As sixth-year Warsaw boys basketball coach Doug Ogle put it, "it's always nice to put the biscuit in the basket."
The host Tigers certainly didn't have a problem finding the hole Friday night, connecting on 31 of 49 (63 percent) field goals and converting 16 of 18 free throw attempts en route to a convincing 81-58 win over rival Wawasee."We got good shots," said Ogle, whose team improved to 4-2 overall and 1-0 in the Northern Lakes Conference. "We were able to get the ball inside. We did a good job of attacking at the end of Wawasee's press and we got good baskets."
The game kicked off a four-game homestand for Warsaw, and the Tigers had no trouble making themselves at home.
After Wawasee cut the deficit to one, 10-9, Warsaw closed the opening-quarter on an 8-1 run.
The Tigers then picked up right where they left off in the second quarter, pouring in 29 points in the frame to take a commanding 47-26 lead at halftime.
"Warsaw is very quick," said eighth-year Wawasee coach Phil Mishler, whose team fell to 4-2 overall and 0-1 in the NLC. "They knew what they wanted to do and they accomplished it. They had a great gameplan and they got it done. Coach Ogle had them ready to go. All the little battles within the game, Warsaw won them. They made their shots. They got offensive rebounds. Warsaw wanted it more. A lot of credit goes to them."
The Tigers' point total was the highest in Ogle's six-year tenure as varsity head coach and was the most points scored by a Warsaw boys team since an 84-71 win at NorthWood on Jan. 25, 2007.
"We got on a roll, it was just one of those things," Ogle said of his team's offensive performance. "It's like that some nights, it's hard to explain. We're playing a lot of confidence right now. The win at Penn last week was big for us. To go up there and win and after we lost to Rochester the night before. We shot well at Penn and made our free throws there, too. We had more energy in practice this week. Our confidences is up right now."
To go with their blistering-hot effort from the field, the Tigers also outrebound Wawasee 38-17 and played pretty good defense against a Warrior team that likes to shoot the three-pointer.
Wawasee did make seven treys in Friday's game, but the Warriors needed 29 attempts to do so.
Wawasee finished the game 21 of 54 (39 percent) from the field and 9 of 13 from the free throw line.
While Brandon Geiger looked like a one-man wrecking crew for Wawasee, as the 6-foot-5 senior finished with 24 points and nine rebounds, the Tigers had three players turn in impressive individual performances.
Senior Ryne Robinson hit 11 of 14 field goals and 3 of 3 free throws to lead all players with a career-high 25 points. He also pulled down a team-high seven rebounds and made two assists.
Sophomore Andy Conrad came off the bench to score 20 points, hitting 7 of 10 shots and 6 of 6 free throws. Conrad also pulled down six rebounds and made a steal.
Freshman Nic Moore, coming off a career-high 21-point performance at Penn last Saturday night, scored 17 points, pulled down six rebounds and dished out four assists.
"I was real happy with the way we played," said Ogle. "Both Robinson and Conrad did what we told them to do. Nic Moore had another great game. Andy Conrad played football and is now feeling more comfortable and getting more confident."
That doesn't bode well for Elkhart Central, who fell to 0-6 with a loss Friday night at South Bend Riley.
The Blue Blazers will be in town tonight to take on a confident Warsaw team.
"I thought the student body was great," said Ogle. "The crowd really got into it. We're looking forward to three more home games, and that starts tonight with Elkhart Central."
Wawasee will be in action again Tuesday when the Warriors host Columbia City.
Sophomore Justin Clemens finished with eight points and six rebounds for Warsaw, while juniors Chase Byerly and Taylor Long scored three points each.
Junior Ross Stichter was the only other Warrior in double figures, finishing with 10 points. Grant Ruch scored eight points, while Brad Granger and Chas Amadeo added six points each.
