It doesn't feature an individual superstar or a top 10 team, but the Warsaw Sectional field is comprised of what coach Doug Ogle called "solid teams."
Ogle's Tigers host the Class 4A No. 5 sectional beginning tonight when Northeast Hoosier Conference rivals DeKalb and Carroll square off at 7 p.m.Columbia City and East Noble, also NHC teams, play in Friday's first semifinal game at 6 p.m., followed by Warsaw and the winner of tonight's game at 7:30 p.m.
Friday's winners play in the sectional championship game Saturday at 7:30 p.m. for the right to play the Logansport Sectional winner in the regional March 10 at Marion.
"It's not like we have a Marion or Muncie Central in the sectional, but the sectional does have some very good teams in it," said Ogle. "We feel fortunate that we don't have to play three games to win the sectional. This sectional has some solid teams in it that are playing very well right now."
DeKalb enters the five-team sectional with the best record, boasting a 17-3 mark. The Barons have won eight games in a row and 10 of their last 11.
Columbia City, after starting the season losing two of its first three games, posted a 16-4 record. The Eagles are on a four-game win streak and have won seven of their past eight games.
East Noble comes in with a 15-5 record and winners of its final two games of the regular season and 10 of 11 overall.
Carroll, which defeated Warsaw 61-53 in the regular-season finale in the Tiger Den Friday, brings a 14-6 record to the sectional. The Chargers are on a five-game win streak and won eight of their final nine games.
And then there's Warsaw.
The Tigers lost their final two games of the regular season and were losers in three of the final four regular season contests. They bring a 11-9 record into sectional play.
"If you were going to see the teams in the sectional, I'd put DeKalb and East Noble one and two," said Ogle. "I don't know how I'd seed the other teams."
The X-factor in the tournament may be that Warsaw is playing on its home floor. While the Tigers struggled on the road, winning just four games - none of those teams had a winning record and they combined to go 22-58 in the regular season - Warsaw has played well in the Tiger Den.
Seven of the Tigers' 11 wins came at home, including victories over teams like Penn (18-3), Columbia City (16-4), Rochester (15-5), NorthWood (14-5) and Concord (13-6).
"If you look at our season results, we've played better at home," said Ogle, whose team was 9-11 in the regular season last year but won the school's first sectional championship since 2000. "Some teams do that. We feel like playing in the Tiger Den should be an advantage for us."
What may hurt Warsaw though is injury and illness.
"We've got to get healthy," said Ogle. "The injury to Justin Clemens is not good. We've got some sickness running through the team. Jesse Sharp and Scott Harman have both been sick. We're going to try and get healthy before Friday, that's our main objective."
Clemens, a 6-foot-2 freshman who started 18 games at the center position, injured his ankle in practice last week and missed the final two games of the regular season.
He sat behind the bench at Marion with crutches as the Giants beat the Tigers 69-46.
He didn't play Friday against Carroll either, and the Chargers beat Warsaw 61-53.
Senior Steve Lemasters leads the Tigers in scoring this season, averaging 18 points per game. He also averages four rebounds per game.
Classmate Tommy Reinholt averages just under nine points per contest and pulls down seven rebounds per game. Clemens and seniors Ben Truman and Eric Blanton all average five points per game.
While Ogle said he's happy to be hosting the sectional, the draw is more of a factor for his team, not having to win three games to win the sectional title.
"I think the draw is more of a factor than the site," said Ogle. "I think the all the teams are comprable physically. Nobody has a 6-8 kid or a lightning quick guard that you can't stay in front of. It should be an interesting tournament. I hope it's well-attended."
Ogle is also hoping for a scene similar to that of the one last year where his team cut down the nets and posed for team photos with the sectional championship trophy.
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Jesse Sharp and Scott Harman have both been sick. We're going to try and get healthy before Friday, that's our main objective."
Clemens, a 6-foot-2 freshman who started 18 games at the center position, injured his ankle in practice last week and missed the final two games of the regular season.
He sat behind the bench at Marion with crutches as the Giants beat the Tigers 69-46.
He didn't play Friday against Carroll either, and the Chargers beat Warsaw 61-53.
Senior Steve Lemasters leads the Tigers in scoring this season, averaging 18 points per game. He also averages four rebounds per game.
Classmate Tommy Reinholt averages just under nine points per contest and pulls down seven rebounds per game. Clemens and seniors Ben Truman and Eric Blanton all average five points per game.
While Ogle said he's happy to be hosting the sectional, the draw is more of a factor for his team, not having to win three games to win the sectional title.
"I think the draw is more of a factor than the site," said Ogle. "I think the all the teams are comprable physically. Nobody has a 6-8 kid or a lightning quick guard that you can't stay in front of. It should be an interesting tournament. I hope it's well-attended."
Ogle is also hoping for a scene similar to that of the one last year where his team cut down the nets and posed for team photos with the sectional championship trophy.
The Tigers entered last year's sectional with a 9-11 record but knocked off a Columbia City team that beat Warsaw during the regular season.
Columbia City entered last year's sectional with the best record in the field.
Playing in the friendly confines of the Tiger Den, Warsaw may again be a team to look out for.
