Warsaw Basketball: Tigers Top Eagles
COLUMBIA CITY – It’s not always how you start, but how you finish.
The Warsaw boys basketball team proved that Saturday night.
The Tigers shook off a slow start and went on to post their second road win of the young season with a 44-38 victory over Columbia City.
Warsaw, which opened its season with a 51-44 win at Tippecanoe Valley Wednesday night, fell behind 11-3 after the opening quarter to the Eagles.
The Tigers used a big second quarter to take the lead. Jack Grose hit a huge pair of treys in the stanza as Warsaw outscored the hosts 16-5 to take a 19-16 lead at intermission. The Tigers led 31-27 entering the final frame.
Nolan Groninger led the Warsaw offense for the second straight game. The junior guard scored 14 points, including hitting 8-10 free throws. Groninger also had four assists and three steals.
The trio of Grose, Tyler Metzinger and Jaylen Reese each had six points for coach Doug Ogle’s squad. Landen Ferber added five points.
Meezinger had six rebounds and Reese four for the Tigers.
The duo of Groninger and Reese each hit clutch free throws in the final minute to seal the win for Warsaw.
Warsaw shot 14-25 from the field in the game, including 4-12 from distance. The Tigers were 12-16 from the line and had 10 turnovers.
Mitchell Wilson was the offense for the Eagles, who fall to 0-2. Wilson cane 26 points, including going 11-11 from the free throw line.
Columbia City, which lost 46-40 to Whitko in its season opener Wednesday, went 11-28 overall from the field. The Eagles were 4-16 from deep, 12-14 from the line and had 15 turnovers.
Warsaw won the junior varsity game by a 48-28 count. Blake Marsh scored 13 points and Connor Lennox had 12 to pace the winners.
Warsaw (2-0) hosts Homestead Friday night. The Tigers then entertain Huntington North Saturday night. Columbia City plays at Fort Wayne Northrop Thursday night.