WEST LAFAYETTE - Warsaw's varsity boys basketball team didn't leave Mackey Arena with a win Saturday night, but eighth-year coach Doug Ogle said he could take a small amount of consolation from the Tigers' 53-47 loss to Noblesville.
"I can take a small amount of consolation in the fact that we almost beat a very good team, and we didn't play that well," said Ogle.Playing in the seventh of eight games Saturday in the Super Hoops New Year Classic at Purdue University, Class 4A No. 9 Noblesville outrebounded Warsaw, made few turnovers and made plays when it had to pull out the six-point win.
"Noblesville is very experienced is a very very good rebounding team," said Ogle, whose Tigers had their five-game win streak snapped. "Their is experience and their rebounding trumped our's. We did not play that well, and we still had a chance to beat a very good basketball team."
The loss dropped the Tigers to 7-2, while the Millers have won four games in a row and are now 7-1.
After trailing by one at the end of the third quarter, Warsaw, which overcame a 6-0 deficit to start the game by going on a 12-2 run, scored the first five points of the fourth quarter.
An old-fashioned three-point play by Warsaw senior Justin Clemens gave the Tigers a 45-43 advantage with 2:42 remaining in the game.
The Millers, however, outscored Warsaw 10-2 down the stretch en route to the win.
"The difference was their offensive rebounding and our lack of patience on offense," said Ogle, whose team was outrebounded 32-28 overall and 12-8 on the offensive glass. "Sometimes our lack of patience led to a bad shot, other times it was a bad pass. Noblesville was just better in those two areas, especially rebounding."
Trailing 49-46 with 46 seconds remaining, the Tigers had a chance to tie the game with a three-point play, but junior Nic Moore's shot rolled around the rim and didn't drop through the hoop.
Fouled on the play, Moore went to the line for two free throws, but only one made the first of the two attempts.
Noblesville came up with a big play on the other end, as senior Zach Gentry tipped in a teammate's missed shot, giving the Millers a four point lead.
Noblesville tacked on two more points with three seconds remaining when senior Brandon Mattox converted a pair of free throws.
"Give credit to Noblesville, they're very experienced and they did what they had to do to win," said Ogle. "They took fewer bad shots and had few turnovers. They made plays at the end. We had three guys watching the ball on the rim, and Gentry tips it in. They were playing and we were watching."
Senior Leland Brown led Noblesville with a game-high 17 points, as he converted 13 of 15 free throw attempts in a game in which the two teams were whistled for a combined 45 fouls.
Senior Andrew Lively chipped in with 13 point for the Millers, whose 10-man varsity roster includes eight seniors.
"Noblesville is a very good team," said Ogle. "Sagarin ratings have them as the fourth best team in the state, and they play the fourth-toughest schedule in the state. They're a very good team. We didn't play that well, and still, we had a chance to win the game."
Moore led the Tigers with 16 points, while sophomore Lucas Grose chipped in with 10 points and six rebounds. Senior Justin Clemens added nine points and eight rebounds.
Warsaw will be in action again Friday at conference rival Northridge.
