January 12, 2011
North Side Gymnasium
Elkhart, Indiana

	#6 (4A) Warsaw Tigers (10-1)	83
	Elkhart Central Blazers	72

Just a day after having this game cancelled due to a winter snow storm, the Warsaw Tigers and Elkhart Central Blazers took to the court in Elkhart Wednesday night. Famous North Side gymnasium, the 7th largest gym in Indiana, was the location for this January non-conference battle.

The Warsaw Tigers came into this game with a 9-1 record while Elkhart Central was an impressive 9-2.

Warsaw won last year's battle at the Tiger Den by the final score of 61-49. In that contest Nic Moore set a career high by scoring 32 points. Moore has scored at least 30 points in seven games already this season on his way to averaging a whopping 32.3 points per game.

Central Coach Matt Windy knew this game was going to be tough for the Blazers, but he wanted his team to believe they could beat the #6 ranked Tigers. Especially since Warsaw was playing this game without their 6'3" starting guard Jordyn Coon. Coon suffered an injury to his foot and is expected to miss 7-10 days of action.

Both teams started off the game shooting the basketball very well.

Central guard Chris Holt scored the first 3 points of the game to give Central the early lead. The Tigers responded with an 11-0 run over the next two minutes. The Warsaw run was led by none other than Nic Moore. Sir Sic Nic hit a 3-pointer from the left wing before breaking Chris Holt's ankles the next time down the floor.

The term "breaking ankles" is basketball slang for making your defender look bad on an offensive move. Sic Nic took two hard dribbles right before stopping on a dime to crossover left. He then pulled up for a 15 ft. jump shot that hit nothing but net. The entire gymnasium, Tiger fans & Central fans, let out a gasp as they had just witnessed the real deal that is Nic Moore -- 2011 Mr. Basketball frontrunner.

Moore hit two more baskets to give Warsaw a 15-7 advantage with 4:00 left in the quarter. Central then went on an 8-0 run of their own to tie the game at 15 each.

Sir Sic Nic scored the final 5 points of the quarter to give Warsaw the 23-21 lead. Moore ended the 1st period with 16 points as both teams sprinted the floor like a pre-season track meet. Everyone in the building started to do the math and began projecting another 50+ point outburst by Nic Moore.

The game began to gradually slow down the rest of the way. Central did not want to be victim #2 on Moore's 50+ point list this season -- the Blazers started to make 5-6 passes before attempting a shot.

The strategy kept the score close. Overall there were 5 lead changes and 6 ties in a game that was very close thru three and half quarters. The Blazers proved they were for real.

Warsaw led 43-38 at the half. Moore had 25.

The Tigers and Blazers matched field goals in the 3rd quarter. Warsaw's biggest lead in the quarter was 4 points while Central held a 50-47 advantage with 2:31 remaining in the 3rd period.

After a Jay Holladay 3-point shot the Tigers regained a 55-54 lead with just 36 seconds left in the quarter. Central turned the ball over. Warsaw would hold for the last shot. As the clock ticked below 10 seconds, Nic Moore drove left before being greeted by two defenders. The Central defense forced Sic Nic to the left corner some 22 feet from the basket. With 2 ticks remaining on the clock, Moore rose up and let go the final shot from downtown Elkhart.

BOTTOMS -- WET!! (Swish for you old school fans)!!

End of Quarter #3: Warsaw 58 - Elkhart Central 54

The fan to my right shakes his head and simply says "That right there is a Division 1 shot!"

I am sure Illinois State Head Coach Tim Jankovich knows exactly what this fan was saying. The Redbirds have stolen the best player in the state of Indiana and will love Mr. Moore's services over the next four years.

The first six minutes of the final quarter remained close. Central guard Terrell Street connected on a jumper with 2:57 left in the game to close the Warsaw lead down to three 67-64. Then for some odd reason Street decides to foul Lucas Grose on his way up the court. The foul was Street's 5th foul and disqualified him from further action. Lucas Grose made both free throws to extend the lead to five.

The Tigers take over.

Warsaw imposed its will over the next minute. Nic Moore hit a three, Lucas Grose finished a basket after a HUGE offensive rebound, and Jay Holladay capped the 8-0 run with another big 3-point basket.

Warsaw's lead ballooned to 10 points as time ran out on the Blazers.

Tiger junior Jay Holladay had a monsterous second half for Warsaw. Holladay began to spot up as Moore was drawing double teams. Jay knocked down a perfect 4 of 4 three point bombs to finish with 12 big points.

Sophomore Jared Bloom also knocked down a three point basket to go with 2 timely field goals. Bloom finished with 7 points. Junior Rhett Kesler made the final 3 point basket for the Tigers and finished with 5 points.

Final Score: Warsaw 83 - Elkhart Central 72

NOTE - The official bookkeeper made an error on this night. Nic Moore actually scored a total of 40 points while Jared Bloom finished with 7 points. However, somewhere during the excitement of this contest, the bookkeeper gave Bloom an extra 3-pointer which they deducted from Moore. That being said -- it's the official book that counts.

Complete Tiger Scoring:

Nic Moore raised his average to 33 points per game while dishing out 9 assists. Lucas Grose led the rebounding effort with 8 boards.

The Tigers improved to 10-1 on the season. They will travel to Goshen for an NLC battle Friday night. This Warsaw team has improved its overall scoring balance over the past few games and will look to continue that trend while putting their 14 game NLC winning streak on the line.

Make the short trip to support your Tigers!

Posted In: Boy's Sports > Basketball

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