Ever since I got here, I’ve been hearing about the legendary Tiger Den.
I experienced the gym a few times during the fall, but I knew the real draw would be a basketball game. After all, this is Indiana.
I got a chance to check one out Saturday when I covered Warsaw’s 56-35 rout of Columbia City. I took some notes about my experience, and am gladly sharing with you.
Check it out.
7:17 p.m. – I walk through the door. Hopefully this time, I don’t forget where I parked. That happened in Chicago once, and it was amongst the most exhausting 2-1/2 hours of my life.
7:23 p.m. – I sit down at the press area, high up next to radio announcer Roger Grossman. There’s a glass barrier between myself and in the action. Talk about professional.
7:27 p.m. – AC/DC’s “Back In Black” is in the air during warm-ups, and I have to fight the urge to bust out the air guitar. The Warsaw Tigers remain much more stoic than I.
7:41 p.m. – There’s 1:41 until game time and I can’t wait. I have hormigas en mis pantalones (ants in my pants – Mrs. Martin, my high school Spanish teacher, would be proud).
7:42 p.m. – Almost game time. Not a bad turnout, especially considering it’s the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
7:55 p.m. – Warsaw leads 4-3. The Tigers remain poised and patient offensively.
7:59 p.m. – Nolan Groninger with the off-balanced bucket to tie the score at 8. Nicely done.
8 p.m. – After one quarter of play, the score is tied at 8. What is this, football?
8:08 p.m. – Tyler Metzinger in the lane with the two-handed slam! But, it’s nullified by a traveling violation. The Warsaw fans are none too happy.
8:12 p.m. – The Eagles are playing solid basketball. They’re taking what Warsaw is giving them and hitting their shots.
8:13 p.m. – Groninger rifles a pass in the post to Metzinger, who catches the ball in the air for a slick layup! The crowd goes nuts.
8:20 p.m. – It’s halftime, and the Tigers are up 22-20. Let’s see if they can pull away in the second half.
8:44 p.m. – Warsaw is on fire in the third. Three treys on three consecutive possessions put the Tigers up 37-28. Thank Wyatt Amiss, who nailed two, and Jaylen Reece, who hit one.
8:48 p.m. – Uh oh. Reece is down with an apparent ankle injury. He gingerly walks off the floor.
8:50 p.m. – Warsaw leads 42-28 after three quarters. It looks like the Tigers have this one in the bag.
8:54 p.m. – Look who’s back! An ankle injury won’t slow down Willis Reed, er, Reece, who’s good for a pair of buckets.
9:05 p.m. – The Tigers win, 56-35, thanks to some sizzling second-half shooting.
I enjoyed my first basketball experience in the Tiger Den. If it’s this fun on a holiday weekend, I can only imagine what it will be like when school is in session.
