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Looking to get back on the right track after suffering a tough loss at Northridge last week, the Warsaw boys basketball team faced another tough task in the form of undefeated Goshen on Friday night. In a battle that took more than four quarters to decide, the Tigers emerged victorious with a 49-41 overtime win, the team’s first in the Northern Lakes Conference this season.
“When a play had to be made, it was. I felt like our organization was right where we wanted it to be,” Warsaw head coach Matt Moore said. “They’re celebrating like crazy because this was an earned win against an undefeated team. When you get to January there aren’t many of those left. To be able to do that, it means a lot to this group.”
It was all RedHawks in the early going, as the visitors’ aggressiveness was paying dividends on both ends of the court. The quick Goshen guards were doing a great job of penetrating the Warsaw defense, which more times than not resulted in a foul, a made shot, or a kick out to a wide open shooter.
While the Tigers didn’t get the start they wanted, scoring just three points in the first four minutes of the game, the home side weathered the early storm and was able to answer. Five straight points capped off by a Mydin Burgher triple tied things up at eight with three minutes to go in the opening quarter. The team didn’t stop there, scoring five more to extend the run to 10-0 and forcing a timeout.
Even with momentum on their side, the Tigers elected to take the air out of the ball for the entire final minute of the period. This would be the first of many times that the home side employed this strategy.
It wasn’t until after Warsaw’s third three of the night, this one coming from Sam McDaniels, that Goshen was finally able to end the run. All it took was one make by the RedHawks and the Tigers were back to playing the possession game. With the visiting defenders happy to let him do so, Warsaw point guard Sam Lara stood still, holding the ball in his hands near midcourt.
While the possession didn’t end in any points, it lasted over three minutes.
In no particular hurry, Warsaw point guard Sam Lara holds the ball near midcourt while the Goshen defense watches on.
“I think it’s a chess match. When you’re playing against another well coached team, possessions get maximized in those situations,” Moore said. “I bet they wish they had that time they let us hold the ball in the first half back.”
The stalling didn’t stop there. Getting the ball back with 90 seconds left in the first half, the RedHawks elected to hit the Tigers with a dose of their own medicine. The visitors held the ball tight until 30 seconds remained before calling timeout. They went on to use up the rest of the time afterwards, and it paid off. Senior Braxton Kline nailed a contested three with just a few seconds left to cut the Warsaw lead to just five at the break.
Sophomore Drew Jones had missed a majority of the season before being reactivated for this one, and after a limited return in the first half, he made his mark on the game early in the second. The forward made a beautiful outlet pass to Burgher that resulted in a bucket before coming up with a block a possession later. The Tigers added three more points on the possession that followed, and all of a sudden, were up 10 again.
It didn’t stop there. The triples continued to fall as freshman Nash Wiggins came in and hit another one. The defense was fueling the offense for the home side, as the orange and black were running up the court after stops and making Goshen deal with the tempo. Eventually, Jones’ first basket of the night extended the lead to 13, the largest of the evening.
An experienced group, Goshen didn’t flinch. After the bucket by Jones, the Tigers had gone cold. Slowly but surely, the visitors were now beginning to chip away. By the time less than two minutes remained in the third, the RedHawks had gotten back within five.
With the lead quickly disappearing, Warsaw went back to slowing things down to a halt. The home side held the ball for the final two minutes of the third, but never got a shot off, turning it over with less than five seconds left.
Within two minutes of the final quarter starting, Goshen crawled back to within two. The RedHawks had taken over the game, and the Tigers were searching for anything to try and stop the bleeding. After another particularly long stretch with the ball, Warsaw called timeout with four minutes left. The possession eventually ended 40 seconds later on a massive three by McDaniels to give his team some breathing room.
The RedHawks had multiple opportunities over the next couple minutes to tie the game, but came up empty. It wasn’t until a minute left in the game that a triple by Levi Sawatzky gave the visitors their first lead of the second half, putting his team up by one.
Both teams went to the free throw line on their next possession. Warsaw made both of its attempts, while Goshen hit just one. With 20 seconds left, the Tigers had the ball and a chance to win a tied game.
The home side never got a shot off. Instead, a questionable offensive foul was called on Jaron Courtois, giving the ball back to the visitors with just over three seconds left. The RedHawks got a good look at the buzzer, but it bounced off the rim, sending things to overtime.
The fatigue of each team was on full display in the extra period, as each side was only able to hit one shot over the first three minutes. However, McDaniels third triple of the night and a pair of free throws for Burgher were enough for a three point lead with 60 seconds left. After a miss at the other end by the RedHawks, Burgher was sent back to the line with 30 seconds left. With ice in his veins, the senior hit both to make it a five-point game.
The lid that had spent the entire overtime on the RedHawk rim remained there until the very end, as the visitors were unable to hit anything over the final stretch. Warsaw made the most of its opportunities at the line and finished off a statement win.
Burgher finished the game with 14 points. McDaniels added eleven. Lara had nine before fouling out.
Warsaw (6-7, 1-2 NLC) are at Columbia City Saturday.
“We’ve got to continue to understand that if you get your shot, you’ve got to make an impact. Tonight I thought Jaron and Gabe saw the ball go in early and that was important. Sam took advantage of his looks,” Moore said. “Early in the year they wouldn’t have taken advantage of these opportunities and if they can, we can make teams pay.”
