Fourth-ranked Warsaw followed its usual recipe this season to cook up another win Saturday night in the Tiger Den and remain unbeaten, this time over a short-handed Hamilton Southeastern squad, 60-40. The Tigers used its favorite ingredients to prepare its feast; a strong defensive effort, plenty of rebounding, points from Kyle Mangas (23) and Paul Marandet (17) and making its free throws. The recipe has now been successful 20 times this season, and has yet to fail. It didn’t hurt the Tiger cause that Royals starters Zach Gunn and Brennen Schofield were out with concussions, and Connor Rotterman is out for the season with mono. Gunn is the Hamilton SE player getting attention from several Division I schools, including some in the Big 10. Still, after an emotion-filled Friday night game in which the Tigers earned a second-straight Northern Lakes Conference title in front of a large crowd, Warsaw and the Royals got off to a slow start. The home team led just 7-4 after eight minutes, but forced the Royals to work the ball around the perimeter for more than 60 seconds twice in the opening frame. Meanwhile, the visitors were using “junk” defenses to try and keep Mangas and Marandet off the scoreboard. “They were playing triangle-and-two, just like (Elkhart) Memorial did. We got off to a little bit of a slow start, but was good. We were getting good shots in the first half; we just didn’t make them,” Warsaw head coach Doug Ogle said. “We caught Hamilton Southeastern at a good time, ‘cause they’re short-handed three starters. But we played a really good second half. We were up two at halftime, and outscored them by 11 in the third quarter. We really kind of broke them in the third quarter. We rebounded well, and they kept kinda fouling us.” Warsaw held HSE to one field goal and a free throw in outscoring the Royals 14-3 in the third stanza. The Tigers also outscored Hamilton 28-17 from the foul line. The players who did suit up for Hamilton struggled to stay on the floor. Senior center Jaylon Tappler picked up two early fouls, including a technical, and sat out the last 12 minutes of the first half. With 2:50 left in the game, after the Warsaw lead had expanded to 19, Hamilton’s Aaron Etherington picked up his fifth foul and a technical as he left the floor. Marandet hit four free throws, then hit a layup after a Royal defensive lapse for a six-point trip down the floor. The teams combined for 50 personal fouls, including an intentional foul called on Riley Rhoades less than two minutes into the game. Ogle said while he feels more people are paying attention to the team now that they’re 20-0, the pressure of an undefeated season isn’t the same as the urgency the Tigers will have to win the Elkhart Central Sectional, regardless of record. “I think that aspect of our season, that we haven’t lost yet, is adding to the interest of each game as the number grows,” he said. “With our two remaining opponents (Carmel and At Carroll Feb. 26), that’s kind of exciting. If we do win our last two games, it’s not going to because we played a light schedule. “I don’t think (our record) matters; there’s going to be pressure on us to win the sectional, regardless of what our record is. It’s enjoyable for everyone on our team to be at this point, because it’s hard to do.” Next up for the Tigers is a visit from Carmel for Warsaw’s final home game of the year on Feb. 20. The Greyhounds beat the Royals 47-42 Friday night, and are currently 9-10. Carmel will travel to Warren Central on Friday before making the trip north. Game notes: Warsaw Athletic Director Dave Anson presented Ogle with a plaque in honor of the coach’s 200th career win, achieved with a 79-34 win over Wawasee Dec. 18. Before the announcement, Anson asked anyone who had ever worked with Ogle, whether it was a player, assistant or manager, to come from the stands and form a line on the court for the presentation. About 30 men answered the call, and Ogle shook hands with each of them after receiving his plaque.
WARSAW 60, HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 40 HSE 4 13 3 20 – 40 WAR 7 12 14 27 – 60 Hamilton SE – Nick Bowman 0-0 0-0 0, Jack Davidson 0-5 3-4 3, Jack Habegger 0-0 1-2 1, Austin Holzum 1-3 2-2 4, Greg Miller 2-6 5-6 10, J.D. Bembry 0-3 1-2 1, Aaron Etherington 3-5 0-1 6, Trevin Trabue 1-2 1-2 3, Noah Smith 0-4 0-0 0, Zach Mutchner 0-0 2-2 2, Brock Burns 0-1 0-0 0, Aaron Shank 0-0 0-0 0, Jaylon Tapplar 4-6 2-4 10. Totals 11-35 17-25 40. Warsaw – Kyle Mangas 6-7 10-12 23, Paul Marandet 3-5 11-14 17, Riley Rhoades 1-3 3-5 5, Jeremy David 3-4 0-1 6, Sam Miller 0-0 3-4 3, Aaron Sandoval 0-0 0-2 0, Ross Johnson 0-2 1-2 1, Jaceb Burish 1-3 0-0 2,Evan Schmidt 1-3 0-0 3, Braxton Minix 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 15-27 28-40 60. Three-pointers – Hamilton SE 1 (Miller0, Warsaw 2 (Mangas, Schmidt); Rebounds – Hamilton SE 19 (Etherington 3, Shank 3), Warsaw 30 (Marandet 6); Turnovers – Hamilton SE 5, Warsaw 5; Fouls – Hamilton SE 28, Warsaw 22; Fouled out – Ethrington, Miller; Technical fouls – Tapplar, Etherington; Records: Hamilton SE 12-9, Warsaw 20-0 JV – Hamilton SE 74, Warsaw 71 Warsaw – Asher Blum 23, Jack Rhoades 14, Zach Riley 12, Landen Ferber 10, Tristan Frye 10, Kyle Skeans 2
