Just like a game of Blackjack, the magic number for Warsaw's varsity boys basketball team Saturday afternoon was 21.
Warsaw scored 21 points in each quarter and got a career-high 15 points from junior Zack Linky - who wears jersey No. 21 - as the Tigers dealt the Fort Wayne South Side Archers an 84-50 loss at the Tiger Den.With the 34-point win, the Class 4A No. 10 Tigers improved to 15-1 on the season.
The Archers, who were just 3 of 21 from three-point range, fell to 3-13.
Plain and simple, Warsaw was had too many offensive weapons for the Archers to deal with, as the Tigers had four players in double figures.
In all 11 Warsaw players scored in Saturday's win. Six Tigers scored at least five points.
"I'm very happy with the way we played," said Warsaw coach Doug Ogle. "We continue to play unselfishly. That's worth its weight in gold."
The Tigers turrned the ball over seven times and tallied 17 assists as a team.
Sophomore Nic Moore paced Warsaw wtih 17 points, five rebounds and five assists.
Linky finished with 15 points and four rebounds, while senior Taylor Long was 4 of 4 from the field and 3 of 5 from the free throw line for 13 points.
Senior Ryne Robinson chipped in with 12 points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal.
"A lot of our baskets have been assisted," said Ogle, whose team has won seven games in a row since a 52-47 loss to Northridge. "Since the Northridge game we've moved the ball more quickly. Our offense is improving steadily."
The Tigers also got eight points and six rebounds from junior Josh Anglin, while classmate Justin Clemens added six points and four assists and fellow junior Andy Conrad chipped in with five points and nine rebounds.
Like Linky's performance, which included 12 points in the first half, Anglin's scoring output was a career high.
"I talked to Zack and Josh before the game," said Ogle. "They're both kind of quiet. They would be more valued if they talked and had a voice. And they did that today. We need those guys. We need them to come in and give us a lift. I'm very proud of the way they both played today. They came in and played very solid basketball. This will be a big boost in their confidence."
Warsaw will need a boost off the bench from players like Linky and Anglin this week as the Tigers host South Bend Clay (14-4) Tuesday and Class 2A No. 1 Fort Wayne Luers (16-3) Friday.
Luers features the state's leading scorer in 6-foot-7 junior Deshaun Thomas, who averages 31 points per game.
"Clay is extremely athletic and has a lot of skilled players," said Ogle. "There's nothing you really need to say about Luers. Deshaun Thomas averages 30-plus points and 15 rebounds per game. They've got Lawrence Barnett, who is going to play football in the Big Ten. And Evan Blackmon is a Division I player. This will be an excellent week to get us ready for the sectional."
In Saturday's game against South Side, the Tigers led 21-12 after the first quarter, 42-22 at halftime and 63-32 after three quarters.
The Archers had two players in double figures, freshman Raphael Davis, who scored a game-high 23 points, and junior Steffen Jackson, who finished with 12 points and eight rebounds.
WARSAW 84, SOUTH SIDE 50
SS 12 10 10 18 - 50
W 21 21 21 21 - 84
South - Jackson 5 1-1 13, Fincher 0 2-2 2, Hall 0 1-2 1, Johnson 1 2-2 5, Davis 10 3-5 23, Upshaw 1 0-0 3, Easley 2 0-0 4. Totals 19 9-12 50.
