Tiger Den
Warsaw, Indiana
February 4, 2011

		F
	Elkhart Memorial Crimson Chargers	64
	#4 (4A) Warsaw Tigers (14-2)(NLC 5-1)	57

Another cold winter night in February. A gathering of 4,000+ basketball-crazed fans. A classic setting for a Northern Lakes Conference battle on the hardwoods of the famed Tiger Den.

The Warsaw Tigers (14-1) hosting the Elkhart Memorial Chargers (7-6).

For the visiting team, a chance to notch their 4th consecutive win and continue to gain confidence as the post season nears. For Warsaw, another NLC opponent who desperately wanted to end the Tigers 17 game conference winning streak. A feat that no other team has been able to accomplish for more than two years.

Elkhart Memorial jumped out to an early lead in this game. Sophomore guard Markese McGuire carried the early load for the Charges. It was evident from the onset that this Memorial team had a slew of good athletes that were unafraid of the environment and unafraid to shoot the basketball when given the opportunity. This group of Chargers matched up well with Coach Doug Ogle's Tiger team.

Defensively, the Chargers were content to employ a 2-3 zone for the entire contest. The Tigers would have to convert from the outside to loosen up the Memorial defense.

Warsaw started the game in slow motion, often looking content to lob the basketball from side to side against the Memorial zone. That sense of urgency/killer instinct the Tigers usually play with just wasn't present from the onset.

Tiger Juniors Lucas Grose and Jordyn Coon scored back-to-back baskets late in the first quarter to keep the home team close. Memorial clung to a 12-11 lead after one period of action.

The Chargers began to knock down outside shots like tossing rocks into Center Lake. Everything that Seniors Todd Johnson and Jaron Davis threw toward the rim was finding nothing but net. A few of the deep range bombs were well into NBA land. Elkhart Memorial was on fire. The Chargers were starting to believe and you could see it on their faces.

Memorial outscored Warsaw 15 to 10 in the second quarter to take a 27-21 lead into the halftime break.

Warsaw Junior sharpshooter, Jay Holladay, nailed two three point shots from the left corner to give the Tigers their last lead at 33-32. Holladay's last shot came with 3:23 left to play in the third period.

Memorial answered with a 10-6 run of their own to close the quarter.

Every time the Tigers pulled within a possession, Jaron Davis had an answer for the visitors. Davis simply had the hottest hand in the gym on this night. The 6'2" Senior scored a game-high 27 points on 10 of 14 shooting from the floor. Even more impressive was where he was converting these field goals from. Davis made an incredible 7 three pointers in this game. Most of which ended Tiger scoring runs and squashed any momentum the home team could muster. I am not sure the last player to come into the Tiger Den and make seven three point baskets? Perhaps Deshaun Thomas's Sophomore year at Bishop Luers?

Memorial led 42-39 at the end of three.

Rarely do we make it this far into an article without mentioning Warsaw's star basketball player. Tiger Senior Nic Moore who continues his quest to become just the third Tiger Basketballer to earn the prestigious title of Indiana Mr. Basketball, was relatively quiet through the first 2 ½ quarters. Sir Sic Nic seemed to be looking to get his teammates involved in the action. Moore often passed up his own shots early to make the extra pass. He finished with 6 assists.

All 4,000+ fans in attendance as well as all of the Elkhart Memorial players and coaches knew what Warsaw had to do to win this game.

Sir Sic Nic had to start being aggressive. Moore had to make his move to win this game. Tiger fans have been spoiled over the last 4 years. All Warsaw faithful patrons know that there is this magical switch that Moore can flip to will the Tigers to victory.

Sir Sic Nic began to rally his troops.

Moore scored a quick 7 points and dished out a ridiculously sick pass to Lucas Grose for an easy basket. All of the sudden, with a flip of the proverbial switch, Tiger fans believed. What we have all grown accustomed to, was actually happening right before our eyes. Warsaw had cut the Memorial lead down to just one point (50-49) with 4:35 left in the game.

Memorial had their own switch on this night -- the 3-point switch.

The Chargers would rattle off an impressive 11-4 run over the next three minutes to hand the Tigers their first NLC loss in more than two years. Memorial shot an amazing 12 of 24 from downtown to outscore Warsaw 36-15 from beyond the arc. The 21 point differential was just too much to overcome.

Jaron Davis scored 27 points, Markese McGuire 19, and Todd Johnson 12 to lead the Charger scoring attack.

Nic Moore led the Warsaw scoring with 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists. Despite the slow start, Moore compiled impressive numbers and did distribute the basketball nicely for Warsaw. Perhaps a bit too nicely?

Junior Jordyn Coon had his best performance since returning from an ankle injury. Coon was aggressive on the rebounding front as he grabbed a game-high 6 offensive rebounds. One Five was a beast on the glass. Of course, very few players have the ability to control the rebounding game like Jordyn's classmate, Lucas Grose. Grose finished the game with another double-double. The 6'5" forward scored 11 points and pulled down 10 total rebounds to lead the Tigers.

Final Score: Elkhart Memorial 64 - Warsaw 57

Complete Scoring for the Tigers:

The Tigers will now travel to Plymouth Thursday night to finish the NLC season. Warsaw can still win the conference title outright with a victory over the Pilgrims and a Northwood loss to either Concord or Memorial.

Warsaw's game with Marion for Saturday night has been postponed due to heavy snow fall. More details as to when that game will be made up will be posted here at TigerSportsNation.com in the near future.

As to this loss for Coach Doug Ogle's Tiger squad...

Let's look to history to provide us some answers shall we? This loss is the equivalent in my mind to the Noblesville loss last year at Purdue. That loss was our second as well.

What is the significance of having two losses you ask?

The last 3 Warsaw Tiger teams that made it to Indianapolis for the IHSAA State Tournament all finished the season with the same identical record. Yes, you guessed it - all three of these teams (1984, 1996, & 2010) finished the regular season with an 18-2 record. The 1984 team won State Title and the 2010 team finished with as runner-up.

Now this second loss takes on a whole new shape, right? You better believe it.

This loss will give Coach Ogle and his staff opportunities that, quite frankly, winning simply cannot. Sure, we all want to win every game and losing any game is no fun. However, out of chaos and adversity LEADERS will arise.

Now this Tiger team has the opportunity to rally behind their leadership and work hard to clearly define their roles headed into the post season. A post season, need I remind you, that will be very challenging and will test the intestinal fortitude of each and every one of these young men.

These Tigers will be ready.

Posted In: Boy's Sports > Basketball

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