Homestead High School was a hostile environment all night for the visiting Tigers. (Photos by Nick Goralczyk)

FORT WAYNE – Friday night’s boys basketball showdown between Warsaw and Homestead was simply not as good as advertised, it was better.

The environment at Homestead High School was absolutely electric when both teams took the court for tip-off. However, the underdog Tigers were not intimidated by the rambunctious home fans or the state’s top recruit, Caleb Swanigan. Warsaw gave the No. 3 Spartans all they could handle before falling victim to turnovers late in the second half as Homestead would escape with a 60-59 victory.

Warsaw silenced the energetic home crowd by dominating the first quarter and taking a 15-3 lead into the second. The gap was closed in the second frame, but Warsaw remained poised in front of a crowd that included Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski and Purdue head coach Matt Painter. The Tigers would lead 26-16 at the break.

Warsaw was able to build up the lead in a hostile environment by beating Homestead at its own game.

“Last year we were the team setting the tone,” began Homestead head coach Chris Johnson. “This year we are seeing that teams are trying to make the tempo work in their favor. As coaches, we have to figure out a way to stop that. Warsaw did a great job at controlling the tempo for much of the game tonight.”

Several big plays lifted the Tigers in the opening half, including a steal by Rashaan Jackson off of Swanigan that Jackson then turned into a three. Tim Swanson was in the zone Friday as well for the Tigers. Swanson’s first points of the night came after he had an attempt blocked, but grabbed the rebound and laid it in for two. It was clear that Warsaw wanted it more in the first half and that Homestead was not prepared for that.

“Our guys were looking forward to this, they were ready to play,” Warsaw head coach Doug Ogle stated. “We knew it would be difficult for Homestead to respect us.”

The respect finally came in the second half, but Warsaw remained on top. The Spartans did not earn their first lead until the 4:50 mark in the fourth quarter when Jordan Geist drained a three-pointer to put Homestead up 49-48. Still, the Tigers did not flinch. Nick Sands responded with a three of his own, giving the Tigers back the lead.

Warsaw remained in front until Swanigan took over, hitting a three to put his team up 55-54, with 3:13 left to play, Homestead would not give the lead back.

“Anytime we would catch up, they (Warsaw) would hit a big three. We could never get over the hump,” Johnson recalled. “We got fortunate when Warsaw missed a free throw and Caleb (Swanigan) went down and hit that three. Big time players make big time shots, and he did.”

Swanigan was limited to just four points in the first half, but found that next level in the second, scoring 21. Swanigan finished with 25 points, nine boards and one assist. Geist kept his team alive when Swanigan was on the bench wit foul trouble. Geist scored 21 points and tallied a game-high four steals.

Warsaw performance was a team effort, but Jackson and Swanson were the fuel for the Tigers upset-minded team. Ogle said after the game that they needed to get Swanson more shots, the coach was not mistaken. Swanson was 6-9 from the field and 5-7 from deep, finishing with a team-high 19 points. Jackson finished with 11 points. Paul Marandet led the team with six boards and a game-high six assists.

“This game, in the long run, should be encouraging to us,” Ogle commented. “We came into this environment a very, very talented team and had a chance to win, we just couldn’t close. Overall, we’re disappointed, but this will not define us.”

Warsaw (2-1) travels to Huntington North Saturday night for a 7:30 p.m. tip.

Warsaw’s junior varsity team overcame a 24-19 halftime deficit to win a 51-43 over Homestead.