The Tiger Den witnessed its biggest crowd of the season for a girls varsity basketball game Saturday night. Fans from both Warsaw and Nappanee poured into the seats to witness a hardwood battle between the Warsaw Lady Tigers and the Northwood Lady Panthers.

Warsaw entered the title tilt with a 12-5 (5-1 NLC) overall while Northwood carried a 16-2 (4-1 NLC) record. Northwood had won 3 out of the last 4 meetings against the Lady Tigers. Warsaw desperately wanted to win this game for its eight seniors who had never won an NLC Championship during their careers.

Saturday night was for all the marbles. Two teams - one Northern Lakes Conference trophy. Game on.

The first two points of the game came on a driving lay-up by Warsaw senior Kelci Freds. Lady Panther senior Courtney Frantz answered with a 3-pointer from the top of the key.

Freds then found junior Kayla Stout on a bounce pass to give Warsaw a 4-3 advantage. Again, Northwood's answer was a long range triple. This time by senior guard Kelcie Lehman.

After a Warsaw missed shot, Northwood senior Lindsey Steffen scored her first basket to give her team a four point lead (8-4). Steffen and Freds both played all 32 minutes for their respective squads. Obviously, their coaches believed these girls needed to be on the floor for their respective clubs to win.

Freds answered with another slashing drive -- scoring a basket on the left side of the basket. Kelci , who has been a more vocal leader over the past few weeks, has been leading this Lady Tiger team more with passing and communication than her usual scoring abilities. "I just want us to come out with heart and pride." Freds continued, "We play better when we show enthusiasm and have fun. Part of that is the whooping and hollering we do to just have fun."

After a basket by Northwood's Kaci Heeter, Tiger senior Beth Plummer connected on two free throws to complete the scoring for Warsaw in the quarter.

Lady Panther Taylor Olson scored on consecutive baskets for Northwood to round out their first eight minutes of action. Both of Olson's baskets came on offensive rebounds. Northwood owned the glass in the first period to take a six point advantage.

End of First Quarter: Northwood 14 - Warsaw 8

Lindsey meet Lindsay.

A jump shot by Lindsey Steffen extended the Panther lead to begin the 2nd frame. Lady Tiger freshman Lindsay Baker then connected from the left wing for three points. Baker's long range bomb brought her team back to within five at 16-11.

Kayla Stout and Sarah Shilling scored on consecutive possessions for Warsaw.

Shilling's basket came on a nice pass from Freds as she again drove the lane. When asked if her dribble penetration was part of the game plan, Kelci responded "Our game plan was to come out aggressive and take it to them. I just wanted to keep attacking."

Fellow senior Kaelee Sands hit her first basket on a jumper just inside the arc with 1:57 left in the half.

Northwood's Courtney Frantz hit her second three point field goal with 37 seconds left to give Northwood a seven point lead going to the locker room.

Northwood outscored Warsaw 10-9 in the quarter to increase their lead and shot at the NLC title.

End of first half: Northwood 24 - Warsaw 17

Coach Harter's halftime speech was taken to heart by her players.

After an early basket by Northwood's Kelcie Lehman, Warsaw would score the next seven points to climb back into the contest.

Kelci Freds started the scoring with her first 3-pointer of the game. Freds then hit Kaelee Sands on a bounce pass in transition for another basket. Junior forward Kayla Stout finished out the run with an offensive rebound and put back for two points.

The basket by Stout had her teammates hyped up and emotionally charged as they climbed right back into the game. Kelci Freds could again be heard shouting with joy on the court. "Coach Harter told us we were getting killed in the first half on offensive rebounds. We wanted to correct that in the 2nd half and respond to her challenge." Freds said.

Frantz stopped the Tiger run with two free throws. Northwood led by four (28-24) with 5:42 left in the 3rd.

