Warsaw guard Paul Marandet scored 17 points Saturday night. The Tigers topped Hamilton Southeastern 60-40 at home to improve to 20-0 (Photos provided by Ansel Hygema)

WARSAW – The formula is tried and true for the Warsaw boys basketball team.

It worked once again too Saturday night for the undefeated Tigers.

Warsaw used its outstanding work at the defensive end of the floor combined with strong play from its sensational guard tandem to top Hamilton Southeastern 60-40 in non-conference play in the Tiger Den.

Junior star Kyle Mangas poured in 23 points and senior stalwart Paul Marandet netted 17 as the Class 4-A No. 4 Tigers took care of a shorthanded Royals’ squad.

Warsaw used a big second-half performance, outscoring their guests 41-23 in the final 16 minutes, to improve the state’s best record to 20-0.

Hamilton Southeastern, which lost for the fourth times in its last five games, drops to 12-9. The Royals were missing three starters Saturday night due to injury or illness, including standout Zach Gunn. The 6-6 junior forward, who has already received offers from a number of collegiate programs including both Indiana University and Butler, is averaging 18.5 points-per-game but is sidelined due to a concussion.

Warsaw, coming off an emotion-charged conference win over Plymouth Friday night to claim its second straight league championship, led 7-4 after the opening period Saturday night. The hosts were ahead 19-17 at halftime as Mangas had 11 points.

The Tigers took control of the contest with a strong third period performance. Warsaw outscored the Royals 14-3 in the pivotal frame to take a commanding 33-20 edge.

“We were just not making shots in the first half and we were fouling them too much,” said Warsaw coach Doug Ogle. “The main thing we talked about at halftime was not fouling as much. We knew that we could shoot it better. We made a couple of adjustments with our offense against their Triangle and Two defense against Kyle and Paul.

“I thought that we played really well in the second half. We played well defensively the entire game. I thought that we played well, with the exception of not shooting the ball well in the first half.”

“Paul and Kyle were their normal selves for us tonight. They both played really well again.”

The Tigers shot just 6-15 from the field in the opening half. The host were a red-hot 9-12 from the field in the final half to pull away.

Ogle said that he found out Friday night that the Royals would be shorthanded. Hamilton Southeastern lost 47-42 to Carmel Friday night. The Tigers, who beat HSE 54-48 last year, host Carmel next Saturday night.

The game featured a parade to the free throw line as the whistles got some kind of workout. The contest had a total of 50 fouls called, including 28 on the Royals. Warsaw hit 28-40 from the line with Marandet going 11-14 and Mangas 10-12 from the stripe. HSE hit 17-25 from the line.

Warsaw shot 15-27 overall from the field, including 2-6 on 3-pointers. The hosts had just five turnovers and out rebounded the Royals 30-19.

Greg Miller and Jaylon Tapplar each scored 10 points to lead HSE. The Royals went 11-35 from the field, including an ice-cold 1-13 from distance.

Marandet had six rebounds and Mangas five to pace the Tigers. Jeremy David scored six points and Riley Rhoades five for Warsaw. Evan Schmidt and Sam Miller each scored three points, while Jaceb Burish had two and Ross Johnson one for the Tigers.

Hamilton Southeastern won the junior varsity contest 74-71.

Warsaw will host Carmel next Saturday night and then play at Class 4-A No. 8 Carroll in the regular-season finale on Feb. 26. Carmel lost 55-46 at home to Carroll Saturday night. Carmel is 12-7 and Carroll is 19-3.

HSE returns to action at Pike on Tuesday night.

Ross Johnson helped the Tigers stay undefeated Saturday night.