,” said Ogle. “He had a multiple-dunk game. “It’s hard not to appreciate what Kyle’s done, because he’s so humble. You love for a humble person to have this type of achievement. He is joining really elite company.” Will Line led Goshen with nine points, all in the first half, while Mitchell Walters and Deven Love scored six and four points, respectively. Now in a stretch where they will play five games in nine days, the Tigers will be on the road tonight with a game at Fort Wayne Snider. The Panthers present a big challenge, as they feature 6-foot-11 University of Louisville signee Malik Williams. “Saturday will be a totally different type of game,” said Ogle. “It’s a good test for us. The last time we played what I would call an extra-athletic team, with New Albany and Lawrence North, we didn’t do too well in terms of ball-handling. We’re anxious to see if we can handle the ball better. “Malik Williams is a fun guy to play against. There’s a chance he could end up in the NBA, I would think. You get a chance to play against a guy like him, it’s fun.”
