After defeating Blackhawk Christian this morning, Warsaw anticipated a closely contested battle in the evening game of the Mowman Holiday Tournament. Lafayette Jeff came into the contest with a 5-3 record and one of the state's leading scorers in Jesse Berry. Berry brought his 24.0 point scoring average into the Tiger Den looking end the Tiger's 4 game winning streak.

This game turned into a coming out party for super sophomore Lucas Grose.

The first quarter started off sluggish for both teams. Neither squad could find the basket during the first two minutes as the score remained 0-0 at the 6:00 minute mark.

Warsaw junior guard Nic Moore, who scored 31 points in game #1, broke the ice for the Tigers. Moore snared a rebound and drove the length of the floor against four Lafayette Jeff defenders to give Warsaw the lead 2-0. The field goal would be the last successful attempt for Moore in this game. Tiger senior forward Justin Clemens hit 2 free throws on the next possession to give Warsaw a four point advantage with 5:42 to play.

Jesse Berry and teammate Roddy Richardson connected on consecutive trips for the Bronchos to tie the score 4-4. Broncho guard Nick Stacy then gave Lafayette Jeff their first lead by hitting the first 3-point field goal for the Bronchos. On the night, Lafayette Jeff attempted an astounding 42 long range bombs. They literally pulled the trigger from anywhere.

Tiger sophomore Jordyn Coon responded with a 3-pointer of his own to tie the score at 7-7.

After a Moore free throw, Broncho guard Nick Stacy converted his 2nd three pointer of the quarter to give Jeff a 12-8 lead with .46 seconds left in the period.

Justin Clemens scored on a leaner in the lane to end the quarter.

End of Quarter 1: Lafayette Jefferson 12 - Warsaw 10

The second quarter began with a Jordyn Coon scoring the first three points. Coon converted a left hand put back and a free throw to give the Tigers a 13-12 advantage. Coon scored a first half high 8 points to lead Warsaw.

Bronchos senior Roddy Richardson came into the game averaging 16.3 points per game. He lit up the scoreboard in the 2nd quarter to lead his squad. Richardson nailed 3 three point field goals in the period on his way to 11 first half points.

Justin Clemens scored 4 consecutive points for Warsaw. Clemen's two free throws with 4:04 left in the quarter gave the Tigers a 21-20 advantage. After a Roddy Richardson 3 pointer, sophomore Lucas Grose grabbed an offensive rebound and scored to tie the score at 25-25 at the 2:47 mark.

Two Nic Moore free throws gave the Tigers a 27-25 lead. Lafayette Jeff put together a 5-0 run to end the half. The Bronchos outscored the Tigers 18-17 in the period.

End of 1st Half: Lafayette Jefferson 30 - Warsaw 27

The first few minutes of the 3rd quarter were a blueprint of how the rest of this game would play out. Both teams executed their offensive sets, yet neither team could pull away from the other. This contest would see 16 lead changes and 8 ties as both teams tried to establish and protect a lead.

The Tigers executed their famous Push Down set to begin the third. Nic Moore found Andy Conrad on the back door cut to bring Warsaw within one. Conrad scored again on a jumper on the next possession. Andy scored 5 third quarter points.

With Nic Moore having an off night from the field, the Tigers searched for a go-to guy. Lucas Grose began to answer the call as he imposed his 6'5" frame in the middle against the Bronchos. Grose who scored 2 first half points, netted 8 3rd quarter points for Warsaw.

Jesse Berry and Grose traded free throws with 4:51 on the clock as Lafayette Jeff clung to a 36-35 advantage. Berry and Grose would score the last four points for their teams with Berry connecting on a basket with less than a minute to play in the 3rd to give the Bronchos a 1 point advantage heading to the final frame.

Warsaw outscored Lafayette Jefferson 14-12 in the quarter.

End of Quarter 3: Lafayette Jefferson 42 - Warsaw 41

The 3rd quarter ended in a duel between Jesse Berry for the Bronchos and Lucas Grose for the Tigers. The Fourth quarter picked up right where the 3rd ended.

Berry scored the first 5 points for Lafayette Jeff. Grose answered with 6 points of his own as the game was tied 47-47 with 6:01 left to play.

Roddy Richardson scored his final basket of the game to give the Bronchos a two point lead. Nic Moore answered with 2 free throws to tie the game again at 49 all. Grose then rattled of another 6 point spurt to give Warsaw a 55-51 lead with 3:37 to go in the 4th. The four point Tiger lead was their biggest since beginning the game with a 4-0 lead.

After a Broncho field goal, seniors Andy Conrad (1) and Zack Linky (2) swished 3 free throws to stretch the Tiger lead to five (58-53) with 2:42 on the clock. Jordyn Coon then converted a breakaway lay-in to put Warsaw up seven.

Nic Moore then drained 2 free throws as Lafayette was forced to foul to extend the game. Moore finished the contest hitting 13 of 14 (93%) charity stripe tosses for 15 points. The sign of a great scorer is their ability to get points on nights when their shot simply isn't falling.

Broncho guard Nick Stacy then hit his third long range bomb to keep Lafayette Jeff within striking distance 62-57 with 1:33 left. Lucas Grose then delivered the knock-out punch. Grose rattled off the next 5 points to give Warsaw its biggest lead 67-57 with 1:01 remaining. Lafayette Jefferson simply had no answer for the left-handed sophomore standout.

Two quick threes by the Bronchos cut the lead to 67-63 with .39 ticks on the clock. Warsaw iced the game with 4 Nic Moore free throws, 2 from Jordyn Coon and in "perfect fit-fashion" Lucas Grose.

Warsaw outscored Lafayette Jeff 31-4 from the foul line in the contest and 33-21 in the final frame.

Final Score: Warsaw 74 - Lafayette Jefferson 63

Complete Scoring for Warsaw:

Lucas Grose - 28, Nic Moore - 15, Jordyn Coon - 12, Justin Clemens - 8, Andy Conrad - 5, Zack Linky -4, Jalen Roscoe - 2

The Tigers controlled the glass as they outrebounded Jeff 49-27. Lucas Grose led Warsaw with 9 rebounds, while Moore grabbed 8, and Clemens & Coon added 7 boards.

Warsaw improved to 7-1 on the season. The victory was the Tigers 5th straight win and a huge win for their team confidence. Lafayette Jeff is a good basketball team that will win at least 15 games against strong opponents. Warsaw's next opponent, Noblesville, knocked off Lafayette Jefferson 67-60 on 12/18.

The Tigers will travel to Purdue University's Mackey Arena on Saturday, January 2 to play Noblesville in the annual Super Hoops Classic. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:15 pm.

Super Hoops New Years Classic - SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2010 @ Purdue University's Mackey Arena

· 8:45 am: Fishers vs. North Montgomery (girls)

· 10:30 am: Fishers vs. Kankakee Valley

· 12:15 pm: Triton vs. Huntington North

· 2:00 pm: Marion vs. Peru

· 3:45 pm: North Central vs. LaPorte

· 5:30 pm: New Albany vs. Zionsville

· 7:15 pm: Warsaw vs. Noblesville

· 9:00 pm: Carmel vs. Valparaiso

Pre-sale tickets are available in the WCHS athletic office daily from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm. Advance tickets cost $10 while tickets purchased on the day of the event will cost $12. Tickets are good for all games on the schedule.

Noblesville Boys Varsity Basketball Website

Complete coverage of all Tiger Hoops action will be available here at TigerSportsNation.com

Posted In: Boy's Sports > Basketball

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