Sarah Shilling scored inside for Warsaw on the next trip down the court. Shilling's basket was answered by a 3-point basket from Lady Panther Kaci Heeter. Heeter's triple gave her team a 31-26 advantage.

After Kelci Freds responded with her 2nd deep ball of the game, freshman Lindsay Baker came up with two huge baskets for Warsaw. Baker's first basket on a steal out of Warsaw's full court pressure package. Her second basket gave the Lady Tigers a 33-31 lead.

It was the first lead for Warsaw since they led 4-3 less than a minute into the opening quarter. Tiger fans rose to their feet to cheer on their home team.

Sarah Shilling kept Tiger fans jubilant when she ripped down an offensive rebound and scored to extend the lead to 35-31 with 2:15 left in the 3rd.

Lindsey Steffen kept her team calm with a driving lay-up for Northwood. She then hit a free throw on the next trip.

Kaelee Sands converted 1 of 2 free throws to complete the quarter.

Warsaw outscored Northwood 19-10 in the 3rd period. Rebounding was the key.

End of 3rd Quarter: Warsaw 36 - Northwood 34

Leading her team in response to Coach Harter's halftime challenge, senior Sarah Shilling started the fourth with a big rebound. Shilling again grabbed an offensive board and scored to push the Warsaw lead to four.

Following a Panther score, Kelci Freds did what she does best -- shoot the ball. Freds swished a 3-pointer from the left wing to give Warsaw a 41-36 lead with only 6:21 standing between her and an NLC title. Again Freds shouted chants of enthusiastic joy toward her teammates. "Let's go White! Let's finish this!" Freds proclaimed.

Courtney Frantz scored on a baseline jumper to answer Fred's basket with 4:18 left in the game. Then both teams went ice cold.

With Warsaw trying to run time off of the clock, Northwood made a few silly fouls. The problem for the Lady Tigers was they could not convert their free throw attempts.

Northwood could not find the basket either. It was as if both baskets had lids covering them.

Finally, Tiger senior guard, Cendall Ogle calmly stepped to the free throw line with just over a minute to play in this key title match. Ogle, who is the daughter of Warsaw boys Varsity Coach Doug Ogle, swished both free throws to extend the Warsaw lead to five (43-38).

Though Northwood would score two more baskets late, the Lady Tigers executed just enough from the charity stripe to ice the game.

Kaelee Sands drilled two clutch free throws with 45 seconds left. Lindsay Baker, who had missed her first seven attempts from the foul line in this game, made the one she needed the most. Baker's lone make came with just 9 seconds left in the game to give Warsaw a four point lead. Making it impossible for Northwood to comeback.

Warsaw Lady Tigers -- 2009/2010 Northern Lakes Conference Champions!!

The Tiger coaching staff and players jumped up off their chairs to celebrate (see photo gallery).

When asked how it feels to finally win an NLC crown, Kelci Freds summed it up "It's about time!" she smiled, "We've been working so hard to get this Lady Tiger basketball program back on the map. This feels great -- it really does!" Freds concluded.

Freds led all scorers with 13 points while Kelcie Lehman led the Lady Panthers with 11 points. Sarah Shilling led the rebounding effort with 9 crucial rebounds.

Complete Scoring for Warsaw:

Kelci Freds - 13, Sarah Shilling - 8, Lindsay Baker - 8, Kaelee Sands - 7, Kayla Stout - 6, Cendall Ogle - 2, Beth Plummer -2

Final Score: Warsaw 46 - Northwood 42

The victory improved the Lady Tiger record to 13-5 (6-1 NLC) on the season. The Northern Lakes Champions will host 11-6 Fort Wayne Snider this Tuesday night at the Tiger Den. They then finish the regular season Friday night at South Bend Riley.

Way to go Lady Tigers! Congratulations on your Championship Victory -- keep it going the rest of the way!

Continue to follow this Warsaw Lady Tiger team here at www.TigerSportsNation.com

Posted In: Girl's Sports > Basketball

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