Similar to the game itself, Warsaw boys basketball coach Doug Ogle’s emotions were like a roller coaster Saturday night. Following a 50-46 loss in overtime at Crown Point, Ogle was disappointed his players struggled to make shots in the basket area, but he was also proud of the grit they showed. Ogle had plenty of reasons to be both. In a rematch of last year’s regional final, a game Warsaw won 46-33 at Michigan City High School, the Tigers overcame an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to force the overtime session. Warsaw trailed 36-25 after the host Bulldogs swished a 60-foot three-pointer and then opened the final frame on a 7-0 run, but the Tigers – namely Indiana All-Star hopeful Kyle Mangas – went on a 15-4 spurt to even the score by the end of regulation. Mangas, who overcame a 7-of-22 shooting performance with a strong will and determination, only scored eight points in the first three quarters but finished with a game-high 24 points. “He’s sure not afraid to compete,” Ogle said of Mangas, who upped his career total to 1,160 points and passed 1981 Indiana All-Star Ron Brandenburg for seventh on Warsaw’s all-time list. “We didn’t give him much rest tonight, actually he didn’t get any rest at all. He played all 36 minutes.” Mangas gave the Tigers their first lead of the game at 42-40 in overtime. Crown Point quickly tied the game, and then Warsaw regained the lead at 44-42. A three-pointer by senior standout Sasha Stefanovic gave the Bulldogs a 45-44 lead, an advantage they didn’t relinquish. Stefanovic and Ken Decker scored 16 points each for Crown Point, while Andrew Kenneally chipped in with 14. The Bulldogs improved to 13-2 on the season, while the Tigers fell to 11-5 and saw their win streak snapped at five games. Saturday’s game was the fifth in nine days for Warsaw. “Crown Point is a very good team,” said Ogle. “And we can’t be too disappointed in this nine-day stretch we’ve been in. We lost to a very good team tonight, and we’re just going to move forward and look forward to playing NorthWood at the Tiger Den Friday night.” The Tigers trailed Crown Point 7-2 after one quarter of play, 15-10 at halftime and 29-25 at the end of the third quarter. Warsaw finished the game 15 of 48 from the field overall, 2 of 12 from three-point range, and 14 of 17 at the free throw line. Crown Point was 17 of 35 overall, 5 of 15 from the arc, and 11 of 13 at the charity stripe. “In the first half, we were 4 of 22 from the field and missed a lot of good shots,” said Ogle. “We played well. We defended well ... they only got 15 points. We rebounded well. We got good shots, we just missed them. “I think our guys were a little tired, but they kept battling. It’s hard to keep playing with that much effort when you’re missing shots like that. The shots we were getting were really good, we just didn’t make them. “We played a pretty good third quarter and got back in it, and then kind of lost it again. And then we made a very valiant comeback in the fourth quarter. You have to appreciate the way our guys kept battling and making plays. That’s a good basketball team we lost to.” Asher Blum scored 10 points for Warsaw, while Jeremy David finished with six points and nine rebounds. Nolan Groninger and Jack Rhoades rounded out the Tigers’ scoring with four and two points, respectively. Warsaw is in action again Friday when it hosts Class 3A No. 1 NorthWood in a key Northern Lakes Conference battle. The Panthers, coached by longtime Warsaw assistant Aaron Wolfe, are a program best 14-0 this season. Both teams are 4-0 in NLC?action, and the Tigers are on an 18-game win streak in league play.
CROWN POINT 50, WARSAW 46 (OT) War 2 8 15 15 6 – 46 CP 7 8 11 14 10 – 50 Warsaw – Kyle Mangas 7-22 9-9 24, Jeremy David 3-9 0-0 6, Jack Rhoades 1-1 0-0 2, Zach Riley 0-1 0-0 0, Jaceb Burish 0-5 0-0 0, Braxton Minix 0-1 0-0 0, Asher Blum 3-7 4-7 10, Nolan Groninger 1-2 1-1 4. Totals 15-48 14-17 46. Crown Point – Matt Hanlon 0-1 0-0 0, Dominic Tomich 1-2 1-2 4, Sam Krutz 0-0 0-0 0, Sasha Stefanovic 5-11 4-4 16, Ken Decker 6-13 2-2 16, Tommy Frame 0-1 0-0 0, Vince Smith 0-0 0-0 0, Andrew Kenneally 5-7 4-5 14. Totals 17-35 11-13 50. Three-pointers – Warsaw 2 (Mangas, Groninger), Crown Point 5 (Stefanovic 2, Decker 2, Tomich); Rebounds – Warsaw 30 (David 9), Crown Point 23 (Decker 4); Turnovers – Warsaw 8, Crown Point 10; Fouls – Warsaw 13, Crown Point 14; Fouled out – none; Records: Warsaw 11-5, Crown Point 13-2 JV – Warsaw 41, Crown Point 35 Warsaw – Landen 11, Trevor Rumple 8, Tyler Metzinger 8, Deondre Adkins 7, Jaylen Reese 4, Brian Elliott 3
