Warsaw Cagers Enjoy One Final Road Trip
WARSAW – It was only fitting that the Lady Tiger Class of 2017 basketball team walked off the court as a winner after its final game together.
The squad, made up of nine young ladies who will be incoming freshman at WCHS, recently returned home after an enjoyable and successful trip to Ireland and Scotland.
The team, coached by Joe Graham, has played together since the fourth grade. The group of very competitive ladies had a blast on their 10-day trip, which included going 5-2 on the hardwood. A big highlight for the team was a 65-54 win over the Scotland U-16 National team in their final game. They had lost 50-48 to the Scotland squad earlier.
“It was just a great experience to be with my team,” said Mariah Rivera. “I’ll remember our last game. We were ready to play and really wanted to win that last game. It’s kind of sad that we won’t be a team anymore.”
Coach Graham says the team has probably played around 100 games together. He added that the trip, which was two years in the making, was a great experience.
“It was really special trip,” said coach Graham. “Not just the basketball, but the spending time together and experiencing other cultures. This has just been a great group of young ladies to coach. They are smart, competitive and dedicated. It’s hard to keep teams together and we wanted to do something cool at the end of this. What a great way to finish. This was a reward for them.
“We’ve spent thousands of hours together the last few years from practices to traveling to tournaments. The thing is that they’ve come so far. This team played a Speice All-Star team when they were in fourth grade and lost by 50 points. They lost to them two more times and then beat them the fourth time they played them.
“These girls want to be good. They listen and they trust each other. They know and understand the game. We had a different girl leading us in scoring almost every game and that’s amazing to see. And basketball is just beginning for them now. I’m really excited for Warsaw girls basketball over the next four years.”
Madison Graham, described as the most competitive player on the team by her teammates, also singled out the final game as a highlight of the trip.
“Beating the U-16 team after losing to them,” said Graham. “The thing is that we all get along and our teamwork is amazing. We’ve played together so long and that we know what each other can do on the court.”
Abby Glass, who is also a star on the softball diamond, will miss her teammates.
“I’m just going to miss being together and helping each other out,” Glass said.
Allison Miller, whose top sport is cross country, pointed to something off the court as her highlight on the trip.
“I just enjoyed spending time together and playing cards at the hotel,” said Miller. “There were so many good things. I just enjoyed it a lot playing on this team. It was nice knowing I had the support of my teammates.”
Mary Ann Marandet pointed to the team’s experience as a key to its success.
“We were a smart team on the court because we knew each other’s strengths,” said Marandet. “For me, the highlight was beating the U-16 team too. They were expecting to beat us again.”
Alyssa Atkins will also miss her teammates.
“It’s sad moving on,” said Atkins. “I enjoyed us being together as a team.”
The standout team also included Dayton Groninger, Kenzie Welk and Madison Martz.
Coach Graham was moved to tears, according to his team, when he talked to them following their final game.
“I’m mourning the loss of something good,” said coach Graham of the overall experience. “I told them my commitment is still to them and always will be. I care deeply about all of them.”
Coach Graham knows a thing or two about the game. The New Haven native had an outstanding career at Grace College. The 6-7 Graham played for the Lancers from 1984-87 and ranks 11th in program history with 1,846 career points. Graham played one year of professional basketball in Brazil and has coached at Grace and Whitko. He is currently the Director of Student Health and Counseling at Grace.
Graham, whose players did various fundraisers to help pay for the trip, also made sure to dish off an assist to the committed parents of his players.
“There’s something to be said for the parents of these kids,” said Graham. “We just had an awesome group of parents.”