Focused Tigers Take Care Of Business
DUNLAP – The Warsaw girls basketball team definitely took nothing for granted Friday night.
The sectional favorite Tigers looked the part in crushing Concord 59-21 in a semifinal matchup of the Class 4-A Concord Sectional.
No. 8 Warsaw came out focused and ready to go from the opening tip to earn a spot in Saturday night’s sectional title game at 7 p.m. The Tigers, now 21-1, will face Northridge (19-4) in their bid for the program’s first sectional championship since 2004. Northridge topped Goshen 45-38 in the second semifinal game Friday night.
Warsaw defeated the Raiders 52-39 in a Northern Lakes Conference contest in Middlebury on Jan. 5.
Jennifer Walker-Crawford and Brooklyn Harrison each scored 11 points, Nikki Grose 10 and Lindsay Baker nine Friday night to lead a balanced offensive output for the Tigers.
Jade Iavagnilio led Concord with nine points. The Minutemen, who shot 7-of-30 from the field in the game, lost its final eight games to finish at 6-17.
It was all about their work at the defensive end of the floor, however for Warsaw in manhandling the Minutemen on their home floor for the second time this season. The Tigers, who won 52-21 at Concord on Jan. 19, allowed just two first-half field goals in leading 31-6 at halftime. Warsaw blanked Concord 17-0 in the second quarter to notch the first shutout in a stanza since the 2004-05 team did it in a win at Fort Wayne Northrop and just the ninth time in program history that the rare feat has happened. The winners trailed once at 3-2 before using an 8-0 run to take the lead for good.
“It was a great atmosphere in our locker room at halftime,” said Baker, the leader of the Tigers. “We have a stat where we track deflections and we had 27 at halftime. We play defense. We get after it period. We’re aggressive in our 2-3 zone and play actively.
“Coach preaches that nothing is given that you have to go out and take it. We knew we had to come out to play tonight and stay mentally focused and we did that. We’re on a roll and it’s excitement for me for tomorrow night to get here. I can’t put into words how long we’ve waited for this opportunity to win a sectional. Now, it’s right there for us. We just need everyone 1-11 to play well Saturday. That will be huge for us.”
Huge could describe how well Harrison played Friday night for Warsaw. The athletic 5-7 junior guard, who also had an outstanding game in Tuesday night’s sectional opening win over Elkhart Memorial, scored a career-high 11 points. Harrison, who entered the game averaging 3.4 points-per-game, was everywhere on defense with five of Warsaw’s 16 steals.
Harrison’s superb play did not go unnoticed by her teammates or coach.
“Brooklyn has really stepped up this week and made a difference for us,” said Baker. “She’s been on fire on defense for us and I’m glad things are falling in place for her. We need her to play like this.”
Warsaw coach Michelle Harter also praised the play of the high-energy Harrison.
“We knew all year that Brooklyn could step in and play great for us,” Harter said. “It’s a big time for her to step up like she has this week.”
Baker and Harrison each scored nine points in the opening half to lead the Warsaw onslaught. Concord was 2-of-13 from the field, both of the field goals being 3-pointers by Iavagnilio, in the opening half and also had 16 of their 24 turnovers.
“The girls came out and were focused tonight and earned the right to play for a sectional title,” said Harter. “I’m excited for them. It’s a great opportunity for us Saturday night. It’s one of our goals and something the girls have been talking about all season. The big thing Saturday is to be patient on both ends, block out and do the little things.
“To not allow a point in that second quarter was tremendous for us. The girls are so active in our zone and are working together as one unit. The big difference in our defense right now is that they are moving their feet and they are communicating. We said that in order for us to win this year we had to be a great defensive team.
“At halftime, we talked about coming out with the same focus and intensity in the second half. We did that. I’m excited to see how the girls are coming together as a team right now. It’s a great time to be clicking on offense and defense like they are.”
Warsaw shared the ball extremely well Friday night to shoot a blistering 23-of-42 from the field, including 12-of-20 in the first half. Baker led the passing parade with five assists for the Tigers.
Melanie Holladay and Eryn Leek each finished with six points for Warsaw. Sarah Ray, Pam Miller and team and fan favorite Gabby Monroy each scored two points for the winners.