The Warsaw girls basketball team is all smiles Wednesday night. The Tigers rallied to edge Elkhart Memorial 45-44 in overtime for coach Michelle Harter’s 100th win.

ELKHART – Warsaw girls basketball coach Michelle Harter admitted that she had not thought much about notching her 100th win.

It was obvious though that her team had given the milestone moment plenty of thought Wednesday night.

The Tigers, after rallying for a thrilling 45-44 Northern Lakes Conference win in overtime at Elkhart Memorial, presented their coach with a game ball and signs marking the occasion.

Pam Miller, who hit the game winning pair of free throws with 5.5 seconds to play for the Tigers, said the team was motivated to get No. 100 for Harter.

“Winning No. 100 tonight for coach was definitely motivation for us,” said Miller, one of four seniors on this year’s team. “There was no doubt in my mind that we were going to win tonight.”

Warsaw girls basketball coach Michelle Harter focuses on the game Wednesday night at Elkhart Memorial.

Harter is now 100-48 in her seventh season as the head coach.

“I really had not thought much about it,” said Harter after posing for a team photo after No. 100 Wednesday night. “It’s exciting, but it’s  more exciting because it was with this team. They truly care about each other and come to practice each day wanting to get better.”

Harter is now in her 24th season as a member of the WCHS coaching staff. She helped Wawaseee High School earn a state runner-up finish in 1985 as a player there and went on to play at Huntington College.

Harter guided the Tigers to one of the best seasons in program history two years ago during the 2012-13 campaign. Warsaw finished 24-2 overall and won NLC, sectional and regional championships before losing in the Class 4-A Semistate. Harter was one of six coaches statewide following that season to receive the IBCA Bob King Coach of the Year Award. She also was chosen to be the Junior All-Star coach in 2013.

“This team is very special to me,” said Harter following the win Wednesday night that kept her team in contention for a conference championship. “It’s the relationships that you build with players like we have on this team. That is why I coach.”

Harter, a two-time NLC Coach of the Year recipient, teaches health and physical education at WCHS.

Warsaw senior Erin Clemens hugs coach Michelle Harter after their 45-44 overtime win Wednesday night.