End Of The Line For Warsaw TigersELKHART – In more ways than one, the Goshen RedHawks went to the line Tuesday night.
Playing the Warsaw Tigers in Class 4A Sectional 4 at historic North Side Gym, Goshen scored 20 points at the free throw line and got a game-high 20 points out of 6-foot-1 senior Will Line.
The end result was a 58-45 win for Goshen, and the end of the line for the two-time defending sectional champion Tigers.
The RedHawks, who were 20 of 24 at the free throw line compared to Warsaw’s 6 of 10, improved to 11-12 and will play Northridge in Friday’s 6 p.m. semifinal.
The Tigers, who beat Goshen 53-35 during regular season play on Jan. 12, lost five of their last six games and closed the season with an 11-12 record.
This is Warsaw’s first losing season since an 11-12 mark in the 2005-06 campaign and just the second in 16 years under head coach Doug Ogle.
“Will Line was the difference in the game,” said Ogle, whose team was 5-1 this season against the other six teams in the sectional.
“He was exceptional. We really couldn’t contain him. He got to the free throw line, he had five assists, he was the difference.”
Junior Bryant Robinson tallied 11 points and seven rebounds in the win, while junior Porter Revoir finished with eight points and eight rebounds, and junior Joseph Good scored eight points.
While the RedHawks got contributions from a number of players, it was Line, who was 3 of 10 from the field and scored eight points in the 18-point loss in January, that shined under the bright lights of tournament play.
With Goshen leading 22-20, Line made a steal in the closing seconds of the second quarter and threw down a left-handed dunk. He was fouled on the play and converted the free throw attempt.
Line produced six points down the stretch of the third quarter, as the RedHawks closed the frame on a 9-0 run, scored the first three points of the fourth and turned a 31-29 deficit into a 41-31 margin.
“A focused and under control Will Line is an excellent basketball player,” said Goshen coach Michael Wohlford. “He can pass, he can dribble, he can shoot, and he can defend. He did everything tonight that he was asked to do. He played a very under control game.
“We couldn’t foul Nolan Groninger, he’s made 110 free throws on the year, that’s five a game. Keeping him off the foul line and not leaving our feet on all of his fakes in the paint was a huge key to the game.
“I think Will has the ability, when under control and focused, to win a basketball game for our team. And I think tonight he played a huge role in that.”
Groninger, Warsaw’s 6-foot junior point guard, finished the game with 14 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
Sophomore Brian Elliott chipped in with 13 points, six rebounds and three assists.
Junior Jaylen Reese scored six points for the Tigers, while senior Zach Riley tallied five points, junior Tyler Metzinger three and senior Jack Rhoades and sophomore Blake Marsh two each.
Sectional 4 action resumes tonight with Elkhart Memorial facing Plymouth, and Elkhart Central squaring off with Concord.
GOSHEN 58, WARSAW 45
G 13 12 13 20 – 58
W 13 7 11 14 – 45
Goshen – Austin Cain 0-0 0-0 0, Will Line 5-10 10-11 20, Brockton Yoder 1-3 0-0 3, Joseph Good 2-6 2-2 8, Phillip Wertz 1-2 0-0 3, Eric Newell 0-0 0-0 0, Simon Myers 1-1 3-5 5, Porter Revoir 3-4 2-2 8, Bryant Robinson 3-9 3-4 11. Totals 16-35 20-24 58.
