Senior Jordan Stookey will be a key performer for Warsaw this season. Area boys basketball teams open practice on Monday (File photo by Mike Deak)

WARSAW –  The Warsaw boys basketball program closed out the 2012-13 season on a definite high note.

The Tigers, who claimed an unexpected sectional title, are still reaping the rewards of that postseason success too.

“I think, in terms of enthusiasm and our numbers, that our whole program has been buoyed by the sectional championship,” said Warsaw coach Doug Ogle.

The Tigers and every boys hoops program across the Hoosier state return to the hardwood Monday for the first official day or practice for the 2013-14 campaign.

“We’re ready to get started,” said Ogle, entering his 12th year as Warsaw’s head coach. “I think we had a lot of our guys improve and get better skill wise during the offseason. I think our guys are looking forward to the season and we’re going to be pretty young, which I think adds to the excitement.”

Warsaw edged Elkhart Central in double overtime, outlasted heavy sectional favorite Concord (who was 19-1 at the time) in triple overtime and then beat Northridge to win the Class 4-A Elkhart Sectional title.

The Tigers, who finished 13-11 a year ago, will miss clutch guard Jared Bloom. Bloom, now at IPFW, scored 425 points his senior season.

Jared Stookey, one of the heroes of the sectional title run, returns as the most experienced player for the Tigers. The senior guard was second in scoring a year ago. Rashaan Jackson and Nate Pearl also return for Warsaw.

Warsaw opens its season at Tippecanoe Valley Nov. 27.

Around the Area

Wawasee welcomes in a new coach in Steve Wiktorowski.

Wiktorowski, who is also the Wawasee Athletic Director, inherits a team that finished 5-16 overall and 0-7 in the NLC a year ago.

The Warriors are slated to return key juniors Alex Clark and Gage Reinhard.

Wawasee opens its season at Fairfield Nov. 26.

Triton will have a different look as graduation took five seniors from a 20-6 team that was the Class 1-A state runner-up in 2013.

The Trojans must replace Indiana All-Star Clay Yeo, who scored 657 points his senior season and is now at Valparaiso University.

Coach Jason Groves welcomes back senior Tanner Shepherd and junior Joey Corder.

Triton hosts Oregon-Davis to open the season Nov. 27.

Tippecanoe Valley won the Class 3-A Wawasee Sectional last season in a 20-4 campain, which included a TRC title at 7-0.

Coach Bill Patrick, who went over 700 career wins last season, lost top scorer Nick Kindig (who scored over 1,000 career points), but returns star Tanner Andrews.

Valley hosts Warsaw in its opener Nov. 27.

Scott Wessel enters his second season as the Whitko coach. The Wildcats were 6-16 a year ago and graduated their top four scorers.

Whitko opens the season by hosting Columbia City Nov. 27.

Lakeland Christian Academy graduated nine seniors, including their top four scorers, from a 7-15 squad.

Joel Burrus is the new coach of the Cougars, who play at Caston Nov. 26 to open their season.