Defense Does The Trick In Warsaw Win
GOSHEN – There was nothing unlucky about the play of the Warsaw girls basketball team Friday night.
There was plenty defensive about their performance on Friday the 13th though.
The defense never rested as the Tigers turned in a record-setting effort on the defensive end in besting Elkhart Central 38-9 in a semifinal game of the Class 4-A Goshen Sectional.
Warsaw (14-10) will face host Goshen (11-12) in the sectional title tilt Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.
Junior Tahya Bruce hit two free throws with 6.8 seconds to play to lift Goshen past Elkhart Memorial 40-39 in the second semifinal Friday night. Bruce played for Warsaw last season.
Warsaw defeated Goshen 44-37 at Warsaw back on Jan. 17. The winner Saturday night advances to the LaPorte Regional on Feb. 21 to play the winner of the Michigan City Sectional in the second semifinal game of the day.
Merrillville (18-7) will play Valparaiso (14-10) in the title game of the Michigan City Sectional Saturday night.
The Tigers set a new program standard with the nine points allowed Friday night. The previous best was 11 in a 61-11 win over Elkhart Memorial in the Lady Tiger Tournament during the 1994-95 season.
The points for Central Friday night were as hard to come by inside the gym as a warm breeze outside on a frigid night.
The Blue Blazers, who were averaging 36 points-per-game entering play Friday night, did not make its first basket of the game until sophomore Jordan Ware converted a rebound outback with 5:17 to play in the third quarter.
The Blue Blazers, who finish their season at 5-17, finished the game 4-24 overall from the field. Central was 0-10 from 3-point range and went 1-10 from the free throw line.
Sophomore Madi Graham scored 18 points, 15 coming in the second half, to lead Warsaw. Graham hit 5-6 shots from the field, including tickling the twine with a perfect 4-4 showing from 3-point land.
Sophomore Dayton Groninger netted 10 points for Warsaw.
“Our goal defensively tonight was to not allow dribble penetration and to rebound and not give them second and third chances to score,” said Warsaw coach Michelle Harter. “The girls did a good job of that.
“Our goal all season has been to get the opportunity to play for a sectional championship and now we have it. The girls have really been focused on one opponent at a time this week. They have done a great job focusing on the little things we need to do to be successful.”
“This team has been an excellent group to work with. Our seniors have done a tremendous job leading us.”
Warsaw led 11-0 after the first quarter as Groninger had a pair of treys and Graham added one from distance. The Tigers were up 16-1 at halftime as Central was 0-5 from the field and had 12 turnovers.
“At half, we just talked about the little things we needed to do better like correct things with our press and rebounding,” noted Harter.
Graham scored eight points in the third period as Warsaw built its lead to 29-5.
Warsaw entered play Friday night allowing 41.3 points-per-game. The season low was 14 points allowed in a 53-14 home win over Wawasee.
Seniors Vicki Harris and Erin Clemens each had three points and sophomore Page Desenberg and senior Pam Miller two apiece for Warsaw. Clemens led the Tigers with six rebounds.
Warsaw shot 10-26 overall from the field, including 6-9 from 3-point range. The Tigers were 12-16 from the line.
Freshman Rayeya Ross led Central with five points. Ware and junior Jasmine Cotton each had two points for coach Will Coatie’s team.
Central, which had three seniors on its sectional roster, lost its final eight games of the season. The previous scoring low this season for the Blue Blazers was 23 points in a 50-23 loss to NorthWood.
Harter pointed to a couple of keys for Saturday night’s title game without knowing if her team would play Memorial or Goshen.
“Rebounding will be a big key,” remarked Harter. “Also we need to take care of the ball and control the tempo.”