Offensive Woes Costly To Tigers
COLUMBIA CITY – The offensive struggles for the Warsaw girls basketball team continued Tuesday night.
The Tigers were done in by a tough shooting performance in the final half in dropping a 38-24 final at Columbia City in non-conference play.
Warsaw, which drops to 2-5 on the season, scored its lowest point total of the season. The Tigers have now scored fewer than 30 points in three games this season, including in its last two contests. Warsaw lost a 54-27 decision at home to a very strong Wabash team on Dec. 10.
The 24 points was just one more than the fewest points scored in a game in program history. Warsaw scored 23 points in a sectional game versus Wawasee in 1982.
The Tigers trailed just 7-4 after the opening period and were down only 16-14 at intermission Tuesday night to the Eagles. The third period proved to be the difference in the game. Warsaw was outscored 11-3 in the stanza to fall behind 27-17.
Warsaw, which is now averaging 40.9 points-per-game on the season, shot 9-38 from the field in the game. The Tigers were just 4-22 in the final half of the contest. Warsaw made just 1-11 from 3-point range and was 5-7 from the free throw line. The Tigers also had 20 turnovers in the loss.
The good news for the Tigers versus the Eagles was the return to action of Nikki Grose. The 6-0 senior center had missed the last two games after suffering a concussion versus Whitko on Nov. 29.
Grose, who came off the bench Tuesday night, led the Tigers with eight points and five rebounds.
Eryn Leek had five points and Brooklyn Harrison and Page Desenberg each added four for the Tigers. Erin Clemens had two points and Jodie Carlson one.
Columbia City, which had lost 11 in a row to Warsaw, shot just 12-31 from the field and was just 1-5 from 3-point range. The free throw line was key for the hosts though as the Eagles did hit 13-19 charity tosses in the win.
The Eagles won for the fourth time in their last five games to improve to 7-2 on the season. City has lost to Leo 52-45 in overtime and to Norwell 50-46 this season.
Emily Whitleather led the way for the Eagles with 11 points and six rebounds. Aubrey Wright scored nine points and Macie Hinen added eight.
The undefeated Warsaw junior varsity team continued to roll with a 40-22 win Tuesday night. Freshman Madi Graham led the JV Tigers with 14 points. Dayton Groninger added 13 for Warsaw, now 7-0.
Warsaw returns to action Thursday night for its Northern Lakes Conference opener at Plymouth. The game was postponed this past Saturday due to the weather. The Tigers, who are defending NLC champions, then play another NLC game at Wawasee Saturday night.
Columbia City will host East Noble Saturday night.