GOSHEN - He scored a game-high 29 points, but Warsaw sophomore Nic Moore's defense was just as impressive, as the Tigers beat Northern Lakes Conference foe Goshen 58-57 in overtime Saturday.
After 6-foot-3 Goshen senior standout Ethan Hussey scored 10 points in the first quarter, pushing the host Redskins to a 23-17 lead after eight minutes of play, the 5-9 Moore drew the assignment of defending Hussey.And defend him he did, as Hussey scored just six points in the second, third and fourth quarters and four-minute overtime session.
"He volunteered for it," Warsaw coach Doug Ogle said of swithing Moore's defensive role to guarding Hussey. "It was a good idea. Nic's defense was excellent, and we were able to control Hussey better after the first quarter."
The Tigers trailed by as much as 11, 23-12, in the first quarter, but clawed their way back into the game and were down just 32-28 at halftime and 42-40 heading into the fourth quarter.
"I couldn't be proud of the guys," said Ogle, whose team improved to 9-1 overall and 2-1 in the NLC. "We did not start well, but we just kept battling. We got to the free throw line, and we made most of them."
The Tigers finished the game 19 of 23 at the free throw line, while Goshen was 10 of 14.
Warsaw made its first 19 charity tosses and had a chance to take the lead, and possibly the win in regulation, at the free throw line.
A bucket by Moore knotted the game at 52-all with 2:41 left in the fourth quarter, and those were the last two points either team scored in regulation.
Warsaw junior Andy Conrad had a chance to be the hero with 45 seconds left, but missed a pair of charity tosses.
Conrad later scored the game-winning basket, and the Tigers got back in the win column after a disappointing home loss last week to NLC foe Northridge.
"We needed a win badly," said Ogle. "This puts us back in the hunt (in the NLC).
Northridge is the only undefeated team in the NLC at 3-0, while Warsaw and NorthWood sport 2-1 conference records.
Concord and Elkhart Memorial are 1-1 in conference play, followed by Goshen (1-2), Plymouth (0-2) and Wawasee (0-2).
Saturday's overtime loss left Goshen with an overall record of 7-4.
"I thought we played a very poised game for the most part," said Goshen coach Brian Bechtel. "But we did take some bad shots near the end of regulation."
Neither team shot particularly well from the field, as Goshen was 19 of 49 and Warsaw was 18 of 45.
The difference was Moore's defense on Hussey and the Tigers' ability to make the majority of their free throw attempts.
"I told the players we have to change the number of free throws and three-pointers that we shoot," said Ogle. "We did a lot better job tonight than we did in the game with Northridge. We only shot nine threes tonight. We're a much harder team to defend when we attack the basket and force the opposition to play defense in the basket area. That allowed us to get to the free throw line, and we made our first 19."
Senior Ryne Robinson added 12 points to Warsaw's cause, while senior Taylor Long finished with five points and senior Chase Byeryly and juniors Justin Clemens and Conrad finished with four points each.
Hussey led Goshen with 16 points, while Andrew Bowers scored 14 points and Marshall Crawford chipped in with 12 points.
The Tigers are in action again Friday when they host Concord.
WARSAW 58, GOSHEN 57 OT
W 17 11 12 12 6 - 58
G 23 9 10 10 5 - 57
Warsaw - Conrad 1 2-6 4, Clemens 1 2-2 4, Moore 10 7-7 29, Linky 0 0-0 0, Robinson 4 4-4 12, Tucker 0 0-0 0, Long 2 0-0 5, Byerly 0 4-4 4. Totals 18 19-23 58.
