Strong Finish Helps Tigers Beat FishersWINONA LAKE – Warsaw used a newly-discovered toughness and a fourth-quarter rally to win 43-38 over Fishers in the nightcap of the Champions of Character boys basketball tournament Saturday night at Grace College.
Finding itself in a 17-8 second-quarter hole to another team that calls itself the Tigers, Warsaw coach Doug Ogle said he urged his team to match te physicality of Fishers.
“They’re a physical team. We were just trying to be physical, and I challenged our players to be more physical with them inside,” said Ogle. “We did a pretty good job with that for the most part. We got outrebounded, and that wasn’t good.
“We’re just really happy with this win. We needed it badly.”
The deficit began to melt away like well-salted snow. A three-point play at the buzzer, where Jaylen Reese had to hit a free throw with no one around, got the lead down to three, 25-22, at halftime.
Warsaw finally got in front when Nolan Groninger hit a lay-up with 5:14 left in the third quarter. The advantage was short-lived, and Warsaw still trailed by three at the end of three quarters.
The hometown Tigers didn’t take the lead for good until there was just 47 second left, when Groninger hit one of two free throws. Warsaw finished 8 of 13 from the charity stripe in the final period and 15 of 21 for the game.
Ogle said assistant coach David Wayne has come up with a way for the team measure toughness in a quantifiable way.
“Coach Wayne came up with the toughometer,” Ogle said. “Charges takes are worth two points, then offensive rebounds are added in, along with free throw attempts, then you subtract turnovers.
“In the first half we lost the toughometer 14-4, but in the second half we won it 10-1. We talked about offensive rebounding and getting to the free throw line, and his game helped us turn that around, helped us with our moxie. We played good defense down the stretch.
Groninger led the Tigers with 17 points , including a 9 of 11 effort from the line. Warsaw also got help from Zach Riley with 11 points and a game-nine rebounds. Reese finished with seven points.
“We showed some good poise tonight. That’s a good win for us,” said Ogle. “We’re struggling. I’m hoping this will be a nice boost for our mojo.”
RHODES HONORED
Former Warsaw coach Al Rhodes was recognized before the game for his contributions to high shool basketball. All four head coaches in the tournament (Fishers; Matt Moore, Zionsville’s Shaun Busick, Valparaiso’s Barak Coolman and Ogle) were once assistants to Rhodes. Ogle was as an assistant to Rhodes for 17 years before taking over the program in 2002..
“It was a great was for Grace College and all of us to recognize Al. If you look at what Shaun Busick, Matt Moore and Barak Coolman have done in their careers, we all had an enjoyable time coaching, and I was glad to see Al get that type of recognition.”
Warsaw fell to 4A No. 7 Zionsville 48-36 in the second game of the day. Groninger, who was named to the all tournament team, had 12 points in that contest, and Metzinger added seven points.
The Eagles beat Valparaiso 62-45 in Game Three and left town with an 8-0 record. The tournament opened with Fishers earning a 62-45 win over Valparaiso.
Warsaw with take a 4-7 record into Friday’s Northern Lakes Conference game at Northridge.
