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Going up by as many as 17 points in its sectional semifinal game against Elkhart, it looked as if it would be smooth sailing for the Warsaw boys basketball team on their way to another sectional championship game. However, a furious second-half rally by the Lions saw the hosts briefly take the lead in the final minutes. But it was the Tigers with the last laugh, as four crucial free throws tied the game and put them in front for good in what was a 37-35 victory for the orange and black.
“I thought we did enough in the first half to give us some room for error in the second,” Warsaw head coach Matt Moore said. “We’ve lost five games just like this one this year, including to these guys the first time. We’re figuring out how to win these close games and you saw this group take a big step tonight.”
The long layoff did not appear to affect the Tigers at all. Warsaw outscored their opponents 7-0 over the first three minutes of the game to make an early statement. The visitors were firing on all cylinders, no matter which side of the court they were on. Defending the basket, the Tigers were tenacious. Not giving an inch, winning what felt like every single 50/50 ball. Moore’s team was dialed in early. Over the next few minutes, things only got better. Back-to-back threes by Sam McDaniels and Sam Lara extended the Warsaw advantage to double digits.
Led by five points each from Lara and Drew Jones, the Tigers took a 13-3 lead into the second quarter. Warsaw had set the tone and then some.
“I think having played them already gave us a little clarity in our defensive gameplan,” Moore said. “We were able to come out and hit them in the mouth a little bit.”
The Tiger defense remained the storyline as the game continued on, having held Elkhart to just four points in the first 12 minutes. It was a good thing that the visitors were able to keep up the intensity on that side of the court, as the offense had slowed down drastically. A three pointer by freshman Nash Wiggins was the team’s only field goal for the first four and a half minutes of the second.
Warsaw spent the final three minutes before halftime getting back on track. Mydin Burgher finally made his way onto the scoresheet, while Jones scored five straight to put him in double figures. His final two points of the half came on a thunderous dunk that brought the Tiger bench to its feet. As the game reached its midway point, the visitors seemed to be in control, leading 23-9.
After the worst first half possible, the Lions looked much improved to begin the second. The hosts nearly matched their first half total in the first four minutes of the third quarter, using a full-court press to force the Tigers into some awkward situations which led into transition offense. It was working too, as with eleven minutes left in the game, the difference was now eight.
Warsaw head coach Matt Moore gives instructions to his team with 1.6 seconds left in the game...Nieter
Warsaw, which had appeared unstoppable at times in the first half, looked like a completely different team in the second. A big reason the first half had gone so well for the Tigers was that they were playing very decisively. Every action had intent, and no movement was wasted. For a large chunk of the third, especially when greeted by the press, the visitors looked timid, and mistakes were compounding.
“When you’re able to switch everything, the advantage goes to the defense. We don’t have a lot of advantages in the one on one game,” Moore said. “So when you can switch everything and not lose an advantage, that’s what got us in trouble. They were physical and took a lot away from us.”
This was the perfect time for Burgher, the heartbeat of this Warsaw team, to get it going. With Elkhart now within six, he answered the call. The senior scored five straight points for the visitors in the final two minutes of the third quarter to put the Tigers back up by eleven, 32-21 heading into the fourth.
Just a minute into the final period, the Lions had gotten back within six, forcing a Warsaw timeout. Aside from the burst by Burgher that ended the third, the Tigers had continued to look lost offensively in the second half. It was now Elkhart’s defense that was controlling the game, as the visitors were having a hard time ending possessions with shots and not turnovers.
With four minutes left in the game, Warsaw had still yet to score in the quarter, and the Lions had stormed all the way back to make it a two-point contest. Thirty seconds later, an offensive rebound followed by a split at the foul line by Jaron Courtois finally put the Tigers on the board in the fourth, but it remained a one-possession affair.
With two and a half minutes to go, the comeback was completed. Sophomore Landon Baker got the space he needed from beyond the arc and didn’t hesitate. He buried a triple to tie things up. To make matters worse, the Tigers turned it over on the ensuing inbound and in the scuffle that followed, Burgher picked up his fifth foul.
“After Mydin went out, we kind of had to refocus. I had to chew them out a bit to remind them that they had to go win that game,” Moore said. “I thought we were playing not to lose a lot in that second half.”
Seconds later, Elkhart took the lead for the first time. The hosts committed their fifth foul of the period on their next defensive possession though, allowing Lara to tie things up at 35 all in crunch time.
After getting a crucial stop, the Tigers got the ball back with 80 seconds left in the game. Warsaw elected to take the air out of the basketball and hold for presumably the final shot. It didn’t get to that point. With just 17 seconds remaining, Lara was fouled 20 feet away from the basket. In the bonus, he went to the line and hit both to put his team back in front.
The visitors needed just one defensive stop to survive and advance, and they got it. The Lions got two good looks at the rim and a third for the win on an inbounds play, but to no avail. The Tigers would not be denied playing for their third straight sectional title.
Jones led the team with 14 points and five rebounds. Lara scored nine, while Burgher had seven and four assists.
Warsaw (13-11) will take on Northridge in the sectional championship game on Saturday night.
