Wawasee’s Kylee Rostochak looks for room to operate versus Northridge Tuesday night in Syracuse. Rostochak scored a game-high 16 points in a 53-43 NLC loss to the Raiders.

SYRACUSE – The Wawasee girls basketball team is improving.

There were plenty of positive signs of that progress Tuesday night for the Warriors.

The hosts went toe-to-toe with a strong Northridge team the entire evening before dropping a 53-43 final in the Northern Lakes Conference opener for both teams.

The Raiders, arguably one of the favorites to win the conference crown this season, improve to 9-1 on the season with their sixth straight win. Wawasee, which has lost its last four games, drops to 2-6.

Aubrey Schmaltz looks for a teammate for the Warriors.

Northridge, whose lone loss was an 84-36 final at Class 2-A No. 2 unbeaten Oregon-Davis back on Nov. 21, used a strong start, balance and team play to open league play with a win. The Raiders, who have put together six consecutive winning seasons under coach Doug Springer, have defeated the Warriors seven straight times.

The trio of sophomore Brooke McKinley, senior Baleigh Carithers and junior Kelsey Brickner each scored 12 points to lead the winning Raiders.

Star guard Kylee Rostochak, one of just two seniors, led the Warriors with 16 points. Sophomore Aubrey Kuhn scored seven points and senior Erin Wiktorowski six.

Wawasee, which never led in the game, pulled within 46-42 with 1:54 to play on a trey by Wiktorowski. The Warriors then got the ball back after a Northridge turnover with 1:07 remaining. The hosts then committed a key turnover of their own with 1:02 to play. Senior Kelly Miller then hit 4-4 free throws and a layup in the final minute to seal the win for the Raiders.

“We’re getting closer,” said Wawasee coach Kem Zolman. “there are a lot of positives to gain from this game. Our effort and where we were at at the end of the game to start with. We put ourselves in position. Now we just have to figure out how to close out games.

“We scored 43 points tonight against one of the best teams, if not the best team in the conference. I’m pleased with that. We proved that yes we can hit baskets. We only had 12 turnovers and that’s good and nice to see. That’s quite a decrease for us. The turnovers late though that’s just us.”

Northridge blazed to a 16-8 lead after the opening period thanks to four 3-pointers. McKinley and Carithers each hit a pair from downtown in the first stanza to pace the Raiders. Wawassee trailed by as many as 10 points in the opening half before cutting the gap to 29-22 at halftime behind 10 points from Rostochak.

“We lost them in our matchups early, but give Northridge credit for the way they moved the ball and for hitting those shots early,” said Zolman. “We’re a gritty team and play from behind better. I never felt like we were out of it tonight. But that start did make us chase a very good team.”

Kabrea Rostochak reacts after a free throw for the Warriors.

The Raiders led 38-30 after the third period. Northridge stretched its lead to 46-34 in the final frame before Kuhn and Wiktorowski each hit a key triple to spark the home team right back into it.

The night was not without a reason to celebrate for Zolman. The Wawasee coach and his lovely wife Lynette celebrated their 36th wedding anniversary Tuesday. Zolman has been coaching for the past 34 years, including this being his 18th as the Wawasee girls coach.

Sophomore Kabrea Rostochak netted five points and junor Hannah Haines four for Wawasee. Sophomore Hanna-Marie Lamle finished with three points and freshman Casey Schroeder two.

Northridge won the junior varsity game 37-13. Schroeder led the Warriors with six points.

Wawasee plays at Goshen (8-1) Friday night and Northridge travels to Concord (2-7) Saturday afternoon for NLC contests.

Hannah-Marie Lamle focuses on a free throw for the Warriors.