Junior guard Kyle Mangas will lead his undefeated Warsaw squad into an NLC clash at NorthWood Friday night (File photo by Scott Davidson)

The Warsaw boys basketball team has made its way to a 15-0 mark thanks largely to its work on the defensive end.

The NorthWood boys basketball team has earned its impressive 13-1 record thanks largely to its ability to score the basketball.

The strengths of both will be put to the test come Friday night.

The stingy Tigers and the potent Panthers will hook up in the biggest game of the season in a Northern Lakes Conference clash of titans in Nappanee.

The numbers do not lie in this one.

Warsaw, which is ranked No. 5 in the AP Class 4-A poll this week, is off to the best start in program history. The Tigers are just one of two undefeated teams remaining in the state. Tipton is 13-0.

NorthWood, which checks in at No. 2 in the AP Class 3-A poll, has won 10 straight games. The Panthers are one of 12 teams statewide with just one loss. NorthWood’s lone loss was a 49-48 decision to Class 4-A Fishers back on Dec. 5.

Both teams sport undefeated records in league play as each sit at 4-0 as the conference leaders.

“It’s a compelling matchup and I know a game with a lot of interest,” said Warsaw coach Doug Ogle. “It’s a high stakes game in the NLC and one that should be real fun to be a part of. I know that our guys have been looking forward to it.”

Both teams also boast stellar backcourts. Warsaw has the tandem of junior Kyle Mangas and senior Paul Marandet. NorthWood counters with junior Vinny Miranda and senior Braxton Linville. Mangas averages 20.4 points-per-game and Marandet 11.9. Miranda checks in at 17.6 ppg. and Linville is at 10.7 to go with 7.2 assists per game.

Warsaw, which beat NorthWood 47-39 last year en route to winning the NLC title at 7-0, is allowing just 40.7 points-per-game. The Panthers, who went 23-3 last year and won a sectional title, average 68 ppg. NorthWood has scored 70 points or more in eight games, while Warsaw has allowed 40 points or less nine times. The Tigers are also 4-0 in overtime games this season.

“They are the best offensive team we have played,” remarked Ogle of the Panthers. “They are an offensive juggernaut with guys who can score from all over the place. Their 3-point shooting is scary. We can not have a game in the 60’s.

“Their offensive rebounding though is their secret sauce. That’s their biggest strength. Their offensive rebounding is off the charts. They are very aggressive and Fox (6-4 senior forward Dakiyron Fox) is just a big time rebounder. He’s just so strong and aggressive. He’s like a Dennis Rodman.”

The Panthers have plenty of firepower everywhere. Fox averages 14.2 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. Luke Zurcher, a junior guard, is at 9.6 and junior forward Trey Bilinski 7.1. NorthWood is 84-193 from 3-point range, led by Miranda (28 treys), Linville (20) and Zurcher (19). The Panthers are at a plus 10 rebounds per game and average an outstanding 11 offensive rebounds per contest.

Junior guard Vinny Miranda is the leading scorer for a potent NorthWood offense (File photo by Mike Deak)

“Warsaw is the best team we’ve seen so far,” said NorthWood coach Aaron Wolfe, whose team returned four starters from last year. “they are very good in all three phases of the game. Their staple again this year is how stingy they have been on the defensive end. I think that speaks to the quality of their players as individual defenders and also they have a tremendous IQ.

“I know that our guys are looking forward to the challenge. It’s a meaningful game in the NLC.  The thing for us is that our balance has been one of our big keys this year. We’ve had a number of guys step up for us.  This is a big game, but it’s another game on our schedule. We’ve tried to make our guys understand that.”

“Our big three (Miranda, Fox, Linville) are unique. The under tone of all of them is their competitive spirit. For them, Mangas is an outstanding player. He’s very efficient and very difficult to handle as he can score in all three phases of the game. And he plays much bigger than 6-3.”

NorthWood, whose last NLC title came in 2006-07 when they shared it with Plymouth, has won 21 in a row in the Panther Pit. Ogle is 9-6 versus the Panthers as Warsaw’s head coach, but just 2-5 in games played at NorthWood. Wolfe, a former assistant coach at Warsaw to both Ogle and Al Rhodes, is now in his ninth season at NorthWood.

Warsaw has also valued the rock as the Tigers average just eight turnovers per game. They are 57-155 from 3-point range and outrebound their foes by seven caroms per game.  Junior Jeremy David averages 4.7 ppg., while senior Evan Schmidt is at 4.5 and senior Riley Rhoades 4.0.

“I’m almost positive that rebounding is going to decide this game,” Ogle said. “Our guys have to be extremely determined to rebound well.”

Warsaw still has NLC games left after Friday night at Elkhart Memorial (Feb. 4) and home versus Plymouth (Feb. 12). NorthWood will play at Concord Feb. 4 and host Elkhart Memorial Feb. 12 to close out league play.

The action Friday night at NorthWood tips-off with the junior varsity game at 6:15 p.m.