Warsaw Basketball: Tigers Turn Tables On Chargers
GOSHEN – Madi Graham, as she patiently waited for her well-deserved postgame interviews Wednesday night, allowed herself a big smile.
The Warsaw senior star earned the right to be beaming from ear to ear on this evening.
Graham took charge from the get go as a motivated and focused Warsaw squad took apart Elkhart Memorial 58-32 in first-round action of the Class 4-A Goshen Sectional.
Guard Graham was simply sensational with a game-high 19 points as the Tigers crushed the Crimson Chargers.
Warsaw, now 20-3, advances to play No. 7 Northridge (24-1) Friday in the second semifinal game at approximately 7:30 p.m. Defending state champion and No. 10 Penn (19-4) meets Elkhart Central (12-9) Friday in the first semifinal at 6 p.m. The winners then meet Saturday at 7:30 p.m. for the sectional title and a spot in the LaPorte Regional on Feb. 11.
Northridge, which beat Warsaw 47-43 in Middlebury back on Jan. 7, crushed Concord 53-23 in the first game Wednesday night.
Warsaw, which never trailed Wednesday night, avenged a 35-31 Northern Lakes Conference loss at Memorial back on Jan. 11.
“We did not play our best the first time against Memorial and that was huge motivation for tonight,” said Graham, one of six seniors for Warsaw. “This is tourney time. It’s time to amp it up. Our goal is a sectional championship.
“Tonight was not just for me. It was for my team. I did not want to let them down tonight. I needed to step up and hit shots and play the way that I can.”
Warsaw turned the tables on the Crimson Chargers in a big way from three weeks ago. The Tigers shot just 11-41 from the field in the first meeting, including 0-13 in the fourth quarter. Warsaw was also 0-11 from 3-point range in the loss.
Warsaw shot lights out Wednesday night thanks to great passing, unselfish play and great cuts to the basket. The Tigers hit 24-44 overall from the field, including 3-11 from distance. Memorial went just 11-45 from the field against Warsaw’s active zone defense, including 4-27 from deep.
The game was tied just once at 3-3. Warsaw then used a 6-0 run, highlighted by a pair of layups by Graham, to take the lead for good. The Tigers led 11-6 after the opening period and 22-13 at halftime. Memorial was just 5-19 from the field in the opening half and had just a pair of two-point baskets. Graham had 11 points at intermission.
The Tigers put the game away with a 12-3 run to open the second half to make it 34-16. Graham and star Dayton Groninger each scored six points in the their frame as Warsaw outscored Memorial 18-6 to lead 40-19.
“All of our girls stepped up tonight and did a nice job for us,” said Warsaw coach Michelle Harter. “They played with confidence, attacked the basket and had a plan. We didn’t rush things, like the first time against them.
“It says a lot about our seniors to step up and take control of the game tonight. This is the kind of game you want to play at tourney time. We know that we need to continue to play our best to earn the right to advance. We took the right step tonight.
“Our girls listened to the scouting report. We talked about the girls we wanted to run off the 3-point line and our girls were active with hands up and made them shoot quick. I thought our girls got out and bothered them on their shots. I thought we confused them by switching our defense and they were never in rhythm.”
Graham, who had just eight points in the loss at Memorial, was brilliant this time around. She hit 8-12 shots from the field.
“We have to bring our defensive intensity from the start come Friday night,” said Graham looking ahead to the rematch with Northridge. “We can’t have any bad quarters. We have to play our game from the very beginning. I’m excited for it.”
Groninger also had a strong game with 16 points on 6-12 shooting. She now has 994 career points.
Senior Page Desenberg had eight points and a team-high seven rebounds. Senior Kenzie Welk scored seven points for the Tigers. The quartet of senior Mariah Rivera, sophomore Kacy Bragg, junior Emma Bohnenkamper and freshman Kaylee Patton each had two points.
Warsaw hit 7-9 from the line, while Memorial was 6-13. The Tigers had a 34-26 rebounding edge and both teams finished with eight turnovers in the contest.
Junior Kambria Dale led Memorial with seven points. Freshman Mya Reeves and junior Sierra Peete each had six points for the Chargers, who finish at 13-10.
A touching moment came late in the game as Skylar Axsom got into the game for Memorial. The lone senior, who suffered an ankle injury in a game versus Northridge on Jan. 20 that sidelined her, hit a free throw and then left to hugs from her coaches and teammates on the Memorial bench. Axsom was a four-year starter for coach Steve Scott’s team, who averaged almost 10 points and a team-high six rebounds this season.
Warsaw now leads the all-time series with Memorial 16-15, including by a 7-5 count in postseason play.