NAPPANEE – In a championship bout, sometimes it’s just one stretch of time that makes all the difference. With the inside track to the Northern Lakes Conference title and an undefeated season on the line, Warsaw made the big run it needed to. After leading 20-18 at halftime, and being tied at 24 midway through the third quarter, the Class 4A No. 5 Tigers went on a 15-0 run that bridged the third and fourth quarters Friday in a 51-35 win at Class 3A No. 2 NorthWood. Paul Marandet, averaging 11.9 points per game entering Friday, was a catalyst in the decisive run, scoring seven of the 15 points in the run. He scored 13 of his game-high 23 points after halftime. “Paul was locked in during practice (Thursday), I was going to be surprised if he didn’t play well tonight,” Warsaw head coach Doug Ogle said. “But I was not expecting him to do that. I don’t want to say he was a one-man wrecking crew, but he was close to it. He was the difference in the game. He did a little bit of everything.” Defense was also a fire starter for the Tigers. They didn’t force many turnovers, but they did keep the Panthers off the backboards most of the second half. Unofficially, NorthWood recorded just four of its 14 rebounds after halftime. NorthWood big man Dakiyron Fox led the Panthers in rebounding, but had just four in the game. The other factor was just flat-out icy cold shooting by the Panthers, who missed three bunnies during the run that led to their demise. “I thought we could guard them, but I didn’t know if we could get any rebounds. We rebounded well, and we got control in the third quarter. I told the guys if we could keep it close on the rebounding we’d be OK,” Ogle said. “I think I underestimate our team defensively, and how physical we are. It starts with all five of our guys being able to guard on the perimeter, so we can switch everything. And then there’s our size; those guys go 6-4, 6-4 and 6-3. and when we’re able to stay in front, they have to shoot over us. They had very few easy baskets. “We got on a roll, and they hit a cold streak. Our defense can wear you down mentally; it just gets old because every time the stuff you’ve been doing doesn’t work, it gets annoying because we always have a defender there. We do have an elite defensive team; I think we showed that tonight. “Our defense and our rebounding were championship caliber tonight. I couldn’t ask for much more.” The game assessment from NorthWood head coach Aaron Wolfe wasn’t a lot different from Ogle’s point of view. “Great credit to Paul Marandet tonight; I thought he played excellent. Paul was able to finish over bigger players, and in that string he had some key baskets,” Wolfe said. “They’re a very talented team. Their individual defense was tremendous. They did a nice job of defending us and keeping us off the free throw line as well. “During the decisive run I think they were able to get some baskets that were strong baskets in the basket area, in the crunch time of the game. It was going to be a game that every possession counted, and when they were able to go on that string, and hold us empty on the offensive end, it gave them control of the pace.” Kyle Mangas, a focal point of the NorthWood defensive effort, was held to 10 points, about half his average output. Riley Rhoades and Jeremy David each had eight points and a team-high seven rebounds in the contest. NorthWood’s Fox had 12 points, and Braxton Linville nine. There’s not a lot of time to enjoy the win. Warsaw will play again at 7:30 tonight when they host Elkhart Central (10-3) at the Tiger Den. The Blazers lost to Mishawaka Marian 73-38 in Northern Indiana Conference play Friday night. Game notes – The loss snapped Northwood’s 21-game home court winning streak. It was Ogle’s second win at NorthWood in seven tries. Warsaw had lost four of its last five games in Nappanee. NorthWood Athletic Director Norm Sellers made an announcement before the game that the doors had been locked, and people turned away. Warsaw leads the all-time series 38-12 after the win.
